Top 7 Mobile App Development Trends for 2024

The increasing adoption of digital-first business practices has made integrating mobility solutions a key driver for leaders seeking innovations in mobile app development . This factor has opened up numerous business opportunities, enabling companies to excel in market competition.

The mobile application market is expected to be valued at $1.191 billion by 2032 (source ). Although a significant part of the mobile apps industry is gaming, many other sectors also implement mobile solutions in their businesses.

Mobile application development trends affect the industry, pushing global revenue to new heights. Being aware of these trends, you're armed to navigate the field successfully.

"Think of digital transformation less as a technology project to be finished than as a state of perpetual agility, always ready to evolve for whatever customers want next, and you'll be pointed down the right path,"

said Amit Zavery, VP and Head of Google Cloud Platform.

Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, has admitted that Microsoft exiting the mobile market was a mistake. The company has lost a significant market share in the vast mobile market by focusing solely on computer developments. Now, Microsoft has realized its error and is working to develop new mobile solutions.

In striving for continuous improvement and innovation, Binariks also cannot neglect the critical importance of mobile app development in the current digital landscape.

We specialize in building modern mobile applications and have extensive experience creating apps for various industries, including healthcare , food delivery , BFSI , automotive , and so on. Our goal is to provide value to businesses of all sizes, and we offer a complete software development lifecycle to help you build a mobile app that meets the latest trends and standards.

Let's overview the latest mobile app trends for the upcoming years!

1. Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence was the main mobile app trend in 2023 and is expected to remain so in 2024. The mobile artificial intelligence market was estimated at $19.59 billion in 2023 (source ). ChatGPT, as an in-app solution, started to bring revenue immediately after launch. AI is one of the top mobile app development trends for now.

Artificial intelligence is so popular because of its cutting-edge functions. AI can simplify the development process for engineers and offer users various new opportunities. AI-powered solutions make interactions more personalized and easier to use.

Machine learning algorithms automate mundane tasks and reduce costs. ML learns human preferences, adapts to them, and offers answers based on user experience. Hence, AI-powered solutions integrated into mobile apps attract users and businesses, allowing users to get an assistant to complete tasks and the latter to increase income based on user habits. AI-powered solutions will remain the trend technologies for mobile app development for a long time.

Natural Language Processing (NLP) also belongs to AI mobile app development technologies. The primary usage of NLP is chatbots and virtual assistants. They allow machines to understand human language, analyze it, and give feedback. The intelligent virtual assistant market is projected to achieve a significant valuation, reaching $309.9 billion by 2033. Chatbots and assistants are very popular in IT and telecommunications, healthcare, BFSI , travel, education, etc.

Take for instance Siri, a well-known virtual assistant from Apple. It understands human language, performs tasks, and provides feedback. Siri can also answer questions, send messages, and interact with smart home devices. Moreover, Siri adapts to a user’s language and learns user preferences over time (source ).

2. Metaverse

The term "Metaverse" describes the experience with an immersive 3D virtual world, realized through a combination of technologies like AR (Augmented Reality), VR (Virtual Reality), and MR (Mixed Reality). The metaverse platform enhances the online experience by creating a virtual world where users can participate in immersive entertainment, gaming, business activities, social interactions, and more.

The major drivers expected to propel revenue growth in the metaverse market include an increased focus on blending physical and digital realms through the Internet and the popularity of the metaverse.

Metaverse has a significant impact on mobile app development trends. Although augmented reality and virtual reality are primarily used in gaming, they are still widely utilized in fields like healthcare, real estate, education, marketing, and social media. The AR&VR market currently generates $32.1 billion each year. The forecast indicates a CAGR of 10.77% until 2028 for revenue growth (source ).

AR and VR have become the latest trends in mobile app development because of their unique opportunities. Businesses use VR and AR technologies in various ways to increase revenue. AR makes the customer experience more comfortable and efficient by allowing them to see how the product works without leaving home. This increases sales and encourages people to buy more often.

Due to virtual reality, it has become easier to create a shared space between people and interact there. For example, the teacher can revive the formulas and show how this method works in the classroom or online. Realtors show a home online with full immersion in the space, where clients can move furniture, walk through the rooms, and evaluate their potential house.

Another curious example of this trend is the anatomical T-shirt by Virtuali-Tee for kids (source ). It's interesting that medical students already use the same technology. The T-shirt has the QR codes in the same places as actual human organs. Using your smartphone, you can scan the QR code and see holograms of these organs and how they look inside.

