Do you know what the mobile technology trends in 2024 look like? The world has already gone mobile with smartphones becoming ubiquitous and easily accessible to everyone.
Whether you are an experienced mobile app developer, a first-time app entrepreneur, or simply an app enthusiast interested in seeing in which direction mobile technology is headed, having a finger on the pulse of mobile technology trends helps you be adequately prepared for the imminent future.
The technological transformations are taking place at an unprecedented rate never witnessed before.
As the year draws to an end, the last couple of months isn’t just a time for thoughtful reflection and contemplation but also an opportunity for preparation so that you can truly kickstart the next year.
Here are our top mobile technology predictions that are going to propel the app industry forward in 2024 and beyond.
1. mHealth and Development of Healthcare-Focused Apps
mHealth and fitness applications are one of the topmost trends in mobile apps. Focus on healthcare mobile applications is nothing new. From health and fitness-conscious individuals to healthcare professionals and organizations, everyone is making the move toward healthcare. As of now, the global fitness app market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.6 percent from 2020 to 2030 timeframe. As per the World Economic Forum, downloads of fitness apps increased worldwide by 46.0 percent due to the increase in the trend of online fitness classes.
Apple CEO, Tim Cook was quoted in an interview, “If you zoom out into the future, and you look back, and you ask the question, ‘What was Apple’s greatest contribution to mankind,’ it will be about health.” This statement goes on to show the focus tech companies have put on the healthcare sector and the advancements we are to witness in the arena.
Both Apple and Google continue to put emphasis on health apps, this segment is poised to see rapid advancement in the coming years as well. The rise in individual awareness and propulsion of healthcare organizations to include technology in care plans has the potential to skyrocket patient engagement in their health regimen and improve overall outcomes.
Custom-developed mHealth apps are perfectly poised to assist healthcare delivery at every stage from preventive, diagnostic, and treatment stages and even in the post-treatment phase by assisting in telemedicine.
From AI-based apps that leverage machine learning to facilitate diagnosis to medical chatbots and virtual medical and nursing assistants, the range of medical applications is limitless and has a tremendous amount of unrealized potential that will prove to be a game-changer in the years to come.
2. IoT and Apps for Smart Devices
Another trend in mobile apps to look out for is the IoT or the Internet of Things. The IoT industry is currently booming as we see a surge in the number of interconnected devices available for consumers. From smart wearables like watches and bands to smart home appliances, the network of devices connected together under the Internet of Things is only going to rise further in the coming year.
IoT-based mobile applications have changed the way businesses function. When mobile apps are combined with IoT, they can enhance productivity, optimize workflows, and augment the performance of employees in a workspace. Not only this, but IoT changes an individual’s lifestyle too. For example, a person can operate home security from the mobile app that is connected to the security system.
Apart from this, a new sub-set has emerged from the IoT in the healthcare industry: IoMT (Internet of Medical Things). IoMT connects medical devices over internet connectivity. It collects data from wearables and medical devices and transfers it to healthcare providers. This data is analyzed by the physicians and potential health problems are detected. Thereby, leading to improved patient outcomes.
Furthermore, IoMT streamlines healthcare operations by decreasing manual data entry, resulting in lower burnout rates among healthcare providers.
3. Artificial Intelligence in Mobile Apps on the Rise
Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the growing trends in mobile app development. Its various subsets like machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing are rapidly gaining acceptance in the mobile world and we are currently witnessing a wide-ranging impact on the mobile app industry with more and more app developers looking to integrate AI into their apps.
A combination of machine learning and NLP helps to analyze user preferences and user behavior. By incorporating this feature into a mobile application, a personalized User Experience can be achieved. Netflix is one of the popular applications that integrates and collects user data, based on which the mobile app recommends genre and series to the users.
The versatile nature of AI has opened up multiple avenues of innovation in the world of mobile app development. For example, the integration of AI-based devices like Siri and Alexa in mobile apps is changing the current definition of the mobile app development process.
We would also see a surge in mobile applications with chatbots and those running on voice UI in addition to graphic UI. According to a business insider report, 80 percent of enterprises were looking to incorporate chatbots in their mobile apps and websites in 2020 to streamline customer interactions.
Since users are constantly driven towards a 24×7 availability of service, the integration of AI-driven chatbots is going to be the new norm within mobile applications.
The voice user interface provides users with a truly hands-free experience through the use of voice-based virtual assistants. The use of VUI in combination with the conventional GUI in mobile apps is going to turn into a powerful tool for the users.
4. Developing Apps for Foldable Devices
The era of foldable phones is definitely upon us. The change has already begun with the introduction of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Google Pixel Fold, OnePlus Open, and many more mobile devices to come in the upcoming year.
The larger display is a boon for app developers as it promises a highly immersive experience for its users. This is particularly true in the case of gaming and eCommerce apps as the display size would directly relate to the user experience and let app designers and developers plan better for the extra app real estate available to them.
The multi-window interface that foldable devices promise can let users multitask and run several applications simultaneously at the same time. So designing and developing mobile applications that run seamlessly on foldable mobile phones with a wide range of screen sizes is something that the mobile app developers need to keep on their radar in the coming year.
5. Augmented Reality for an Enhanced Customer Experience
If you thought AR (Augmented Reality) was only for gaming enthusiasts or developers engaged in building them, you may be running a little behind time. Augmented reality has already gone mainstream with both Google and Apple investing heavily in this technology.
Your imagination is the only limit when it comes to thinking of the possible applications of the technology and it is already being utilized across a range of industries, right from healthcare to eCommerce.
IKEA was among the forerunners when it comes to the adoption of AR into their mobile app when it gave users a snapshot of how their furniture would look in the exact spot they were planning to buy it for.
eCommerce apps like Wannakicks took it further earlier this year by letting users visualize what the sneakers would look like on their feet before they actually went on to order them.
