Top 11 Mobile App Trends to Watch Out For in 2022

1
Top 11 Mobile App Trends to Watch Out For in 2021
Mobile apps are a large and growing industry,
with Statista projecting an almost 935.2 billion
U.S. dollar revenue by 2023.
2
2
Image Source Ideasoft Today, consumers search
from their mobile devices more than their
desktops when buying products online, making the
case for developing a mobile app for your
business. Not to mention the 5G network is
coming soon with better speed than the 4G
network, creating more possibilities for app
developers than ever before. With all of these
new developments, it can be hard to stand out
from the many apps that are sure to enter the
market. But if you know what consumers are
looking for in a mobile app, it should help you
position your business in the best spot.
3
3 If you are a small business owner looking to
develop your first app or improve your existing
one, here are the mobile app trends consumers and
developers alike will be looking for in
2021 11. Managed Marketplaces
What is it? Made famous by apps such as Uber and
Airbnb, a managed marketplace is a platform
connecting customers and service providers, while
also providing added value to the customer
experience. This added value could be better
pricing, more convenience, or more security
surrounding the transaction. Managed marketplace
apps offer users a better experience than what
was previously available in the market.
4
4 Whats coming in 2021? From food to finding
personal trainers, on-demand services are
becoming the norm for many consumers and will
continue to evolve to fit different use cases.
Managed marketplace apps offer customization and
convenience to users, and 2021 will likely see
the integration of mobile payments and an
emphasis on UI design. With more managed
marketplaces popping up on the market, on-demand
service apps must do more than provide a space
for connection but also include added features
maintained by the app owner themselves. Trust is
a crucial component to managed marketplaces, and
progress will likely be made toward offering
security for users.
5
5 10. Beacons
Photo by Flickr user Jona Nalder What is it? A
beacon is a small object emitting low-energy
Bluetooth signals, enabling a mobile app to know
a users proximity to a businesss location.
Beacon technology also allows for special events
to take place on the app depending on a users
location within the venue. Whats coming in
2021? Beacon technology gives businesses
real-time metrics on how users are interacting
within a space and can allow for highly specific
messages to be sent straight to the user. So far
the use case for this mobile app trend has mainly
been
6
6 in retail, such as helping users navigate
through a mall or having advertisements sent to a
users phone as they walk into a store. We
predict more developers will expand beacon
technology for use in other venues, and integrate
more features such as mobile payments. 9. IoT
What is it? IoT stands for the internet of
things, which is a system of computers,
machines, objects such as home appliances, and
more with the ability to communicate
7
7 with one another without human interaction.
Each thing has a unique identifier allowing the
object to identify itself on the internet and
send and receive data from other things. Whats
coming in 2021? Smart devices connected to the
IoT system will need to be controlled from one
app to make the user experience easier. More
devices are being connected to the network each
year which means that consumers will be
interacting with this type of app in their daily
lives. IoT will continue to grow in 2021 with new
user-friendly ways to manage connected devices.
8
8 8. Blockchain-Dependent Apps
What is it? A blockchain is a digital ledger that
records all transactions made on its system
publicly. This digital recording is done without
a centralized system, meaning no one service
provider can potentially act as a gatekeeper to
information. Blockchain-dependent apps have been
seen in a wide variety of industries such as
retail, manufacturing, healthcare, finance,
marketing, and banking.
9
9 Whats coming in 2021? A hot-button issue in
2019 was the idea of privacy after several
high-profile security breaches lead to the theft
of personal data. One of the mobile app trends
in 2021 will most likely be to implement more
security features on apps, so consumers are
reassured of a companys commitment to their
privacy. An example of this trend is the
potential use case of hybrid blockchain
technology by governments. Hybrid blockchain
technology offers the benefits of both
public blockchain and private blockchain. The
information stored in the private blockchain can
be verified by the public blockchain, which is
best suited for governments that want to ensure
transparency while controlling access to private
information.
