Providing your users with the latest features is key to success in the mobile app development industry. As a business, you have to be updated with the top mobile app development trends for 2024. It tells you what people are demanding and where the market is headed.
MAD has been at the top of the game for 25 years. We have monitored innumerable trends come and go in those years. In this blog, we’ll tell you our predictions for what new features, technologies, and designs will be the talk in 2024.
The mobile application development landscape is constantly changing. Users are always on the lookout for the latest features. Trends reflect the sentiments, pain points, and demands of people. By following them, you ensure that your apps are meeting the expectations of their users.
That’s not all. You also ensure that your app stays ahead of the competition. If you’re slow to adapt to trends, you run the risk of being outdated and irrelevant. When that happens, your users will simply hop on to your competitor’s app. You must stay ahead of the curve if you want to stay relevant.
Finally, understanding trends helps you identify new opportunities. New technologies and features open up new pathways for you to reach your users. By staying informed, you ensure that you’re the first one to walk those roads.
Incorporating the right features in your mobile app is what gets the users' interest. They can enhance the user experience, improve productivity, and streamline workflows. Here are the top features that will be trending in 2024:
Having a chatbot in mobile apps is no longer just an add-on. It’s a necessity to provide instant support to your users. That’s why you'll find almost every other app featuring a chatbot. Now, how do you make your app stand out from the crowd? For that, you’ll need version 2.0 of chatbots.
Modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) can help you take your chatbot to the next level. They can make chatting with a bot feel indistinguishable from a human conversation. Now, isn’t that interesting?
There’s no denying that we’re all irritated when a chatbot gives us pre-defined responses. AI and NLP can solve that.
We’ve all witnessed the generative power of AI with applications such as ChatGPT and Gemini. Imagine integrating that into your chatbot. That’s what mobile app businesses will try to achieve in 2024.
The NLP technology helps mobile apps interpret and generate human language. It works with generative AI to make the text more empathetic. This makes chatting with a bot feel more engaging.
AI combined with NLP can help you build a chatbot that understands user queries and generates a unique and precise response each time. To achieve this, you must train the AI by feeding it with information about your app.
The AI chatbot will be able to handle multiple minor to medium-level queries. For example, if a user is struggling with changing their password, the chatbot will provide personalised guidance regarding the process.
What this means is that you don’t need a large support team. Most of the user queries will be handled by the AI within the app itself. Your human team will have a lower workload and can focus on addressing major concerns.
Benefits of an AI Chatbot:
2024 is all about personalised experiences. AI has enabled mobile apps to track every minor user interaction to provide a truly individualised experience for each user. Imagine an app that anticipates your actions before you even take them. That’s the power of hyperpersonalisation.
Here are some of the many possible ways AI can provide personalised experiences:
Dynamic UI: The app’s UI can transform itself based on user preferences. For instance, if the app identifies that a user is frequently accessing certain sections, it’ll automatically put them up front on the home screen.
Targeted Recommendations: Content recommendations play a major role in increasing user retention. Social media and eCommerce applications thrive on them. Predictive AI can provide exactly the content recommendations that the user wants to see next.
Curated User Journeys: AI can personalise the onboarding experience for each user from the get-go. The app can predict user needs and suggest the next logical step. For instance, music streaming apps ask the user about their favourite genres and artists during the initial setup. All of the future recommendations are tailored according to the user’s choice.
Tailored Search: With AI, the search engine can also become hyperpersonalised. It can prioritise the search results based on the user’s past behaviour and preferences.Adaptive Notifications: AI can make notifications more relevant and timely. For instance, an eCommerce app can send notifications about discounts on products the user has viewed before.
The feature of voice navigation has been hyped up by almost every other sci-fi flick. With technologies like AI and NLP, it’s now a reality. Google Assistant and Siri are prime examples of voice navigation done right. Users have become familiar with using voice commands for executing tasks. In 2024, many apps will capitalise on this feature by incorporating voice assistants.
