9 mobile app development trends to watch in 2023

9 mobile app development trends to watch in 2023


Finally, we've reached the halfway point of 2022. In the aftermath of the pandemic, businesses around the world are attempting to recover from the losses suffered in 2020. As a result, many people are looking for ways to make their companies stand out in this fierce competition.
Simultaneously, the market witnessed a rapid increase in the number of phone-heavy users. As a result, mobile-first solutions promise to open up new opportunities for any business that adopts them successfully.
How can you assist your company in winning the game?
You can gain useful insight into mobile app development by looking at the latest trends shaping the mobile landscape and trending programming languages looking at the latest trends shaping the mobile landscape and trending programming languages, you can gain useful insight into mobile app development.
Apps are heavily used on smartphones.
It's easy to notice people around you who are constantly glued to their smartphones. According to one study, people will spend an average of 4-5 hours in apps in Q2 2022.
Notably, the pandemic situation is the primary reason for the increase in app usage across all categories, including banking, shopping, and working, as well as entertainment.
The data, however, suggest that the pandemic may have had a longer-term impact on app users. Despite returning to the new normal, mobile consumers continue to spend more time on their phones.
The global app market forecast indicates a promising future for mobile app development.
The number of mobile app downloads in 2023 is expected to increase by 24 billion when compared to 2022.
The global app market forecast indicates a promising future for mobile app development.
Meanwhile, the mobile app market is expected to exceed $650 billion between 2020 and 2025, with a market growth momentum of nearly 21% compound annual growth rate.
In other words, this trend suggests that mobile app development will flourish in 2023 and beyond.
Despite being a fragmented market with a few major players, the mobile app industry is constantly evolving. This creates opportunities for SMEs and individuals to enter the game and become game changers at any time.
But how do you know which path to take or which decisions will have an impact on your company?
Learning about the most recent and emerging trends can help you stay ahead of the curve and gain insight into the possible future direction of the app development industry.
Top 9 Mobile App Development Trends for 2023
1.    More augmented reality apps
We've already seen how popular augmented reality applications can be, thanks to the undeniable success of games like Pokemon Go and AR filters in messaging apps like Snapchat and Instagram.
And the trend is expected to continue as more businesses attempt to use augmented reality to showcase their products. One example of combining AR and retail is Apple and IKEA's collaboration to develop an application that will help buyers showcase IKEA's furniture in their homes. It will make use of Apple's ARKit, and the new products will be available first through the app.
If the app is successful, other manufacturers from a variety of industries will follow.
2.    AI will revolutionize technology.
AI advancements alter how we interact with mobile apps. Virtual assistants such as Siri, Cortana, and Google Assistant can now assist us in gathering information, organizing our schedules, and increasing productivity.

Natural Language Processing and machine learning advancements make virtual assistants more contextually aware, resulting in better and more accurate responses.
According to Venture Scanning, machine learning is the most funded category among AI-based ventures, with $2 billion raised.
At the same time, large corporations such as Facebook, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are investing in machine-learning solutions to create better conversational interfaces.
We saw mobile apps like Prisma last year that used neural networks and AI to create what others thought a simple filter could do. The result was stunning, and we can expect other app developers to try similar solutions in the future.
3.    Security is still the priority for developers.
Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting mobile devices.
In 2021, 30% of known zero-day vulnerabilities targeted mobile devices.
The number of exploited, zero-day vulnerabilities used in active attacks against mobile endpoints increased by 466% in the same year.
Furthermore, 75% of the analyzed phishing sites specifically targeted mobile devices.
Because of the industry's overall growth, billions of users, third-party SDKs, and the vast amount of user data stored by companies, security has become a top priority for mobile app developers.
We've already seen an increase in encrypted messaging apps like Telegram, mobile browsers protecting users' privacy, and an industry shift toward data protection, such as Apple's App Transport Security (ATS) and Google's efforts to improve app permissions.
Both companies included automatic security updates for their operating systems at the same time.
In 2023, we will undoubtedly see more advancements in mobile security, particularly in mobile payments, data encryption, and privacy protection.
4.    Location-based applications
Location-based apps will grow in popularity as location-based services (LBS) alter how customers interact with businesses.
Location intelligence advancements and the ability to track where users have been helped marketers and publishers better target their customers by offering relevant ads.
Tourism and travel apps, navigation, security features, location-specific payment portals, and indoor mapping will all grow in popularity.
And, with easily accessible APIs and Google map technology, mobile app developers can now create location-based solutions for users more easily than ever before.
5.    Kotlin vs. Java in Android
Kotlin, like Swift and Objective-C on iOS, has become an alternative to Java for Android developers. Because of its growing popularity and successful use in commercial projects, Kotlin will finally take off on a larger scale in 2023.
The reason for this is that it is simple to use.
Learning Kotlin is simple for Java developers, as it is for C# developers because the two languages have some similarities.
Developers can also use Kotlin and Java on the same project because they work well together. They can also use it with IntelliJ's Android Studio.
It also aids in avoiding some Java pitfalls, such as null references, which improves product quality.
That is why Kotlin has been dubbed "Java on steroids," and we will see it used in more Android apps.
6.    iOS: Swift will expand further.
Swift's popularity will continue to grow in 2023, as it is regarded as a powerful and simple-to-learn mobile programming language.
Swift is thought to be more fluid than Objective C due to its concise syntax and clear documentation.
Swift and Objective-C, like Kotlin and Java, can be used in the same projects, with full access to the Objective-C API.
Swift may not replace Objective-C this year, but it will be used in an increasing number of iOS applications.
7.    Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)
Loading speed is still an important consideration for mobile users.
Google has introduced Accelerated Mobile Pages to improve it. It is an open-source project that aims to improve mobile browsing. AMP-based websites are easily identified when searching Google on mobile, as they are labeled as such.
Web developers, businesses, and publishers should consider this solution because it not only improves the mobile user experience but is also an SEO factor (AMP websites rank higher in Google).
At the same time, developing and maintaining an AMP is less expensive than developing a native or hybrid mobile application.
8.    Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)
Progressive Web Apps (PWA) are the next generation of mobile web apps. They are not limited by the limitations of mobile websites, such as slow speed and the requirement for a constant Internet connection.
PWAs provide a native-like experience with features such as offline and full-screen modes, a home screen launcher, camera access, and push notifications. Furthermore, they are faster and use less data than mobile websites.
Progressive Web Apps are a solution to mobile fragmentation and multiple operating systems because they do not require downloading and installation.
Some companies, such as the Financial Times, have already abandoned native apps in favor of PWAs, while others, such as Twitter, have introduced a lighter, more progressive alternative to their own native apps (e.g., Twitter Lite).
With a growing list of Progressive Web Apps from popular apps such as Flipboard, AliExpress, and Telegram, we can anticipate a shift toward PWAs.
9.    Instant Apps for Android
Given a large number of mobile applications available in app stores, Google recognized how difficult it is for users to download and update new apps on a regular basis for various purposes.
That's why the company debuted its Android Instant Apps, which were previewed at this year's Google I/O developer conference.
With Android Instant Apps, users can download only the parts of the application that are required, accessing the rest of the content instantly via the URL and saving space on the device. Android Instant Apps are being created alongside Google's Progressive Web Apps.
According to Google, 50 instant apps have already been developed, and developers can easily convert their native apps into instant ones without the need to build a separate application.
Keep up with the latest mobile app trends.
The right app can help increase the visibility and accessibility of your brand or business to your target audience. Staying on top of trends allows you to incorporate novel ideas into your business and establish yourself as an authority in your niche.