The mobile app development industry is progressing at a neck-breaking speed. In 2020, one of the effects of the global pandemic was a huge increase in demand for certain mobile apps including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet.

With such growth, more businesses are continuously jumping onto the smartphone bandwagon and there is no turning back. According to Statista, before the end of 2021, it’s expected that there will be over 7 billion mobile users worldwide, and the number is projected to hit 7.41 billion by 2024. The mobile app market is expected to grow by 385% by 2021 and account for $935 billion in revenue by 2023.

With such numbers, it’s safe to say, the best time to establish a strong and direct connection with customers is now. And organizations are constantly watching the emerging trends in mobile app development to jump in as early as possible.

With that said, here are the top trends to watch out for in 2021 and beyond.

Internet of Things (IoT) Mobile Apps

Just when we thought that the internet couldn’t take any more control of our daily lives especially in the bedroom or kitchen, there comes the Internet of Things! Surprisingly, the IoT market is expected to be worth up to $1,319 billion by 2026.

A network of interconnected smart gadgets is termed the Internet of Things (IoT). The continuous rise in smartphone use across a wide range of sectors has created countless opportunities for IoT. Imagine being in the office and remembering you forgot to lock your house. Instead of returning home, you can lock your house with a simple tap on your phone.

The future is bright where it will be possible to control almost everything by using Internet of Things systems. Giant brands like Amazon and Google have fully utilized this technology, with more companies like Microsoft and IBM developing their ecosystem around IoT to make the experience even better.

mCommerce

Mobile commerce (mCommerce) is associated with buying and selling products and services through your mobile phone. Due to the unprecedented situation we are in as a result of the global pandemic and people’s response to adapt to the situation, there is a huge spike in eCommerce sales. We are seeing a significant shift as shop owners prepare to venture into mobile apps to provide better shopping experiences for the user and increase revenue.

It’s estimated that nearly 73% of total eCommerce sales will come from smartphones by the end of 2021. This shows that the affinity towards mCommerce is expected to keep rising in the coming years as well. We are likely to see more advanced features such as omnichannel retail, voice-based shopping, and one-click ordering being integrated into existing eCommerce platforms to offer customers a physical, fast, and stress-free shopping experience.

Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

What comes to your mind when you hear AI on mobile phones?

The first thing that comes to mind is virtual assistants such as Google Assistants, Siri, etc., chatbots, automated assistants that are setting up the camera before taking a shot, or the new entrant into the market, AI-powered photo editing and filtering apps such as Face App.

But 2021 and the coming years will see more integration with AI in mobile apps. Besides the most popular AI-powered mobile apps mentioned above, the possibilities of AI in custom mobile development will find a new home in smartphones.

The best part is that a combination of AI and machine learning can be used to smooth out complex processes such as mobile app development. If provided with data about a previous app development process, it’s capable of creating a mobile app with minimal instructions. And if the app has issues, AI integrations can quickly fix them in real-time.

AI can also learn and imitate our behaviors and actions through following regular usage patterns and executing actions without instructions. This is especially useful when studying the buying behavior of customers. It stores all the necessary data, and the next time you shop, you are directed to pages with desired recommendations even without having to search for them.

Building Apps for Foldable Mobile Devices

The last time I spotted a foldable device was in Adele’s song “Hello.”

While most of us thought that era was gone, brands like Huawei, Samsung, and Motorola proved us wrong. In 2018, Google introduced the foldable function of Android smartphones by using its “screen continuity” API. And it did not take long before Giant brands started to enter into this space. In 2019 for instance, we saw foldable devices like the Huawei Mate X, Samsung Galaxy Fold, and Motorola Razr take the market by storm.

Thanks to its multi-window support features, users can use different parts of the screen based on their preferences. They can compress the screen size or expand the app. For instance, users can fold the device when making calls, then unfold it when watching videos to provide that big screen experience.

Statista estimates that over 3.2 million foldable smartphones were distributed in 2019 and the figure is expected to hit 50 million pieces by 2022. With such growth, 2021 and beyond will be a big decade for foldables, which will push mobile app developers to put more effort into creating apps that would enhance the fold experience.

5G Technology

With the COVID 19 pandemic confining us to our homes, fast internet with greater bandwidth has become a household necessity especially because people need it for remote work and children have to continue with online classes.

The roll-out of 5G technology in 2021 means that we will have more people connecting than ever before. 5G technology is projected to deliver a 10X decrease in latency, while improving network efficiency beyond our expectations. Users can expect more than 100 times faster speed depending on their respective mobile network provider.

In addition to speed, 5G will change the nature of mobile app development. For developers, resellers, and creators, this advanced technology will transform mobile app testing and development to achieve enhanced mobile app functionality.

5G is also expected to revolutionize streaming services with 4K streaming without buffering to improve the viewing experience. With its greater bandwidth, handling AR and VR objects will also become easier.

Wrapping Up!

What the future holds for mobile app development is pretty exciting. With the arrival of 5G technology and innovative trends like AI and Machine Learning, the future of mobile apps is all about simplicity, speed, and personalization. Enterprises and organizations alike have to keep up with the mobile trends, to stay ahead of the pack.

Integrating these innovative trends into our mobile devices is a big leap. You need a reliable mobile app development partner to help with the process. Camber understands that your customers need a unique experience when interacting with your product. We’re here to help you in every stage of your product lifecycle from product strategy to the design and development of your product.

Ready to get started with your app development journey? Schedule a consultation with our experts today!