What Mobile Apps will be Built in 2022

The world is becoming increasingly connected and the mobile app industry is changing and growing at an unprecedented rate. Brands cannot afford to ignore the expanding mobile consumer market when almost everyone carries a smartphone. As more brands seek to develop mobile apps, software development companies need to know how to meet their needs.

Mobile app development teams must stay at the forefront of this trend. The advancement of one technology can significantly improve the capabilities of others. By understanding how mobile app trends are evolving, app development companies can plan for the future and create unique products that make life easier for both app users and businesses.

1.   5G Connections

In the land of mobile computing, connection speed is king. 5G promises up to a thousand times the speed of 4G. It is set to roll out across many regions in 2022, setting a new standard for mobile technology. According to market research, the global market for 5G infrastructure is expected to grow from $12.9 billion to $115.4 billion between 2021 and 2026.

With its lightning-fast connection speed, 5G will start a chain reaction that allows many other technologies to become mainstream. Mobile technologies that rely on fast data transfer such as AR/VR and 4K video streaming will receive a boost. Online mobile game developers can similarly look forward to better performance without latency or buffering.

2.  AR and VR

Although still considered an emerging trend, AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) use in mobile apps has been steadily increasing over the past years. Statista reports that the global consumer AR/VR market is anticipated to reach $160 billion by 2023. With the rise of AR/VR technology, we can expect a more immersive experience when gaming and shopping.

AR/VR technology is helping brands to sell. Ikea was one of the first to use Apple’s AR technology and its Ikea Place app allows users to place furniture in their living spaces. Likewise, Sephora’s app features a Virtual Artist that scans the faces of users so that they can try on makeup. As for games, who can forget Pokémon Go, the game that had players hitting the streets in droves.

According to this mobile app development company, enterprise-level AR/VR apps can be used in complex applications that cater to healthcare, the military, heavy industry, and more. Using specialized equipment such as AR goggles, engineers can visualize the complicated internal components of a piece of machinery and undertake customization and repairs easily.

3.  M-Commerce

Move over, e-commerce. The new way to transact is by mobile. Fueled by the consumer needs of the global pandemic, mobile commerce saw major improvements and development over the last two years. While some of the e-commerce giants such as Amazon have always had mobile apps, other brands big and small are moving to provide a similar shopping service to their clients.

The convenience of m-commerce not only increases a brand’s customer base but also boosts sales and revenue significantly. In 2021, retail m-commerce sales hit $359.32 billion, a figure expected to double by 2025. As more shoppers are preferring to shop on mobile, retailers are turning to apps to replace mobile web pages for a more seamless user experience. 

4. AI and Machine Learning

In the past years, AI apps have impressed users and raised the bar on mobile applications. Voice assistants are the most frequent examples of AI applications. They enable hands-free communication and allow brands to automate their most common interaction scenarios. When integrated with machine learning, the possibilities of AI are boundless.

Voice assistants like Siri from Apple can interact like humans and follow simple instructions. However, unlike humans, they are available any hour of the day and offer users a near-instant response time. As AI and machine learning technology develops, digital assistants are poised to have more powerful capabilities including solving complex tasks and analyzing the emotional states of users.

AI can foster creativity too. Photo-editing apps like FaceApp have become exceedingly popular for users to depict themselves as different genders and ages. Other apps can animate photographs or remove backgrounds, allowing users to edit images without any technical skills. Apps like Snapchat or Meitu also employ AI facial recognition to improve how they augment users’ facial features.

5.  Super Apps

Taking its cue from prolific Asian apps like WeChat and Grab, Western countries are catching up to the super-app trend. Apps were previously created for a singular function, such as shopping or communication. While some of these apps had varied features, they were usually designed to serve a specific field, like healthcare or fitness.

Super apps, on the other hand, cover a whole spectrum of tasks from digital wallets and insurance to food delivery and social newsfeeds. Modern users desire convenience. So, having one app to handle multiple tasks is far preferable to having to download several apps. Super apps also give brands more opportunities to generate income.

2022 holds great potential for the super-sizing of mobile apps. The expanding framework of technology is allowing exponential experimentation and creation for app developers. Users can look forward to faster connections, more immersive experiences, additional convenience, deeper personalization, and a larger range of mobile services.