10
10 7. AR, VR, and Wearables
What is it? Augmented reality (AR) and virtual
reality (VR) create computer-generated
experiences for the user, with augmented reality
taking place in the physical world and virtual
reality taking place in a simulated world. Both
augmented reality and virtual reality allow
businesses to connect with users in a more
personalized way, creating stories and
experiences that showcase a business in its best
light. Wearable
11
11 technology is a smart device that can be worn
on the body, and usually tracks user data to be
interpreted by an app. Wearable technology is a
good example of IoT, as the device communicates
with the app without the need for human
intervention.
Whats coming in 2021? Augmented reality and
virtual reality are here to stay in 2021.
Developers are being tasked to create more
immersive and innovative experiences for users,
and AR and VR are the vehicles to do so. The use
cases for these mobile app trends exist in
several industries such as gaming and even real
estate, and more apps can stand to benefit from
incorporating these technologies.
12
12
The wearable market is expected to double the
number of shipments from 2017, reaching 222.3
million in 2021. The fitness industry has
undoubtedly benefited from apps connected to
wearables that track a users data, but the
technology has already begun expanding into the
health sector as well. This expansion brings with
it opportunities for patients and professionals
to interact on an app, allowing for more
personalized access to patients at home.
13
13 6.5G Network
What is it? 5G is the next-generation technology
for mobile connections. It has yet to become
completely available worldwide but developers
anticipate it will replace 4G technology
altogether, becoming the most common way for
consumers to access the internet using their
mobile devices.
14
14 There will be three types of fifth-generation
technology mobile users will be able to choose
from, each running on different bands determined
by the operator. Current progress promises up to
1000 times the speed of todays existing 4G
networks. Whats coming in 2021? The faster
connection speeds offered by 5G provide enormous
possibilities for the kinds of products that can
be offered on mobile devices. Technologies such
as augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed
reality are data-heavy, requiring high internet
speeds to work properly will have the opportunity
to become more widely accessible. In addition,
YouTube reports 70 of all YouTube traffic comes
from mobile devices. With the help of 5G
networks, YouTube and other streaming platforms
could see an increase in their mobile user
traffic as new-generation connectivity improves
loading times. Currently, almost 60 of all
mobile traffic is dedicated to videos, however,
people usually watch them at a lower quality of
360p or 420p. A new, faster network will make it
possible for mobile users to watch videos at a
much higher resolution. Higher quality means
better products. The higher bandwidth of
fifth-generation connections means game
developers will be able to create more complex
and demanding games that users can access from
anywhere. Combining this with the full potential
of the Internet of Things, 5G may have the power
to unite developers and consumers through the
use of a single large system that connects each
device.
15
15 5. Cross-Platform App Development
What is it? Cross-platform app development is a
framework that comes with a diverse set of
tools, allowing developers to build native or
native-like apps for multiple platforms such as
Android, iOS, Windows and Web with a single
codebase. Using this design method enables
developers to expand the reach of the
applications they design across multiple
platforms. Cross-platform app development costs
approximately 40 to develop and requires
roughly 25 less support over the long run than
native app development.
16
16 Whats coming in 2021? Cross-platform
applications come with a wide range of benefits
that will make development and distribution
simpler in the future. By being available on
both Android and iOS, these apps have an expanded
market reach providing startups with more
opportunities to increase their revenue and
audience base. The single codebase used in the
development of these applications minimizes the
time needed to write code for each platform,
making it easier to reduce costs. Modern-day
cross-platform tools are packaged with functions
that enable developers to create OS-specific
applications from a single platform. No more
platform inconsistencies. Low-cost development
process. Easy audience distribution. Higher
revenues. 4. Enterprise Mobile
Applications What is it? Enterprise mobile
development is the practice of creating and
deploying portable, scalable, and trusted mobile
applications to help large organizations engage
with customers, partners and employees. The
objective is to establish a high degree of
connectivity while maintaining the security and
reliability requirements for various businesses.
Whats coming in 2021? Enterprises are seeking to
make their applications available on mobile
devices without incurring any unnecessary costs
or over-extended development timelines. While
there are many ways to accomplish this, a
services-based development
17
17 strategy with integrated mobile capabilities
is becoming the standard method for many
enterprises. Integrating mobile app development
into a larger strategy designed around
cloud-native microservices has several
advantages, including increased productivity,
lower costs, improved security, as well as
greater visibility and control.
3. Folding Display
What is it? Yes, you heard that correctly.
