Latest Trends In Android App Development

More than half of the global traffic comes from mobile.

So, if you are still not tapping into app development, consider doing so now.

In the mobile app market, one of the most prominent players is Android.

Its popularity even surpasses Apple, dominating 73% of the market (or around 3.6 billion users in the world!) – according to Exploding Topics.

There is definitely a huge potential to take advantage of in the rise of Android.

That’s why, we’re sharing with you the trends of Android application development.

Top 9 Trends of Android Application Development

Watch out for the following Android application development trends to keep a competitive edge in the market:

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Android Apps

ChatGPT has released its mobile app. More innovations like this are predicted to follow through.

This is because AI has been consistently trending and showing a lot of promise.

Its market size on a global scale is forecasted to reach trillions of USD in 6 years.

This is a huge portion, especially if compared to other technologies such as Blockchain.

Many Android apps are now competing on who can bring forth AI-driven innovations the fastest to the market.

Generative AI such as ChatGPT receives an overwhelmingly positive response from the users for demonstrating actual values, including increased productivity.

Utilizing machine learning (ML) algorithms, you can develop an AI app solution whose intelligence equals or even tops a human’s.

This is where the future is heading as more users are integrating AI into their daily personal and professional routines.

Here are some of the most well-known examples of AI use in Android apps:

• Google Maps: Leveraging AI to make predictions about traffic patterns and give suggestions on which route to take.
• Spotify: Using ML, Spotify uses personalizations to recommend songs or even create playlists based on user listening preferences and habits.
• Netflix: Likewise, Netflix’s AI gives user TV show or movie recommendations based on their watching history.

2. The Comeback of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

AR/VR adds a virtual overlay to the real environment or even reimagines it, creating a more immersive experience for the users.

For this reason, AR/VR is heavily used in Android apps, especially for travel, tourism, and entertainment. Its market share is growing at 25.3%, based on the Markets and Markets Report.

AR/VR can increase user experience significantly and even serve as a new revenue stream, namely through gamification or education.

3. 5G to Replace 4G

Remember 4G? You are probably aware that the fifth generation of mobile networks is finally here – with increased speed and capacity.

Android users spend most of their time browsing through media-heavy social platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.

When they see content they like, they will share it through chat platforms such as WhatsApp, which can only be done after they have saved the picture or downloaded the video.

Another scenario is that, as a lot of users spend one-third of their days commuting, they will resort to watching their favorite series through Netflix.

Still, low internet speed prevents this user from enjoying their time on the internet.

That’s why, when 5G comes in, it’s undeniable that users will flock to it right away.

This way, users can continue consuming content without sacrificing the quality or even playing video games without interruption.

4. The Prominence of Instant Apps

Imagine if users can use your app without having to install it. That is an installed app.

Of course, you might be worried about metrics such as user downloads, but tangible results are only driven by daily or monthly active users.

This is where instant apps can be beneficial for you.

As long as user devices are run on Android 5.0, they can access instant apps.

So, how do instant apps work? In simple terms, it’s the same as browsing.

Users will type in the URL which then will direct them to the instant app.

For optimal performance, the instant app will divide the app into smaller modules that can be viewed independently.

Instant apps can also serve as an attractive offer for users who want to do a trial before making a decision.

If you are in the eCommerce or social commerce sector, an instant app can merge your site and app into one efficient platform.

5. Flutter is the New Programming Language Standard for Android

When it comes to cross-platform Android application development, you are probably familiar with React Native.

With the entrance of Flutter, however, the landscape is about to change.

Android developers have been using Flutter increasingly, to the point that React Native is being left behind.

As a cross-platform language made by Google, Flutter integrates seamlessly into the Android system.

Flutter is also relatively easy to learn, unlike the complex React Native.

Meaning, beginner developers can bring more innovations into the Android app store.

Secondly, Flutter provides more control. There is more flexibility in terms of designing the look and feel of your app by adding UI widgets, features, or elements.

Same as React’s JavaScript, Flutter also gives dynamicity with its animation support for a lively and interactive layout.

Some apps created with Flutter include Google Ads, Amazon Prime Video, and Spotify. Perhaps, your app will be the next big one.

6. The Next-Gen of Blockchain

The hype toward crypto and financial technology still lingers and Blockchain has become more relevant than ever.

Blockchain is a cutting-edge technology that provides privacy and transparency within transactions.

As a result, Android applications take advantage of Blockchain’s decentralized system for performance optimization.

One Blockchain feature that is gaining recognition is “Ethereum”, which can often be found in transactions and data storage.

Moreover, with the introduction of 5G, Blockchain will also ride on this wave for users who are not only demanding privacy but also network speed.

7. The Breakthrough of the Internet of Things (IoT)

IoT is an innovation that enables continuous and smooth data sharing across devices.

As a central gateway to the internet, a lot of businesses use IoT to streamline processes, especially in higher-machine industries.

The uniqueness of IoT lies in its ability to give users a sense of control, unlike any other technology.

Let’s say, a user has arrived at the office but forgotten to switch off the air conditioner at home.

Through their phone, users can easily do this with a click and save electricity.

This is a huge benefit as users can be anywhere to do such an action while managing resources more economically.

8. Chatbots to Become Personal Assistants

Have you ever used the Chatbot in your phone, such as Google Assistant or Siri, to schedule a meeting?

Or help you find a song that you like when you’re hearing it in public?

You’re not the only one. More and more people are using Chatbots to do a range of tasks.

How to tap into this?

For starters, you can use Chatbots to set up in-app reminders.

If you are a fitness app, you can use a personal assistant to remind your user how far they’ve come, or if they need to do another exercise routine.

9. Accurate Predictions with Analysis

Predictive analysis is more than just a statistical model based on machine learning algorithms.

It is a data-driven approach that can forecast user behaviors in the future so businesses can easily personalize their product and service offerings to the right segmentations.

The most common example of an app using predictive analysis is Spotify.

It can right away guess what music genre you’d like to hear next.

Another one is YouTube, which can also recommend the next video to watch based on your historical behavior.

Both Spotify and YouTube now have millions of users, thanks to the accurate predictive analysis that allows users to get more “hooked” to the platform.

So, if you are out of ideas to increase the stickiness of your app, one technique to try out is predictive analysis.