Published by Luke Wallace
Mobile apps provide users with a variety of services and entertainment, 24/7, via the powerful, portable computers many of us carry everywhere—our smartphones and tablets. And as more people rely primarily or solely on their mobile devices to shop, play games, manage day-to-day tasks and browse the internet, their expectations for mobile app design and functionality continue to grow.
Keeping up with the latest trends in mobile app design is essential for developers who want their offerings to stand out among the tremendous number of apps in the marketplace and delight their users. Below, 20 members of Forbes Technology Council discuss trends in mobile app design that they believe will dominate in 2024. Read on to find out what’s in store, from how mobile apps are built and maintained to the added services they’ll soon bring to users.
1. Integrated Digital Health Tracking
Digital health tracking will be integrated into everyday apps to make personalized wellness guidance seamless rather than siloed. As wearables gain adoption and biomarkers get democratized, the apps we already use regularly will harness that first-party data to hyper-personalize fitness plans and provide advice about nutrition and lifestyle changes. – Marc Fischer, Dogtown Media LLC
2. AR Navigation
Navigation apps with augmented reality, which provide real-time directions by overlaying digital information onto the physical world, are becoming more sophisticated and user-friendly. These apps can enhance navigation in cities, shopping malls, airports and other complex environments. – Ranghan Venkatraman, Rezilyens LLC
3. AI-Driven Personalization
Personalization driven by artificial intelligence is set to be a key trend in mobile app development, with developers focusing on customizing user experiences in areas ranging from the content to the interface design. This approach aims to increase user engagement and satisfaction by making apps more intuitive and responsive to individual preferences and behaviors. – Andres Zunino, ZirconTech
4. Accessibility Improvements
AI will obviously play a critical role in the future of mobile apps. Adoption rates are already high, and I expect AI will become more integrated, creating better user experiences and personalization. But I also expect to see major improvements in accessibility in mobile apps. Advancements in computer vision and speech-to-text will create better experiences for everyone on their phones. – Edwin Huertas, Shockoe | Mobile by Design
5. ‘App Factories’ For Healthcare Apps
In 2024, there will be an emerging trend within larger healthcare systems to centralize mobile app development by building a “mobile app factory” model with their partners. There will be prebuilt components that have already been approved by institutional review boards, saving time on development, increasing security and quality, reducing the time to deployment and, ultimately, decreasing the variability of development costs. – Salim Afshar, MD, DMD, Reveal HealthTech
6. Progressive Web Apps
Progressive Web apps are expected to gain prominence in mobile app development in 2024. Combining the best features of Web and mobile applications, PWAs offer a seamless experience across devices and platforms, including fast loading times, offline capabilities and high responsiveness. Adoption of PWAs can provide users with a more efficient and accessible app experience. – Deepak Gupta, Cars24 Financial Services
7. Integrated Voice Recognition And Command
The integration of voice recognition and command technology will grow rapidly in 2024—we’re already seeing it now. Digital, hands-free interactions with devices and technology will create unforgettable and competitive user experiences, giving developers whose products feature this type of technology an advantage over their competition. – Jonathan Cardella, Ventive, LLC
8. Minimalism And Neomorphism
In 2024, the principles of minimalism and neomorphism will grow beyond their roots in interior design and fashion to significantly influence the aesthetics of mobile apps. These principles will gain wide recognition for contributing to the creation of polished user interfaces that impress the masses. The dynamic blend of these two trends will not only make mobile apps simple to use, but also give them a lifelike dimension. – Phil Portman, Textdrip
9. Emotional Intelligence
In 2024, more mobile apps will incorporate emotional intelligence features, analyzing user sentiments through facial expressions and voice tone. This trend aims to enhance user engagement by adapting app responses based on emotional cues. The lesson for developers is to prioritize empathy-driven app interactions, creating a more personalized and emotionally resonant user experience. – Jagadish Gokavarapu, Wissen Infotech
10. Microinteractions
