As we turn the corner on H2 2022, it's apparent that the growth of the mobile industry isn’t slowing down. Global user spending in mobile apps is projected to reach $156 billion by 2023. This massive number represents a 120% growth from 2018 and a CAGR of 16.8% over the next five years. Additionally, it is estimated that in 2021 the average person spent around 4 hours 23 mins a day checking their smartphone. With the rise of mobile applications and overall smartphone adoption, usage will rise dramatically in 2023.
Source: SensorTower
App developers that wish to keep up with this rapid industry growth need to stay ahead of the evolving app trends. Let’s take a look at five top app tech trends predictions that could take the mobile marketing industry by storm in 2023.
Top Five Emerging App Tech Trend Predictions
Blockchain Technology
To give a quick overview, blockchain is a distributed digital ledger that stores data of any kind. It is the innovative technology that’s at the heart of nearly all cryptocurrencies. By distributing identical copies of a database across an entire network, blockchain makes it very difficult to hack or cheat a system. While blockchain technology is still most popular with cryptocurrency use, this technology offers the potential to serve a variety of industries, including mobile apps.
One main draw of blockchain technology for apps is its enablement of safe and transparent payments. Blockchain keeps immutable records of digital transactions that keep user data secure. When an app is secured with the blockchain, users don’t have to worry that their data will be tampered with.
Apps that are based on blockchain technology, also known as decentralized applications (dapps), grant users more control of their data by eliminating the need for centralized intermediaries to manage it. This comes in handy when developing apps for the security, governance, identification, social-sharing, and finance categories. For example, by the end of March 2021 blockchain wallets reached over 70 million users. Blockchain is a top contender for mobile app technology trends coming in 2023.
AR & VR Technology
Another set of emerging app tech trend prediction to look out for in the upcoming year is virtual reality and augmented reality technologies. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have immense potential in the future of gaming, e-commerce, education apps and more. With AR and VR, virtual and real worlds can be merged with enhanced, 3-D visuals, which is what makes them so popular in gaming.
According to Statista, the global AR and VR market will reach $296.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. AR and VR technologies have the power to allow app users to shop in virtual environments, gather with friends from their individual homes, and learn in classrooms even when a student may be away on a trip. The possibilities are endless for this vibrant mobile app technology trend and app developers that wish to stand out in this space should take advantage of it to give their users the best possible experience.
Super Apps
Super apps are among the most interesting developing app tech trends predictions today in the mobile space. Although these types of apps aren’t popular in the United States quite yet, super apps are currently on the rise in China. For example, WeChat is a popular super app in China, used by 1.2 billion people. This app combines everything from messaging, payments, e-commerce, and more within its one platform.
Super apps are essentially ecosystems in which various activities such as work, shopping, leisure, and social interaction may happen all at once. Similar to how you would go to one mall to get all your Christmas shopping done, super apps are meant to be a one-stop-shop for a variety of different tasks a user wishes to complete.
Developers in the U.S. are slowly adopting the concept of super apps. In other words, developers are starting to integrate multiple layers into one app so that users can do more online without switching platforms. A great example is Facebook (now Meta) and its marketplace and dating features. What started as merely a social platform now allows users to sell and buy goods as well as meet significant others is sure to be one of the strongest mobile app technology trends.
Adoption of 5G
5G has been on mobile app developers’ radars for quite some time as an app tech trend prediction. However, with the application of 5G becoming incorporated worldwide, keeping these changes top of mind is crucial for apps to stay relevant.
5G is the fifth generation of cellular technology (the "G" stands for generation), following the 4G standard that rolled out back in 2011. This technology will outperform the current 4G and 4G LTE standards when it comes to download and upload speeds by up to 100 times. 5G will also have fewer delays in processing data that exists in current networks. It will also bring faster and more reliable mobile connectivity which can power more advanced mobile apps.
Source: Onix System
By 2025, 5G connections are projected to grow to 40% of all connections in Europe and 15% among all mobile connections worldwide. In fact, 47.5% of all smartphones will support 5G connections by 2023. This hyper-fast technology provides opportunities to create robust, high-performing mobile apps that we haven’t been able to produce in the past. For example, with 5G, video streaming apps will be able to offer richer viewing experiences that support live streaming. The higher latency and slower processing speeds offered by 5G will also revolutionize the ability for app developers to effectively integrate AR/VR elements to boost engagement. Location technologies like GPS, beacons, and geofencing will also be available for real-time location tracking, delivery fulfillment and other enhancements to the customer’s experience.
Foldable Devices
Way back before the shiny, sleek screens of smartphones, flip phones with chunky buttons and T9 texting were all the rage. Bringing up any nostalgia? Well, good news is that flip phones are making a comeback – just in a slightly different form. There has been an increased demand for foldable phones, with 7.1 million units shipped in 2021. It is even predicted that the foldable phones market will reach 27.6 million units with a value of $29 billion by 2025.
With this new tech trend on the rise, mobile app development strategies have now started revolving around foldable devices. However, designing mobile apps for a single small screen is very different from developing applications for screens that are foldable. When it comes to foldables, it’s important to consider your app’s compatibility with multiple windows, including a small screen and a large one. Mobile app developers should take this new app tech trend prediction into consideration when designing new projects in order to make sure they will work for both single screened smartphones as well as multi-screened foldable devices.
Takeaways of App Tech Trend Predictions for 2023
Mobile app downloads spending isn’t slowing down in 2023. As a matter of fact, it is projected to reach $156 billion next year. In order to keep up with this rapid growth in the mobile space, developers need to have an eye out for upcoming mobile app technology trends in the industry. Below are the top five tech trends that have been evolving in the mobile app space that could take the mobile marketing industry by a storm in 2023.
Blockchain Technology
While blockchain technology is still most popular with cryptocurrency use, this technology offers the potential to serve a variety of industries, including mobile apps. Apps that integrate blockchain technology grant users more control over their data by eliminating the need for centralized intermediaries to manage it. This comes in handy when developing apps for security, governance, identification, social-sharing, and finance.
AR and VR Technologies
Both AR and VR merge virtual and real worlds with enhanced, 3-D visuals, which is what makes them so popular in gaming. These technologies have the power to enable app users to shop in virtual environments, gather with friends in digital spaces, and learn in classrooms even when a student may be away on a trip.
Super Apps
Super apps are essentially ecosystems in which various activities such as work, shopping, leisure, and social interaction may happen all at once. Developers in the U.S. are starting to integrate multiple layers into one app so that users can do more online without switching platforms.
Adoption of 5G
5G has been on mobile app developer’s radar for quite some time. It outperforms the current 4G and 4G LTE standards when it comes to download and upload speeds by up to 100 times. This technology brings faster and more reliable mobile connectivity which can power more advanced mobile apps.
Foldable Devices
There has been an increased demand for foldable phones, with 7.1 million units shipped in 2021. With this new trend on the rise, mobile app development strategies have now started revolving around foldable devices. It is important to consider your app’s compatibility with multiple windows and works on a small screen as well as a large one.
Want to learn more about how to stay up to date on these app tech trend predictions? Reach out to one of our marketing experts here!