3. Super-apps

Super-apps is another mobile app development trend due to its fantastic convenience. They are all-in-one mobile applications that offer a variety of functionalities and services through a single platform. They are like aggregators of traditional one-purpose apps that combine their functions to create a virtual ecosystem. Users can enjoy seamless multiservice integration and do things like messaging, shopping, ordering food, taxi, or making payments without having to switch between different applications.

So, super-apps are becoming more and more trendy. Businesses that offer super-apps for their customers become more in demand and have more revenue. The 2022 valuation of the worldwide super-apps market stood at USD 61.35 billion, and projections suggest it is poised to exceed approximately USD 714.73 billion by 2032 (source ).

Supper apps have become one of the particularly noticeable mobile app development trends for 2024 in Asia Pacific countries. This region led the global market in 2022, with a revenue share of 46.42%.

Although the widespread adoption of super apps is not yet observed in the US, there is a rising interest among American consumers. Tech giants like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Amazon are broadening their ecosystems to implement more features to create super applications of them.

The desire for all-in-one solutions is apparent, as a recent consumer survey indicates that 72% of US respondents express interest in utilizing supper apps.

Google has implemented various solutions in its Google Maps, getting into application development trends. This app now offers features such as hotel or ticket booking, saving and sharing locations with other users, contacting nearby services, and integrated Google Pay for payment (source ). In addition to navigation, you can plan your day and future directions in one place, save time, and free up phone memory. It also has robust security features to ensure safety.

4. Wearable devices

Wearable application development has become a separate niche in the app development market. The anticipated value of the Global Wearable Technology Market is projected to reach approximately $231 billion by 2032, exhibiting a substantial growth from $61.3 billion in 2022. This represents a CAGR of 14.60% during the forecast period (source ).

Businesses add relevant app features to optimize user experience. Wearable development stimulates mobile app development to be more adaptable, productive, and more concentrated on user interface and battery life optimization.

Wearable devices can be divided into wrist-wear, eye-wear and head-wear, foot-wear, neck-wear, and body-wear devices. Any of them can significantly impact people's lives.

Thus, wearables are used in healthcare and monitor physical health. Connected to the smartphone, they allow for exchanging vital information and adapting functions according to the data. These connections build more personalized and customized experiences.

Some wearable devices can even save human lives by checking pulse indicators and calling 911 if the heart rate is critical or no pulse is detected.

A typical example of a health and fitness device is the Apple watch. It was one of the pioneers in smart devices and started to track everything from blood pressure to daily steps. Apple Watch is changing people's lifestyles because of the data it collects. They track your sleep habits and encourage you to walk more, do more sports, and gamify your way to a healthy lifestyle.

5. Low-code and no-code applications

No-code and low-code are new trends of mobile apps development because of their accessibility. As the name implies, no-code app development doesn't require writing code to create this app. At the same time, low-code development requires a small number of code lines.

Besides, software developers may add new features by applying code while updating the app for both types of applications. Hence, developers and non-developers can create applications with desirable functionality, which is very promising nowadays.

Low-code/no-code (LCNC) platforms can potentially decrease development time by 90%. Approximately 72% of users manage to develop applications using low-code platforms within three months or less. Additionally, 100% of enterprises experienced a return on investment (ROI) from their low-code adoption in 2021.

It is expected that the global LCNC market will be valued at $125.75 in 2027. Due to its simplicity, speed, high-quality development, easy scalability, and usefulness, LCNC is one of the top app development trends.

Source

Low-code and no-code platforms offer a significant advantage by relieving developers from routine tasks, enabling them to focus on more important responsibilities.

The most popular platforms for building mobile apps are Bubble and Adalo. Bubble offers a visual interface with drag-and-drop structure, database management, and integration capabilities for web and mobile applications.

Adalo provides templates for mobile apps with visual builders. For instance, My Nursery app was built on Adalo. This is an educational app for kids in early childhood that provides tools for the development of basic needs and for exploring the world (source). It is straightforward and has many gamification elements for children.

6. On-demand services

On-demand services have become a favorite among users. They are very convenient, cover many needs, and provide many services accessible from the smartphone. On-demand apps are often associated with food delivery, transportation, and household services. There are three types of on-demand apps: B2B, B2C, and C2C. So they can provide more professional services as well.

On-demand applications are profitable for businesses. They attract new customers and increase revenue. It is a worthy investment to scale the business and take it to the next level. On-demand apps are mostly built for Android (71%) because such development is cheaper than iOS.

