The Top 10 Mobile App Trends to Look Out for in 2022

Mobile apps are a large and expanding industry as of Statista forecasting an estimated 935.2 billion U.S. dollar revenue by 2023.

Today, people search on their mobile devices more than they do from their desktops when purchasing products online. This is why there is a case for the creation of a mobile-friendly app for your company..

Not to mention the 5G network is coming shortly, with a faster speed as compared to the previous 4G service. It will also open more opportunities for app developers like never before.

With all the new developments, it can be difficult to distinguish yourself from the myriad of applications that are expected to enter the market. If you're aware of the features customers are looking for in a mobile application, it should help you place your company in the best spot.

If you are an small business owner looking to create your very first app , or to improve your existing app Here are the top mobile app trends both developers and consumers will be looking for in 2022.

11. Managed Marketplaces

What exactly is it? Popularized by apps like Uber and Airbnb, a managed marketplace is a way to connect customers and service providers, and offering value to customers' experiences. This added value could be improved pricing, more convenience and security in the transaction. Managed marketplaces provide customers with more convenience than what was available previously on the market.

What's coming in 2022? from food and fitness to personal training, on-demand services are now the norm for many people which will evolve to accommodate different needs. Managed marketplaces provide flexibility and convenience to users and 2022 will likely be the year that mobile payment and an accent on UI layout.

With the proliferation of managed marketplaces on the market, the on-demand service apps need to do more than simply provide a platform for connection but also include extra features managed by the app owner themselves. The element of trust is crucial to managing marketplaces and progress will likely be made towards providing the security of users.

10. Beacons

What is it? Beacons are a tiny object that emits low-energy Bluetooth signals, which allow mobile applications to recognize the location of the user's business's location. Beacon technology also allows for specific events to be held on the app depending on where a person is located within the venue.

What's next in 2022? Beacon technology gives businesses the ability to monitor in real-time how their customers interact within a particular space , and allows for very specific messages to be directly to the users. So far , the application for this trend has mainly been in retailstores, for example aiding customers navigate through a mall or using advertisements being sent to a customer's smartphone when they enter an establishment. We expect that more developers will develop beacon technology to use in other places and incorporate more features such as mobile payments.

9. IoT

What exactly is it? IoT refers to the internet of things. It is a computer system, machines, objects like home appliances and many more that are able to communicate with one another without human interaction. Every object has its own unique identification number that allows the object to be identified on the internet and send and receive data from other objects.

What's coming in 2022? Smart devices connected to the IoT system will need to be controlled by a single app in order to make users' experience easier. More devices are being connected to the network each year which means that users will be using the app of this kind throughout their day-to-day lives. IoT will continue to grow in 2022 with new user-friendly ways to manage connected devices.

8. Blockchain-Dependent Apps

What is it? What exactly is a blockchain is a type of digital ledger that tracks all transactions on its platform publicly. The digital recording process is carried out in a non-centralized manner which means that no single service provider can potentially act as a guardian to data. Blockchain-related applications have been discovered in a wide variety of industries such as retail, manufacturing, healthcare and finance, marketing, and banking.

What's to come in 2022? The biggest topic in 2019 was the idea of privacy after a number of well-publicized security breaches lead to the theft of personal information. One of the mobile app trends for 2022 will likely be to implement more security features into appsto ensure that customers are confident that the company is committed to protect their privacy.

A prime example of this trend is the possible use of Hybrid blockchain technologies by governments. Hybrid technology for blockchain offers benefits of both private and public blockchain. The information stored on the private blockchain is verified through the public blockchain, which is best suited for governments that want to keep their information transparent while controlling access to private data.

7. AR, VR, and Wearables

What is it? Augmented Reality (AR) as well as virtual reality (VR) provide computer-generated experiences for the user, with augmented reality taking place in the real world and virtual reality taking place in a virtual world. Both augmented reality and virtual reality let businesses connect to their users in a customized way, creating stories and experiences which present the business in the best image. The wearable device is device that is worn around the body and usually tracks user data to be processed by an application. Wearable technology is a great illustration of IoT, as the device communicates with an app without the need for human interaction.