Apple and Google themselves are pioneering innovations when it comes to developing AR-powered applications. Google, for example, is working on introducing the AR feature in Maps which would leverage the phone’s camera to give real-time directions for the user to navigate to their destination.
Apple also unveiled its latest update to its augmented reality platform with ARKit 3 which has some interesting features like motion capture, people occlusion, multiple face tracking, use of front and back cameras simultaneously, and so on.
The AR experience is all set to become more realistic for the users and the process of developing an AR-based app is going to become more streamlined than ever for the developers.
6. Mobile Payments or Mobile Wallets
Mobile or online shopping has gained hype in the past few years. Easy money transactions, billing, and invoice has led to the development of mobile payments or mobile wallets. Apart from credit and debit card options, there is a wide surge in payment apps such as Google Pay, Apple Pay, Zelle, PayPal, and more. These mobile apps ensure faster and more secure transactions for e-commerce apps.
Payment mobile app development is not only helpful for the e-commerce industry but also for the healthcare sector. The development of safe and convenient mobile payment applications has enhanced patient satisfaction.
Patients are more concerned about their out-of-pocket costs than they are about the quality of care provided. In many cases, the post-treatment payment process is so cumbersome that it can add to the distress experienced by patients who are recovering. Mobile payments provide a convenient solution to this problem by allowing patients to pay their hospital bills with just a few clicks.
7. 5G Connectivity
5G wireless network brings a myriad of benefits and is poised to transform the mobile app development process. According to the 2022 Ericsson Mobility Report, the number of 5G subscribers is expected to reach 4.4 billion by the end of 2027. Key aspects of the growth of 5G are the timely availability of mobile devices from vendors, falling prices, and China’s early deployment of the 5G network.
5G wireless connectivity renders several benefits over 4G: faster connectivity, better user experience, enhanced functionality, and latency of less than one millisecond. Wireless connectivity will simplify the process of the implementation of cloud computing, AI, IoT, and AR in mobile apps.
8. Wearable Technology Trends in Mobile Apps
Wearable are the next mobile app technology that’s gaining momentum. Mobile app development for wearable devices is one of the fastest-growing industries because apps create a stronger bond between brands and consumers. When a device is connected to an app, consumers are more likely to use it because they have more options.
Wearable devices help to keep track of vitals, health, and overall fitness regime. Such devices are a great attraction for users who wish to maintain their overall health. Additionally, wearable devices are integrated with mHealth apps, so healthcare providers can keep a closer eye on their patients.
9. Cloud Application Development
Cloud application development is the process of building cloud-based software applications that are designed to run on cloud computing platforms. Cloud-based mobile applications are hosted, deployed, and accessed over the internet. Examples of cloud app development are Netflix, Slack, Salesforce, etc.
Cloud application development is profitable because there’s no need to pay for storage space and all cloud services charge as per the space used. Furthermore, the cloud offers greater freedom compared to local hosting: more bandwidth, upgraded IT infrastructure, and high scalability.
10. Mobile Security
The potential risks associated with mobile app security breaches can range from data theft and unauthorized access to more severe consequences, such as financial loss, reputational damage, and legal repercussions.
Key aspects of mobile app security include:
1. Secure Development Practices: Secure coding practices are fundamental to building a robust mobile application. Developers should follow guidelines and best practices for coding securely, including input validation, proper handling of sensitive data, and implementing encryption.
2. Encryption: Data transmitted between the app and the server should be encrypted to protect it from interception. This is typically achieved using protocols like HTTPS for web communication and end-to-end encryption for messaging apps.
3. Authentication and Authorization: Effective user authentication and authorization mechanisms are essential to ensure that only authorized users can access the app’s functionalities and data. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) can provide an extra layer of security.
4. App Permissions: Apps should request only the permissions necessary for their core functionality. Users should be informed about why an app requires certain permissions and be able to grant or deny them.
5. Secure Communication: Mobile apps should be designed to securely transmit and receive data. This includes protecting against man-in-the-middle attacks and other communication-based threats.
6. Biometrics: Biometrics enhance mobile security and must be included during the mobile app development. It includes voice recognition, fingerprints, face recognition, and signature recognition.
7. Compliance Requirements: Compliance is one of the key requirements for healthcare app development. Entities must follow HIPAA regulations, along with HITECH during the app development process.
11. Virtual Reality Apps
VR (Virtual Reality) isn’t just for gamers anymore. In fact, there’s a long list of potential applications for this game-changing technology. And it’s in the workplace that VR could see the biggest shake-up of all.
The numbers speak for themselves. Deloitte predicts that the global virtual reality market will grow by 50 percent year-on-year in 2023, reaching nearly $7 billion in revenue.
One of the major impediments to VR’s growth is its reliance on VR headsets or other hardware. Mobile app developers are now attempting to bring virtual reality capabilities to mobile apps by leveraging the advanced hardware of today’s smart devices.
While it will take some time for mobile apps to become fully immersive, developers will continue to create new mixed-reality experiences to increase VR’s appeal to users.
12. Cross-Platform Development
One of the biggest challenges that many companies face is the need to develop mobile applications for multiple platforms. This is especially true for Android and iOS apps. That’s why cross-platform mobile development solutions have become one of the hottest software development trends.
Cross-platform programming eliminates the need for mobile engineers to create new code for each operating system. By using a single code base, developers can reduce the amount of time spent on repetitive tasks like API calls, storing data, serializing data, and implementing analytics.
As mobile apps are cross-platform, developers can meet the needs of Android and iOS users and maximize their reach.
With so much happening on the mobile tech horizon, 2024 is surely going to be an interesting year for mobile app developers. Which trends in mobile technology sounds most promising to you? What are you more excited about in the coming year?