Voice navigation is highly beneficial when you’re driving, cooking, or busy with something else. Also, the feature opens the door for differently-abled people to use apps.
AI and NLP enable the assistant to understand human intent and emotions. They allow the app to respond more accurately to user requests. This makes voice navigation a more intuitive and user-friendly experience.
Here are some ways voice navigation can be used in mobile apps:
Navigation Apps: Voice navigation is the heart and soul of navigation apps, as they’re primarily used when driving.
eCommerce Apps: Voice navigation can make product discovery a breeze. Users can simply say the product name to find it instantly.
Entertainment Apps: Music playback, skipping songs, or even adjusting volume can be controlled with voice.
Productivity Apps: Voice commands can be used to take notes, set reminders, manage texts, and more.
You can make your app user-friendly, accessible, and ultimately more fun to use with voice commands. As mobile app development trends for 2024 continue to evolve, we can expect even more innovative ways to interact with apps.
While instant apps have existed for quite a few years, they’ve become more popular in 2024. This feature allows people to try out an app without having to download it. If you want a frictionless onboarding experience, you need to develop instant apps.
Here’s how instant apps are a game-changer:
Reduced User Friction: Instant apps terminate the barrier of having to download and install an app. This can significantly increase user engagement, especially for one-time or infrequent use cases.
Increased Discoverability: Instant apps are easy to access via various sources like web links, QR codes, or even within other apps. You can reach a broad audience to promote specific features.
Higher Conversion Rate: By pitching the standout features of your app upfront, instant apps can lead to more downloads.
Instant apps provide a low-commitment way for users to interact with your app, resulting in positive user experiences.
Ever since the invention of smartphones, animations and transitions have become smoother with every passing year. People expect more from every interaction. Gamification is the way to add the spice of normal apps, transforming mundane tasks into engaging experiences. It includes adding game elements such as points, badges, and challenges.
Here's how gamification will supercharge mobile apps in 2024:
Increased User Engagement: Humans are wired to respond to rewards and friendly competition. Elements for points and rewards incentivise users to keep returning for more.
Improved User Retention: Gamification fosters a sense of achievement that motivates users to continue using the app for more rewards and to climb the leaderboard. This can reduce churn and keep users active.
Enhanced User Learning: Gamification can make learning things within the app more fun. For instance, an edtech app can award points to users for completing courses or a fitness app can award badges for reaching workout goals.
Driving Desired User Behaviours: You can nudge users to do a certain activity with gamification. For instance, you can reward users for logging in to the app daily.
By strategically implementing gamification elements, you can transform your app into a captivating and rewarding experience.
Technology is the lifeblood of mobile application development. It’s the base upon which the advanced features mentioned above stand. Let’s dive into the mobile app development technologies that are going to be everywhere in 2024.
AI and ML
This duo doesn’t need an introduction. After the boom of ChatGPT, AI has been the talk in the UK and globally. It’s responsible for driving features such as hyperpersonalisation, image generation, data processing, and many more.
By leveraging AI/ML algorithms, you can make your app smarter, more engaging, and more intuitive to use. We’ve already mentioned their use cases before, but the potential is endless. Here are some more use cases:
Predictive Analysis: AI/ML algorithms can predict user needs and behaviour. This enables your app to anticipate what users will do next and provide proactive suggestions.
Automation: ML algorithms can be used to automate repetitive tasks within the app. This saves you and the users a lot of time and effort. For example, a fintech app can automatically categorise transactions based on users’ past spending patterns.
Improved Security: AI can track user behaviour and detect patterns. It can send alerts when it detects anomalous patterns to prevent fraudulent activity. Analytical AI can be used to scan and block explicit content on a social media app.
Overall, AI/ML is more than a trend. It’s a fundamental shift in developing mobile apps.