What's coming in 2022? Virtual reality and Augmented Reality are set to remain in 2022. Developers are expected to provide immersive and unique experiences for users, and AR and VR are the vehicles to do so. The applications for these mobile app developments are found in a variety of areas, such as gaming and even real estate, and more apps can stand to benefit from using these technologies.

The market for wearables is predicted to grow by more than doubling the number of shipped devices from 2017 to 222.3 million by 2021. The fitness industry has undoubtedly benefited from apps connected to wearables, which monitor user's information, but the technology has already begun to expand into the healthcare sector as well. This expansion brings with it opportunities for both professionals and patients to interact on an app to provide more personalized access to patients from home.

6. 5G Network

What exactly is it? 5G is the next generation technology to connect mobile devices. It isn't yet universally accessible, however developers believe it will eventually completely replace 4G technology becoming the primary method of connecting to the internet through their mobile devices.

Three types of 5G technology mobile users will be able to select from, each operating on different bands determined from the operators. Advancements in technology are promising up to 1000 times the speed of today's 4G networks.

What's to come in 2022? The higher speeds of connection offered by 5G offer a wide range of opportunities for the types of products that are offered on mobile devices. Technologies like virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality are data-heavy, requiring high internet speeds to function properly. They'll have the chance to become widely accessible.

Additionally, YouTube reports 70% of all YouTube traffic comes from mobile devices. With the help by 5G network, YouTube along with other online streaming services could see an increase in their mobile user traffic as new-generation connectivity speeds up loading speeds. In the present, around 70% of mobile traffic is dedicated to videos but users typically watch them in less than 360p or 420p. A new, faster network will make it possible mobile users to view videos with much greater resolution.

Higher quality means better products. With the increased bandwidth of fifth generation connections means game developers are able to design more challenging and complex games that players can play from any device. This, in conjunction with the possibilities of the Internet of Things, 5G may be able to bring together consumers and developers through the use of a single large system that connects each device.

5. Cross-Platform App Development

What exactly is it? Cross-platform app development is an app development framework that is equipped with an array of tools that let developers build native or native-like apps for multiple platforms , such as Android, iOS, Windows and Web using a single source code. The use of this design technique allows developers to expand the reach of the applications they design across different platforms. App development that is cross-platform costs around 40% to create and needs around 25 percent less support over the long-term as opposed to Native app creation.

What's to come in 2022? Cross-platform apps offer wide range of advantages that will make distribution and development easier in the near future. With the availability for both Android and iOS they are able to reach a wider audience, which gives startups more opportunities to grow their revenues and user base. The use of a single codebase in the development of these applications cuts down on the time needed to write code for each platform, which makes it much easier to lower costs. Modern cross-platform software is packed with functions that let developers to build OS-specific applications on a single platform.

No more inconsistencies between platforms. Low-cost development process. Easy audience distribution. Increased revenues.

4. Enterprise Mobile Applications

What exactly is the definition of it? Enterprise mobile development is the process of creating and installing portable, scalable, and trusted mobile applications to help large organizations engage with customers, partners and employees. The objective is to establish an unbeatable level of connectivity while still meeting the safety and security requirements for different businesses.

What's coming in 2022? Companies are looking to offer their apps on mobile devices , without paying for any unnecessary costs or extending development times. Although there are a variety of ways to accomplish this, a development-based strategy that integrates mobile capabilities is increasingly the norm for many enterprises.

The integration of application development for mobile devices into a larger strategy focused on cloud-native microservices can bring many advantages, including higher productivity, lower cost enhanced security, in addition to greater visibility and control.

