More than half of the world’s population owns smartphones, which means they potentially have access to mobile apps: apps that can do anything from control smart home devices to play games or offer media streaming solutions.
Mobile devices continue to evolve with the proliferation of wearable devices and the advancement of foldable phones. Even the Internet we use to power mobile apps is improving, with more and more people gaining access to 5G mobile Internet. And then there’s the emergence of technologies like AI, blockchain, and cryptocurrency. 2025 will see some changes in mobile app trends.
The Rise Of Mobile Apps
Website development has evolved in recent years. Modern websites, including streaming services and e-commerce platforms, are designed to provide optimal mobile performance. Even casino sites like Megadice.com, which has a sizeable roster of thousands of casino games and accepts payments using a variety of methods, use a mobile-first design. These sites run virtually as smoothly as their mobile app counterparts, but without the need to install any software on phones or other devices.
Super Apps
Apps ranging from blockchain games like Hamster Kombat to online casinos some services are moving towards offering access to their apps through other app platforms. Telegram and Discord started out as messaging apps, but with the integration of payment wallets and other features, they have become super apps. Single apps that offer access to a wide range of required services.
Super apps became popular in the Asian market and have since started to spread globally, primarily because of their convenience. A user only needs a single app to perform all, or most, of their required mobile features.
Blockchain Use
Blockchain is the technology that cryptocurrency is built on. It is a digital ledger and, as well as being secure and offering private transactions, it can also be used to develop smart contracts and decentralized apps. Smart contracts are automated, once established, and this automation brings speedier transactional completion as well as streamlined processes.
These contracts, like dApps, are decentralized, too. Users don’t have to rely on banks, financial institutions, government bodies, or other third parties to use these apps, verify transactions, or for other elements. This not only means less oversight, but it further ensures speedier transactions. Blockchain is already becoming increasingly popular in the financial industry and is seeing increased use in industries like healthcare and real estate. It is beneficial in app development because of its high levels of security.
Cryptocurrency Integration
Cryptocurrency is the best-known use of blockchain, and it offers all of the benefits blockchain does. Cryptocurrency transactions can be instant, with even the slowest crypto coins outpacing traditional payment methods by several days.
Payments are also more private, although not necessarily as anonymous as many users believe. And, for the 1.5 billion unbanked citizens in the world, cryptocurrency can offer the relief of basic banking functions like salary receipt and bill payments. Cryptocurrency is being integrated into more and more apps and offered as an alternative to traditional payment methods like credit cards and bank transfers. This will continue, especially as cryptocurrency is enjoying even more media coverage and widespread adoption than ever before.
VR/AR Development
Virtual reality and augmented reality have not taken off as fully as many industry experts expected. The reasons are plentiful, but the cost of development, compared to the availability of affordable devices, is one reason.
Development costs have reduced as companies learn optimal ways of developing on the platforms. And, more companies are developing VR headsets, which means even some of the more advanced headsets have become affordable to the average user. We are waiting for the next Pokemon Go, or a game in the VR space that will attract the massive user base that the augmented reality walking game from Niantic did, but it becomes increasingly likely.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence has made headlines in recent years, albeit not always for positive reasons. However, whatever your opinions on AI being trained using copyrighted bodies of work, there is no doubt that artificial intelligence can be used to expedite the creative process. It can also handle huge data sets and perform repetitive tasks quickly and efficiently, while potentially offering improved processes and steps.
As well as being used to assist in the development of mobile apps, we can also expect to see AI deployed more often within those apps. Big tech companies like Google and Meta are already doing so, and we are likely to see others follow suit.
5G Power
In the past few years, mobile phone hardware has advanced significantly, to the extent that a lot of mobile phones and other mobile devices are as capable as a lot of computers, especially in terms of processor power.
Simultaneously, we have also witnessed the launch and an initial rollout of 5G mobile Internet technology. Not everybody has access to 5G as yet, but more and more people do. This combination of improved hardware and Internet connections means that app developers are able to develop and deploy more powerful mobile apps. Expect improved graphics and more complex apps as these trends continue.
Sustainable Development
Research shows that consumers are willing to pay a 10% sustainability premium when shopping for any goods, and this includes mobile apps. Even free apps need to show sustainability in their development. This means using sustainable cloud computing, green apps, and even individual features that enable greater sustainability.
For example, dark mode and battery-efficient processes will be popular with users, which means they will become increasingly important to app creators.
Voice Control
Voice control certainly isn’t new. Many people have Alexa or Google Assistant, while other companies, including Samsung, have introduced their own voice assistants, especially now that AI is becoming more powerful and usable. Mobile apps are starting to integrate voice control and other touchless control elements into their devices.
This can be especially beneficial with apps that are developed for use on wearable tech. Watch screens are considerably smaller than phone screens, which can make pinching and swiping more difficult. Replacing these controls, or supplementing them, with voice activation makes controlling them much easier.
Internet Of Things Integration
As well as Alexa, another new technology that is really starting to take off is the Internet of Things, especially smart home devices. A lot of households rely on video doorbells and smart thermostats. Some have smart coffee machines and fridges.
The range of devices is increasing, and so too is their availability and accessibility. Expect to see more apps that integrate with IoT devices, as well as those designed specifically to operate such devices or act as bridges between IoT and traditional devices.
Foldable Device Utilization
Wearable devices like watches and smart rings aren’t unusual anymore. Many users use health trackers, sleep monitors, and step counters integrated into wearable technology, and most watches can now be used for processes like payment processing. More and more apps will target these devices, specifically, and we will also see more apps targeting foldable devices.
Devices like Samsung’s Fold and Flip phones have made foldable devices more accessible and functional than ever before, and companies like Motorola are upping their game, too. But they do have somewhat unique features and requirements compared to traditional phone designs. New apps will complement these features and combat current challenges.
Conclusion
A typical mobile user has dozens of apps on their phone, from games to payment apps. Even those who use super apps like Telegram still have other regularly used apps. 2025 will see the continued development and improvements of these small pieces of software, as well as the advance of super apps and app platforms, as well as the continued adoption of new technologies like AI and blockchain.