These apps became so popular during the COVID-19 pandemic when people were closed at home and demand for the services via smartphones. According to Statista research, the most common reasons for using on-demand apps are time-saving (56%) and convenience (49%). As per the most recent PwC report, the market for on-demand mobile apps and websites is projected to achieve a significant value of $335 billion by 2025.

Source

There are many on-demand apps available worldwide that cater to different needs. For instance, you have food delivery apps like Uber Eats, McDonald's, and Starbucks. Similarly, for travel and transportation, you have apps like Uber, Lyft, and Lime. When it comes to online dating, Tinder is the most popular on-demand app.

Due to the pandemic, many supermarkets were unable to cater to the grocery needs of their customers. As a result, businesses developed new models to deliver groceries to their clients.

One such popular on-demand app for grocery delivery is Glovo. It has over 50 million downloads and has received a $1.2 billion investment from various investors. Glovo can deliver not just groceries, but also restaurant food, pharmaceuticals, and anything else that can be delivered by a courier.

7. 5G technology

5G technology is one of the emerging mobile application trends yet to come, and by 2030, it will revolutionize the world of mobile internet. 5G is not an advanced version of 4G; it is a next-gen technology with ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC). It is 100x faster than 4G and works with low, middle, and high bands. Besides, 5G is a new app technology that strengthens the other trendy technologies mentioned above.

Artificial intelligence , IoT , or virtual reality require a high-speed internet connection to fully realize their potential. With 5G, we can now efficiently stream 4K-8K video quality and 360-degree videos. Shortly, videos will take over images as the primary medium for online content.

The maximum speed of 5G reaches 10 gigabits per second (Gbps). Though the download speed still depends on user location and can vary by area, this speed is faster and more reliable.

In addition to providing faster internet speeds, 5G as an app technology can enhance mobile security, enabling quick and secure biometric data processing for mobile payments.

Source

The deployment of 5G networks has become massive, giving smartphone users new capabilities and behaviors. For users owning smartphones less than a year old, the proportion of devices featuring 5G capability increased from 56% in 2021 to 77% in 2023 (source ).

The e-commerce industry, for instance, will generate more revenue because of consumers' faster decisions to buy products in a matter of seconds. High-speed connection between medical devices, parcel tracking in transportation, 5G connectivity in university campuses, smart cities, and other industry use cases will become more efficient and secure due to 5G technology.

Another example of this latest mobile app trend is delivery drones that utilize 5G technology. Verizon bought Skyward, a company that provides drone services for businesses and enterprises.

It offers detailed mapping for drone operators, including tools for overseeing multiple drones in action and the ability to manage their assignments. 5G Ultra Wideband brings a new era for these drones, enabling real-time video transmission (source ).

Issues with the adoption of mobile app technologies

Mobile applications offer various advantages. However, businesses also face some challenges, which may influence their decision to implement new apps. These challenges include:

Monetization

There are plenty of free-of-charge apps and games available on Android and iOS. Implementing monetization has to look natural and easy to pay. There is a challenge for mobile developers to integrate premium paid features and advertising into the app.

Your move: You may use strategies from Google for the natural implementation of monetizing (source ). There are in-app purchases, a subscription, a partnership, and so on.

High uninstall rates

Businesses face high uninstall rates because of the competition for users' attention. People just delete apps that don't provide the functionality they expect.

Your move: Evaluating user experience in test launches of the app must help. The app should also have a pleasant and intuitive UI to make people tap on their screens and continue interacting with your application.

Expansion of features

In the face of technological advancements, applications need to evolve to maintain competitiveness. App developers must continually introduce new features to stay ahead of trends and relevant to the market.

Your move: As we mentioned, it is important to stay aware of the latest trends , new features, and technologies. You have to track the app trends of the market to understand how this or that trend can be applied to your business.

Version compatibility

With the evolution of devices and platforms, app developers must generate multiple versions of their apps to guarantee compatibility with trendy technologies. However, the challenge with multi-version development lies in its expensiveness, time-insensitivity, and intricacy.

Your move: This is an issue about ROI. Though it can be risky to develop new features for the app, it can also increase your revenue and bring popularity to your company.

Final thoughts

The year 2024 promises to bring many exciting trends in mobile development. Mobile applications are evolving rapidly, so businesses must keep up with the new trends and technologies to stay relevant. The key to creating successful mobile apps is understanding the user's pain points and needs and then tailoring the app to meet those requirements.

Binariks can help your business find its place in the global mobile market. Our team of experienced developers can assist you in finding the best strategy to implement a mobile app in any industry you work in.

By utilizing our expertise , we can help you improve your business and achieve your goals. Please don't hesitate to contact us for any further information.