AR and VR technology are game changers for many businesses. Their market value is estimated to double by 2028. There’s no better time than now to capitalise on AR and VR technology and enhance your user experience.
The use cases of AR and VR extend to a diverse range of applications:
Interactive Shopping Experiences: AR enables virtual product try-ons in eCommerce applications. Users can see how a particular dress or hat will look on them before buying. This bridges the gap between online shopping and the physical experience.
Gamified Learning: Imagine learning history in a way where the events come to life through the phone’s camera. Well, today’s kids can learn that way with the use of AR technologies in EdTech apps.
Virtual Travel: VR can literally take you anywhere in the world without having to leave the room, even Mars. It can take travel experiences to a whole new level.
Entertainment Revolution: VR gaming is already quite popular. It’s only going to rise as VR headsets become more accessible.
Home Customisation: With AR, people can check how a new paint or piece of furniture will appear in their home. The Ikea app uses this feature to allow people to virtually check out furniture.
In 2024, we’ll witness AR and VR becoming more mainstream in mobile apps as technology advances and hardware costs decrease.
In 2024, interconnected experiences will be the norm. Almost every other tech brand is aiming to create an ecosystem. If your app blends seamlessly with that ecosystem, then people will adore using it.
Today, mobile devices encompass wearables, TWS, tablets, rings, and more. You need to ensure your app runs on those devices as well to reach the maximum number of users.
With IoT, users can control a whole bunch of devices from their smartphones. This includes everything from home appliances to vehicles from anywhere in the world. For example, you can remotely turn on the air conditioner before reaching home.
As more and more devices become IoT-enabled, there will be a surge in demand for apps that can connect with them.
NLP bridges the gap between the advanced capabilities of a machine and human emotions. It makes mobile apps more empathetic and able to process human language. From understanding voice commands to fueling chatbots, it can do a lot of things to enhance the user experience.
Let’s look at some of the use cases of NLP in mobile apps:
Instant Translation: If you’re targeting a global audience, you need to make your app available in as many languages as possible. However, manually translating it is simply not feasible for many. AI and NLP can be used here to provide multi-language support by instantly translating the app content to the desired languages.
Voice Assistants: A voice assistant lives and breathes on NLP. The technology enables it to understand human intent, tone, and emotions to provide accurate responses.
Voice User Interfaces (VUIs): 41% of users feel they’re talking to a friend when using VUIs and NLP is the driving force behind it. Users can navigate through the entire app without having to pick up the phone.
In 2024, NLP will transform the way people interact with mobile apps.
Blockchain is one of the most important mobile app development trends for 2024. Security is a major concern for all businesses in the digital realm with the rising number of cyber threats. Blockchain provides a secure and transparent way to store user data immutably, reducing the risk of breaches.
While blockchain is primarily associated with crypto, its benefits extend far beyond:
Decentralised Applications (dApps): These applications are built on blockchain and are not controlled by a single entity. This reduces downtime and security risk, allowing users to own their data.
Supply Chain Management: Blockchain can track the movement of goods throughout a supply chain. What this means is that mobile apps can be built to monitor product lifecycles, identify counterfeits, and streamline logistics.
Identity Management: Blockchain can be used to create secure and verifiable digital identities for users. Mobile apps can integrate with blockchain to enable secure logins, identity verification, and access control.
While blockchain technology is still evolving, it has a lot of potential to transform mobile apps. We can expect a surge in blockchain-based apps in 2024.
No matter how much we emphasise not to judge a book by its cover, people are going to judge your app based on its UI design. Let’s look at some 2024 UI design trends you can follow to make your app stand out and memorable:
Neumorphism is a blend of skeuomorphism and flat design. It uses subtle shadows and highlights to create the illusion of soft, three-dimensional screens. What it results in is a clean, minimalistic look that feels inviting to interact with. Here are some reasons why you should consider opting for neumorphism
Modern and Unique: Neumorphism provides a sleek, modern aesthetic that makes your app stand out from the crowd.