3. Folding Display

What's it? You heard it right. The technology of folding is making a comeback. With Samsung announcement of the launch for its new foldable OLED display, operating systems are preparing to make the shift towards this newly revamped technology to enhance the user experience on smartphones.

In 2018, Google has officially announced the foldable feature on Android phones through its screen continuity API. As well, according to Samsung numerous popular Android applications have been made compatible to work with the Galaxy Fold, including Amazon Prime Video, Twitter, Spotify, Facebook, VSCO and Microsoft Office.

What's to come in 2022? Considering 'foldable phone' was the buzzword of 2021, both business owners too should be thinking about their mobile app development strategies to run smoothly on foldable devices in the coming years.

The ability to fold the device can have an immediate impact on the user experience as it provides a larger screen for running applications on. More screen space means more room for detail, immersive experiences while multi-windows will allow users to work on multiple tasks at once. In addition, video streaming and game applications will reap the maximum benefit of foldable devices, taking advantage of the larger screen's size, which allows more control and information to be added to the screen.

2. Wearables

What exactly is it? Wearables are a group of mobile devices designed to be worn during the day, including fitness bands and smartwatches. While this kind of technology has become increasing common over the last several years, ongoing improvements in technology and software continue to push forward improvements in their capabilities. Today, people can control their mobile devices, computers, smartwatches, fitness bands heart rate trackers, blood pressure monitors and blood oxygen levels and many other daily activities using wearable devices.

What's to come in 2022? In 2021, by the time 2021 is over the wearable software market worth is anticipated to rise to 929 millions U.S. dollars, with revenues estimated at 17,834 million U.S. dollars.

Mobile app development trends point to the fact that the creation of the devices is a massive investment in a variety of industries. It's no longer enough to think for how your app and website can work on mobile devices or desktops. Developers and business owners have be aware of how apps can be used on wearable devices to ensure the users have a seamless experience.

The wearables segment has also been moving beyond fitness trackers and smartwatches and offer more robust actual-world service. Wearable technology can make it much easier to upgrade prosthetics, allowing amputees to enjoy a similar function with their artificial attachments. In addition, GPS enabling technology will enable users to track movement and provide accurate feedback for professional athletes and amateur users as well.

According to Statista the number of connected wearables will reach 1.1 billion wearable devices connected in 2022.

1. Virtual Events Streaming

What exactly is it? Event apps is among the most upcoming trends within the B2B business sector, making the function and the organization of large-scale events more efficient and more easily to build. The trend towards using customized event apps is being used to improve participation and communication during the planning process of corporate events. Apps like these, especially ones that deal with QR codes, do not just improve the experience of the guests but also help to collect data on brand activations and track the level of engagement at an event.

What's in store for 2022? The increasing shift towards remote working has left no business unaffected and event management isn't an exception. The result of this shift is an entirely new structure for the live event sphere and the application of technology to create a hybrid event experience. It is expected that the use of technology will make events more innovative, interactive and expand audiences as organizations continue to incorporate virtual streaming into their plans.

Live streaming events enable an audience of more people access to content, helping them align with the content better. This real-time experience increases the connectivity with attendees of the event and creates a genuine virtual experience. Businesses have also started to experiment on ways to incorporate facial recognition, projection mapping as well as augmented and virtual reality activations into their digital events in order to enhance the experience of attendees further.

To summarize mobile app Trends

The common theme of the above app developments is personalization of the user's journey. It is becoming more difficult to make it easier to access services, products, and companies. App developers on mobile are working towards creating the most user-friendly experience and integrating technology into the daily lives of users. Note that security and privacy have become an issue following the 2019 security breaches and data breaches. People are becoming more aware, and more secure, about their personal data. Be aware of these trends and looking into integrating them in your own app can be beneficial to your overall business.

If you're eager for 2022 as the year that your app gets the recognition and downloads it deserves, contact us to get a quote for the development of mobile apps or marketing for mobile apps.

Which mobile app trends that you are most thrilled for in 2022? Let us know in the comments below!