This year is slowly ending. A few days ago, we published an article about graphic design trends for 2024. It's time to find out which trends will thrive in the mobile app development world in the coming year. Why is it worth paying attention to that? The mobile app market is constantly growing. The latest Sensor Tower data shows that worldwide mobile app revenue and downloads increase year to year. In Q3 2020, global consumer spending on mobile apps reached $29.3 billion. The installations expanded to 36.5 billion across Apple’s App Store and Google Play. Compared to the Q3 of 2019, the revenue is 32% higher, and the number of installations grew by 23%. It is an impressive score. The last quarter of 2020 gathers untypical growth. The pandemic of Covid-19 impacts the mobile application business. The customers spend more time using their mobile devices.
The interesting thing is that Apple Store users are leaving more money in the App Store that users of Google Play. This probably happens because Apple mobile devices are expensive, their customers are wealthy and willing to spend more money. So how about developing a mobile app in Swift?
Okay, I think I don't have to convince you anymore that the mobile industry is something that business owners just can't ignore. Let's check which mobile app development trends will be meaningful in 2024.
Table of Contents:
1. Top Mobile App Trends 2024.
1.1. Internet Of Things (IoT).
2. What mobile apps are popular right now?
Top Mobile App Trends 2024
The main goal of every mobile development team is to deliver reliable and high-quality apps. Knowledge of the latest trends is crucial to achieving this goal. What will be trending in 2024? Some trends from 2020 like Machine Learning & AI or 5G Technology will continue to be popular. We at Railwaymen have already developed dozens of successful mobile applications, starting with advanced Shawarmer food tech app or IoT backed by Liberty Global Safe Driving. Check top mobile trends for 2024 that we think will revolutionize the world as we know it:
Trend 01 - Internet Of Things (IoT)
Internet of Things (IoT) is an advanced technology that is getting more and more popular. Thanks to IoT, people can remotely control their electronic devices through mobile apps. One single tap on the smartphone can regulate the lights in a house, open a gate, or turn off the oven. How is this possible? IoT creates a network and shares data between the mobile app and electronic devices.
Smart Home and the Internet of Things is becoming our reality. It is a real-time technology that allows smartphone users to manage electronic devices from anywhere in the world. Undoubtedly, the Internet of Things is also a good choice for industries and businesses.
Trend 02 - Augmented Reality
Augmented Reality places virtual objects into the real world as if they're actually next to the user. AR allows people to experience digital content in pretty the same way they experience the world every day. Mobile apps using this technology are quite popular among young users because it ensures an immersive adventure. Where can we meet the AR? In photography-related apps and mobile games.
The most spectacular example of Augmented Reality is, of course, Pokemon Go. This mobile game is the result of a collaboration between Niantic, Nintendo, and The Pokémon Company. After the release in 2016, it immediately became a global number 1 of mobile games. According to the Business of Apps, in October 2019, the lifetime revenue of Pokemon Go reached $3 billion.
Curious how Augmented Reality works? Open Chrome browser on your mobile phone. Enter the name of your favorite animal in Google Search. Click the "View in 3D" button and check what will happen! :)
Trend 03 - Beacon technology
A beacon is a small, wireless transmitter that uses Bluetooth technology to send signals to other smart devices (usually mobile phones) in a close location. The Global Market Insights predicts that the beacon technology market will be worth $25 billion by 2024.
The main advantage of this technology is that we can use it for proximity marketing and location-based purposes. Thanks to beacons, we can engage customers in the offline world, target Google Ads, or analyze shopping experience.
Beacon technology can have a positive impact on people's lives by helping them in everyday routines. At Pimlico Station in London, beacons send tips to blind people so they can smoothly move through the Underground.
Trend 04 - Cloud based mobile apps
Over many years, developers created mobile applications as native. This trend is slowly changing. Cloud technology is getting popular. How does it work? Mobile cloud apps run on external servers, requiring little or no storage space on users’ devices. It is an alternative for native mobile app development.
The main reason why mobile users want cloud apps is that they do not have to store them permanently on mobile phones. From a business point of view, cloud technology gives cost-effectiveness and is quicker to implement. It is a good solution for those business owners who start their app journey and are looking for a cheaper development opportunity.
Trend 05 - Google AMP
Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP technology) is nothing new, but in 2024 mobile developers should pay strong attention to it. The goal of AMP is to load pages faster by cutting the unnecessary code and using less data.
"Speed is an integral part of designing web pages. Data from KISSmetrics shows that about 40% of people will abandon a web page that takes more than 3 seconds to load."
Google places mobile-friendly optimized pages higher in search results and increases conversion. Accelerated Mobile Pages should be a part of the SEO strategy of every mobile oriented business.
Trend 06 - Wearable technology
Since the last few years, we observe that people are more into a healthy and active lifestyle. Thanks to that trend, the wearable devices market is growing dynamically. According to Statista, in 2021, we can expect about 930 million connected wearable devices worldwide. In 2024 this number will grow to over 1100 million.
Wearable technology can be implemented in smartwatches, fitness smartbands, and healthcare monitors. Users can track their activities through mobile apps. The application storage data about training, number of daily steps, heart rates, Oxygen rate, and even blood pressure.
The pandemic of Covid-19 showed us that HealthTech is something that we need more than ever. Remote Patient Monitoring is the future. How does it work? Patients with chronic diseases like highs and lows metrics such as blood sugar levels, heart rate, and blood pressure can be monitored permanently through wearable health devices.
Trend 07 - mCommerce
Did you hear about Mobile Commerce? This term is getting more and more popular. Mobile commerce (also called mCommerce or m-commerce) becomes a natural step in digital e-commerce and stands for any monetary transaction completed through a mobile device. Why am I mentioning this?
According to BigCommerce, by 2024, mobile ecommerce sales are supposed to hit 54% of entire ecommerce sales. Mobile shopping, mobile banking, and payments are part of our lives. This trend will continue to grow in 2024 and the coming years. As you can see, the potential is enormous. I advise you to keep that fact in mind while building your digital strategy.
What mobile apps are popular right now?
2020 was a different year for all of us. Coronavirus pandemic strongly affected our private and business life. We can see it in the behavior of mobile phone users. The traffic rise of online communication tools, social networking platforms, and online shopping was spectacular. There are few most popular categories:
- Communication
- Social Network
- Dating
- Entertainment
- Games
- Shopping
- Business (for example: Construction Technology, FinTech, EduTech, FoodTech, Marketing Automation).
Top mobile apps for Q3 2020 - SensorTower
What makes those apps so popular and successful? Well, first of all - idea. Yes, the app idea is fundamental. If you look at the list above, you will quickly notice that those applications value the users. Your mobile application needs to solve some problems, answer the current market demand, and meet the target audience's needs. The second important thing is that those mobile apps follow the latest mobile app trends and answer them.
I know what you may be thinking right now, those apps are developed by giants, that's why they are so successful. Well, not exactly. They weren't giants from the very beginning. Zoom and TikTok gained thrilling user growth in 2020.
Conclusion
The number of mobile devices and their users is growing. It is hard to imagine that running an online business that is not mobile optimized is still possible nowadays. The mobile app market is constantly evolving and will continue to grow. Following the latest mobile app development trends is crucial for developers and app owners if they want to succeed.
Some trends from 2020, like Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, 5G Network, will still be important. In the coming 2024, we should focus on delivering light, fast, well-designed mobile apps that will deliver value to the users. Of course, not every trend will suit your business needs. It is important to analyze current trends and choose which will be valuable for your project.
If you are thinking about building your own mobile application, visit our Mobile Development Services website, where you can learn more about us and our mobile development process.