Clean and Minimalist: The focus on subtle shadows and highlights keeps the design clean and avoids clutter.
Soft and Inviting: The design can make your app feel approachable and user-friendly.
Having a dark mode in 2024 is mandatory. It’s not only aesthetically pleasing but also reduces eye strain during nighttime app usage. As most smartphones have an AMOLED display, dark mode reduces battery consumption as well. That’s why the dark mode trend is here to stay. Let’s understand its benefits in detail:
Reduced Eye Strain: Dark UIs with light text put less strain on the eyes, especially in low-light environments. This benefits users who use your app at night or in dimly lit areas.
Improved Battery Life: AMOLED displays are built in such a way that dark pixels consume little to no power. Dark mode can reduce dark mode significantly.
Enhanced Aesthetics: A dark theme can evoke a luxurious feel to the app. It can please users who prefer a sophisticated look.
Now, let’s understand some design considerations you need to keep in mind:
Readability: Ensure high contrast between the background and the text for optimal readability.
Accessibility: Don't forget about accessibility! Use colour contrast checkers to ensure sufficient contrast for visually impaired users.
Iconography and Imagery: Check if your icons are visible in the dark theme. In some scenarios, you might need to adjust colours or use alternatives.
Dynamic Switching: Allow users to easily switch between light and dark modes based on their preferences.
Overall, dark mode is a win-win for both users and mobile app developers. It provides a comfortable and pleasing experience while increasing battery life.
Glassmorphism is a rising trend in 2024 that offers a futuristic vibe. It delivers a layered visual where underlying elements subtly peak through to add depth to the app.
Glassmorphism looks as if someone put a frosted pane of glass over your app. It creates a subtle, translucent feel that’s very pleasing to look at. Here are some advantages to using this approach:
Enhanced Depth and Dimension: The layered effect produces a sense of depth that prevents the app from feeling flat.
Improved Readability: The frosted background provides a subtle contrast, improving readability.
Modern and Sleek Aesthetic: Glassmorphism exudes a modern and polished look.
Increased User Focus: As the background is blurred, users can focus on the main content of the app.
Here are some things to consider when going for this design:
Glassmorphism offers a unique way to create a visually appealing, modern, and user-friendly experience for your audience.
Data is everywhere and how you present it makes all the difference. Nobody likes to drown in data. In mobile apps, it's important to showcase data in a way that’s digestible on smaller screens. Data visualisation is a 2024 UI design trend that focuses on just that. Let’s understand how:
Improved Decision Making: By presenting data visually, users can make quicker and more informed decisions based on the insights gleaned from the information.
Improved Clarity and Communication: Data visualisation can make complex information understandable to people without a strong technical background.
Storytelling with Data: Visualisations can transform dry data points into a compelling narrative. It’s a great way to make it morememorable and impactful.
Ever since the birth of smartphones, people have gone to the bottom of their phones for navigation. Whether it's going back, opening recent apps, or minimising the screen, everything is at the phone’s button. Also, smartphone screens are getting taller, making it next to impossible to reach the top with one-handed use. This has made bottom navigation an indispensable element.
Bottom navigation aligns perfectly with how users interact with their phones. Our thumbs intuitively gravitate towards the bottom half of the screen. By putting all major elements at the bottom of the screen, you promote one-handed use. You allow users to seamlessly switch between essential sections of the app with a single tap.
When going for bottom navigation, try to keep the icons between 3-5. Having too many can clutter the bar. Provide visual cues, like colour changes or subtle animations, to indicate the selected navigation item.
If you want to build an app with any of the above-mentioned mobile app development trends for 2024, MAD can help you out. We have all the necessary developers and technologies you’re going to require under one roof. Whether you want to deliver interconnected experiences with IoT or provide personalised experiences, we can build it for you.
Our consultants will guide you through the development process and show you the best steps forward. Let’s team up to build a trend-setting app.
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