Top 10 Mobile App Development Trends 2023

Mobile application development has become a priority and the new normal for many businesses. Without mobile-optimized solutions, companies undoubtedly risk losing a significant number of clients and lagging behind the competition. In this article, we’ve compiled the main mobile app development trends shaping the industry in 2023.

Overview

The increased adoption of mobile devices has led to the remarkable growth of the mobile app industry. Here are some impressive statistics.

In 2022, the estimated number of smartphone users worldwide was 6.64 billion, according to Ericsson & The Radicati Group.
Currently, there are about 3.4 million mobile apps available for download in Google Play and nearly 2.09 million apps in the App Store.
In 2022, users downloaded mobile applications 275 billion times, which is a 42% increase since 2018, according to Statista.
88% of mobile time is spent in applications, which is a significant increase from a few years ago.

Based on these figures, we can say that mobile apps are opening up new business opportunities. Why? Because modern customers demand convenience, freedom, and speed while interacting with any business products or services. Applications downloaded on smartphones, tablets, and other portable devices are the best tools that can ensure convenience, freedom, and speed. But there is a catch: not all applications appeal to users and perform as intended. This happens when mobile app providers don’t look into customer needs and don’t follow the latest mobile app development trends when designing their solutions. And if customer needs are unique for each project, trends in mobile app development are commonly available. Let’s discuss them.

Latest Mobile Application Development Trends 2023

The following list of the hottest mobile technology trends that will shape the industry in the near future can be useful both for those running a business and those who develop software solutions for mobile devices. Take a look at the list of key trends to learn something new and generate fresh ideas.

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Mobile industry trends have been focused on artificial intelligence since 2017, when Apple allowed developers to integrate voice assistant Siri into their applications. This encouraged the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms into applications in various fields.

The following are some popular use cases:

Chatbots and virtual personal assistants in service industries
Personalized ads and recommendations in eCommerce
Motion and facial detection apps for surveillance systems
Financial forecasting solutions
Medical software that helps determine diagnoses and suggests treatment
Voice recognition apps for gaming, entertainment, and hands-free communication.

Today, there are plenty of mobile apps that can recognize voice commands, analyze textual and visual data, anticipate user behavior, and make forecasts, recommendations, and decisions. Mobile app developers are in tough competition, trying to use the AI technology in their software solutions to the maximum. Don’t lag behind this trend!

2. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

An increasing number of apps incorporate augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) features, and this trend is not going away. According to Allied Market Research, the mobile augmented reality market (MAR) was estimated at $12.61 billion in 2020. By 2030, it’s forecast to grow to $184.61 billion.

Applications that use AR/VR provide incredible opportunities by enhancing the real-world environment with digital objects. A couple of years ago, AR and VR were used mostly in gaming apps (remember the overwhelming success of Pokemon Go?) and marketing campaigns to entertain and impress customers. Today, the mobile world leverages augmented and virtual reality for more practical purposes, such as:

Object measurement
Navigation
Interior design
Education
User manuals

A good example is CanvasLogic — visual configuration software with 3D and AR features used to sell highly configurable products.

Furthermore, smartphone manufacturers have been increasing the production of AR-enabled devices: as a very conservative estimate, in 2021 there were 500+ million iOS devices and 1+ billion Android devices that allow users to experience augmented reality.

3. Mobile IoT Apps Mobile App Development Trends

The Internet of Things has become mainstream in many sectors, from healthcare and agriculture to manufacturing and transportation. This resulted in the increased development of mobile IoT apps.

IoT-enabled applications have revolutionized the way businesses operate. Of course, a mobile app is only part of the Internet of Things infrastructure. However, when combined with the new technological advancements, it can boost productivity, streamline processes, and completely change the way you live or do business.

Mobile applications serve as the central interface for human interaction with smart systems. For example, you can manage a smart coffee maker via an app and make coffee lying on the sofa; or see what’s left in your smart refrigerator directly from the store.

But the concept does not only penetrate the B2C segment. B2B companies benefit from IoT apps even more.

Many gas pipeline networks are already equipped with control sensors, and it is not enough for engineers to have a single control platform — they need to be provided with mobile applications. This way they can get up-to-date information instantly and interact with the system in the field.
Railway companies install sensors on track sections to monitor the load on the rails. Responsible personnel uses mobile apps to analyze the data online, get alerts and mitigate issues, if any.

Mobile IoT applications allow users to:

Monitor the readings of connected devices and sensors.
View live video footage.
Analyze data, build charts, and generate reports.
Manage devices (configure, open/close, turn on/off, trigger notifications, send messages, and perform many other actions).

IoT apps are equally beneficial for customer-focused solutions (smart home appliances, wearables, traffic sensors) and enterprise-grade management (oil and gas networks, railway lines, autonomous cars, etc.).

4. Mobile Payments Mobile App Development Trends

Currently, eCommerce is one of the most rapidly developing markets in the world, and mobile shopping is among the top trends. Consequently, the demand for mobile payments is growing.

After 2020, there was a significant surge in the number of mobile payment app users. This was primarily caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and people’s avoidance of cash payment. Thus, over two billion people used mobile payments in 2021.

In addition to numerous banking applications, the most widely used payment apps include Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, AliPay, WeChatPay and Zelle. These apps empower users to perform financial transactions faster, easier and from anywhere, contributing to the boom in mobile commerce. In 2023, the trend of developing eCommerce apps for mobile payments will continue.

5. Cloud-Based Mobile Applications

Apps that integrate advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, IoT, etc., require a lot of storage in a mobile device’s internal memory. But a gigabyte-sized app is not a solution of choice for users.

Cloud computing easily solves this problem: remote servers provide the necessary storage space for the seamless functioning of an app that is quickly downloaded and doesn’t affect the internal memory of your mobile device. The cloud means:

Secure functioning across multiple devices.
Saving money on hosting.
Much more computing power.
Better storage and loading capacity.
Increasing user retention.
Streamlining operations.

That’s why more providers actively invest in cloud-driven apps. This trend has contributed to the creation of the cloud mobile era.

6. 5G Connectivity Mobile App Development Trends

5G is transforming the world of mobile app development. The implementation of advanced technologies such as IoT, AI, AR, and cloud computing into mobile devices is possible due to the enhancement of wireless connectivity. Currently, the fifth-generation network is expanding globally, serving increased communication needs for billions of devices.

It provides the four main benefits for mobile solutions:

Speed — the 5G standard is up to 100x faster than 4G.
Low latency — ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) that comes with 5G ensures real-time data processing.
Connectivity — with 5G, it is possible to connect up to a million mobile devices, compared with a couple of thousands supported by 4G. This opens up new opportunities for the development of IoT apps.
Bandwidth — 5G offers excellent connectivity when working with low, mid and high bands.

7. Wearable Technology Impact on App Development

Wearable devices and their growing number of use cases uncover new opportunities for businesses. Mobile app development for wearables is one of the most booming industries because applications ensure a tighter connection between brands and users. If a wearable device is paired with an app, customers are more willing to use it as they get a wider range of opportunities (e.g., the collected data analytics and personalized recommendations).

Wearable apps differ from smartphone apps: their interfaces are concise due to small screen sizes, and they need to have low energy consumption.

Currently, apps for smartwatches and fitness trackers are the most widely used solutions. But the trend shows that more apps will be designed for other mobile devices, such as smart glasses or healthcare gadgets.