Foldable technology is making a comeback. With
Samsung announcing the launch of its foldable
OLED display, operating systems
18
18 are preparing to make the shift towards this
newly revamped technology to improve smartphone
experiences. In 2018, Google officially
announced foldable support on Android phones by
using its screen continuity API. As well,
according to Samsung, hundreds of popular Android
apps have been optimized for the Galaxy Fold,
including Amazon Prime Video, Twitter, Spotify,
Facebook, VSCO and Microsoft Office. Whats
coming in 2021? Considering foldable phone was
a major buzzword in 2021, developers and
business owners alike should be planning their
mobile app development strategy to run seamlessly
on foldable devices in the coming years. Having
the ability to unfold the device will have a
direct impact on user experience, as it provides
a larger screen to run applications on. Larger
screens mean more space for detail, immersive
experiences while multi-windows will allow users
to perform multiple tasks at once. In addition,
video streaming and game apps can reap maximum
benefits from foldable devices by taking
advantage of the increased screen size, allowing
for more controls and information to be included
throughout. 2. Wearables What is it? Wearables
are a group of mobile devices that are designed
to be worn throughout the day, including fitness
bands and smartwatches. While this technology
has been increasingly common over the last
several years, ongoing advancements in
19
19 software and development are constantly
striving to improve them. Currently, users can
control their mobile devices, computers,
smartwatches, fitness bands, heart rate
trackers, blood pressure monitors, blood oxygen
levels, and many other daily activities through
their wearable devices. Whats coming in 2021?
By the end of 2021, the wearable software market
value is expected to reach 929 million U.S.
dollars, with revenues projected at 17,834
million U.S. dollars. Mobile app development
trends point to the fact that the development of
these devices is a huge investment across
multiple industries. It is no longer enough to
plan for how your website and apps will work on
mobile devices or desktops. Business owners and
developers need to consider how applications will
work on wearable devices to ensure a seamless
connection for users. The wearables segment has
also begun to move beyond fitness trackers
and smartwatches, offering more extensive
real-world support. Wearable technology will
make it easier to upgrade prosthetics, allowing
amputees to have a near-normal function with
their artificial attachments. As well, GPS
enabling technology will make it increasingly
easier to track movement and provide accurate
feedback for professional athletes, and amateur
users alike. According to Statista, there will
be 1.1 billion connected wearables in 2022.
20
20 1. Virtual Events Streaming What is it? The
use of event apps is one of the most upcoming
trends in the B2B sector, making the function
and organization of large-scale events faster,
and overall easier to develop. The trend towards
using customized event apps is already being
implemented to boost engagement and
communication during the planning process of
corporate events. Such apps, especially those
related to QR codes, not only improve the
audiences experience but also make it easier to
collect data on brand activations and track the
engagement level of an event. Whats coming in
2021? The increasing shift towards remote working
has left no industry untouched, and event
management is no exception. With this change has
come a new framework for the live event sphere,
including the implementation of technology as
part of a hybrid event experience. It is expected
that the incorporation of technology will make
these events more innovative, interactive, and
provide an expanded audience reach as
corporations continue to integrate virtual
streaming into their plans. Live streaming
events allow a larger audience member to access
the content resources, helping them align with
the context better. The real-time experience
improves connectivity with event attendees and
creates an authentic virtual environment.
Companies have also begun experimenting with ways
to incorporate
21
21 facial recognition, projection mapping, as
well as augmented and virtual reality activations
into their digital events to elevate the audience
experience even further. To Sum Up Mobile App
Trends The common theme with the above app
developments is personalization for the customer
journey. More work is being done to provide
easier access to services, products, and
businesses. Mobile app developers are working
toward delivering the ultimate user experience
and integrating tech into users daily lives note
that privacy and security are a major concern
following 2019s data breaches, and users are now
more aware, and more protective, of their data.
Keeping these trends in mind and looking into
integrating them into your own app will be
beneficial for your business overall. If youre
ready for 2021 to be the year your app receives
the recognition and downloads it deserves,
contact us for a quote on mobile app development
or mobile app marketing. Which mobile app trends
are you most excited about in 2021? Leave us a
comment below!