Microinteractions—bite-sized, hyper-focused experiences within apps—will reign, replacing clunky menus with intuitive gestures and voice commands. Think dynamic home screens, context-aware suggestions and seamless multitasking. This boosts user engagement, reduces friction and personalizes the journey. – Shelli Brunswick, SB Global LLC
11. Decentralized User Feedback
Since the 2016 election, mobile apps have been plagued by bot activity and misinformation. X (formerly Twitter) recently introduced Community Notes. This allows users, not X employees or internal algorithms, to provide context or corrections to posts. Going forward, other apps will likely implement decentralized user feedback systems to leverage the power of their users. – Nicholas Domnisch, EES Health
12. Multiplatform Functionality
Apps will become multiplatform by default. Users will expect the same app to run on their phones, tablets, desktops, laptops, and augmented or virtual reality devices—maybe even in their cars and on their watches. The Apple Vision Pro will run iOS apps out of the box, and smart developers are already planning for this use case. As ubiquitous apps become more prevalent, so does the challenge of adapting the experience. – Luke Wallace, Bottle Rocket
13. More Interpersonal Experiences
There will be more connective and enhanced experiences with products, services and people within the personal space of the user holding the phone. AR and VR will become far more prevalent, with local usage of AI and algorithms no longer requiring large amounts of internet data. A person with a phone app will be able to have more experiences with others when shopping, meeting or consuming content or entertainment. – Jimmie Lee, JLEE
14. Development Via No-Code And Low-Code Software
I believe we will see more no- and low-code software come to mobile app development in 2024. This will be extremely helpful for business owners or tech developers who want to invest in the mobile space but don’t have the time or resources to build an app from scratch. I see this advancement as a gateway to flexible, accessible options for creators across all industries. – Thomas Griffin, OptinMonster
15. AI-Powered ‘Super Apps’
“Super apps” with integrated AI and machine learning technology are set to dominate mobile app development. Super apps will combine social media, e-commerce and personal finance. All functions will be enhanced by AI technology, which will personalize content and provide intelligent suggestions across services. Mobile apps are evolving toward integrated, AI-powered versatility. – Bhagawati Manukonda, Innocito Technologies LLC
16. On-Demand Solutions
Interest in on-demand services remains strong and is forecast to grow in the future, so we’ll probably see more on-demand mobile solutions in less-dominated niches such as pet care, cleaning services, babysitting and beauty services. Whether we’re looking for a personal chef, stylist, bartender for hire or decluttering pro, it makes sense to search for and connect with these specialists via a dedicated app. – Konstantin Klyagin, Redwerk
17. AR Integration
For 2024, a key trend in mobile app development I see is the integration of augmented reality across various sectors. AR’s potential to provide immersive, interactive experiences can transform everything from e-commerce to education, offering users a more engaging and informative interface and setting a new standard in app interactivity and user engagement. – Ryan Lasmaili, Vaultree
18. Multimodal Learning Apps
In 2024, multimodal learning apps, powered by AI, are expected to dominate mobile app development, offering personalized learning experiences for diverse styles. These apps will blend interactive lessons, augmented reality and AI tutors, focusing on efficient skill mastery in a world where continuous learning is essential. This reflects the high demand for individualized education solutions. – Raj Polanki, Wacker Chemical Corporation
19. E2E Encryption
Since cyberattacks—especially data breaches and leaks—are on the rise, we will see more use of end-to-end encryption inside mobile apps. In December 2023, Apple shared the results of a study it commissioned from MIT that found that 2.6 billion personal records were compromised by data breaches in the past two years. In the same month, Meta announced the rollout of default E2E encryption for Messenger. More in-app E2E encryption is a solution to leaks. – Karim Eldefrawy, Confidencial.io
20. AI And LLM Technologies For A Better UX
One mobile app development trend that I see emerging in 2024 is the integration of AI and large language models into mobile app UX design. With advancements in AI and natural language processing, mobile apps will be able to provide more personalized and intuitive user experiences, allowing for seamless interactions and enhanced user engagement. – Robert Mao, ArcBlock Inc.
