15+1 Mobile Trends You Should Be Aware of in 2023 and Beyond

6. Foldable Devices

Within the categories of digitalization, the employment of foldable devices will remarkably increase between 2023 and 2027. According to Technavio, the size of the market is expected to grow by more than $73 billion (at a CAGR of over 15%). So far, foldable devices have been one of the strongest trends in the mobile domain. With their growth, the mobile app development industry has taken a surprising turn. Thus, if you utilize this trend, it can help boost your business efficiently.

What’s the appeal? The largest screen size possible on a device that can still fit in a user’s pocket or, at least, in a hand.. The everyday smartphone with a tablet-like screen size offers portability and thus is making waves. 

Foldable devices can be considered a boon for the growth of your business. They offer an advanced design with several screens to operate. Besides, foldable devices come with a set of smart and innovative key features that improve productivity. Furthermore, they provide greater durability and improved power functionality. In a nutshell, foldable devices are flexible, convenient, and a healthy option for businesses to opt for.

7. Mobile Virtual Reality

Virtual reality is something creative folks around the world have been trying to tackle for a long time now, with varying results. Enter 2022 and Metaverse. Regardless of how we perceive this project, it surely has left an impact. Now, according to credible sources and our own predictions, it seems that after years of experiments, interesting developments followed by spectacular flops (or quiet whimpers), the market is steadily evolving into something that might work on a larger scale.

Hardware still remains a key challenge for the industry, if not for technological reasons than for market ones (we’re still waiting for that “aha!” moment among customers). IDTechex, which has been observing the Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality markets for some time now claims that the tech is out of its infancy phase. In 2023, VR will be more and more streamlined and simplified with low-cost, standalone devices contributing to its success. According to the company, the XR headset industry will grow at a CAGR of 13% between 2023 and 2033 (XR — Extender Reality meaning both Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality).

Anyway, it seems that VR is really happening, so keep your eyes open and be the first to take advantage of it, as we all know — being first matters a lot.

8. Mobile Augmented Reality

What is currently bigger and more widely available now (as of 2022)?

Of course, it’s Augmented Reality! 

This is a technology that has already given us some terrific functionalities and truly immersive experiences in mobile apps for e-commerce (isn’t fitting 3D models of furniture in your place on camera just neat?), lifestyle (this means virtual house decoration, trying new makeup or clothes on camera or inside an app), entertainment and gaming (chasing Pokemon or real monsters with the Witcher).

Things will get even better in 2023 and beyond, with the development of dedicated Augmented Reality hardware. The technology already made some bold & successful accomplishments in the professional environment in industries ranging from medicine & surgery and many others.

Scale is king and the popularization of AR on a mass market may be more challenging, but it’s certain that app developers may count on new opportunities in 2023 and beyond.

9. Beacon Technology

Beacon technology means using small devices (beacons) to communicate with mobile phones and apps in their proximity. Beacons can be used to greet mobile app users of shopping apps in real life locations… and send them some extra offers. Patients can be guided in large facilities straight to their doctors, streamlining registrations and check-ins.

This tech already has a wide range of applications in e-commerce, retail, healthcare, logistics, banking and marketing. Proximity marketing (a tactic of communicating with mobile users in a specific vicinity) is a term that mobile app developers and publishers should be familiar with. After all, mobile apps with access to the internet already are an important tool used in this fashion.

In 2023, the technology will go even further, delivering precise data on user behavior and shopping customs, driving more implementation and business opportunities for app publishers and developers.

10. Super Apps

Super Apps is a term for large mobile applications that integrate multiple functionalities, thus replacing a number of smaller, separate apps.

From a technical perspective, a super app may in fact be a collection of several mini-apps hiding behind a robust and (hopefully) frequently customizable interface, allowing for the accomplishment of a multitude of diverse tasks.

Regardless of technicalities, a Super App offers a complete, all-encompassing user experience. For example, a mobile bank app may offer additional features like buying insurance, automating payments of utility bills, interactions with official administration and government institutions, payments for parking, tickets and so on.

Growth of certain apps into Super Apps is the natural consequence of the sheer number of new apps being uploaded into all app stores every month. Inevitably, we are reaching a point where users are being overwhelmed by the number of apps being installed on their phones so they are gravitating toward all-in-one solutions.

Superapps was a trend live and kicking in 2022 already and we predict that in 2023 it will be even more popular. Big apps can look for even more opportunities to grow. Everyone should watch their competition and try to explore niches if possible.

11. Mobile Security: Two-step Authentication, Biometrics

The more integrated into our lives mobile apps become and the larger their range of services, the bigger the pressure on security. Super apps may serve as a prime example of why new methods for authentication will matter more in 2023 and beyond.

With the core app including more & more modules (mini-apps), a single breach can lead to a terrifying data loss, stolen identities, credit card numbers, unauthorized access to other services and so on.

We’ll see more apps relying on security measures reserved for professional services, like ID verification, two-step authentication and even biometrics (like facial recognition or fingerprint identification).

Investigating these technologies in mobile application development is crucial in finding the right balance between security and usability. Naturally, those depend on an app and its purpose. For a good start, we recommend this article by Avast – it’s a comprehensive guide to various security measures.

12. The Internet of Things

More things will access the Internet and have their apps. From Smart TV’s to a wide range of devices, including air filters, house alarms and monitoring, lightning systems, kitchen appliances… and smart cars or assistants like Amazon’s Alexa.

Forbes predicts that by the end of 2023 there will be more than 40 million smart devices connected to the Internet. Apps for things that want to (and need to be online) have a huge presence on the Apple App Store and are a significant part of the Lifestyle category.

Beacons, AR / VR, Super Apps… they all show that the smartphone will be more and more integrated into our daily activities, becoming our extension and way to interact with the world more and more.

13. Customization, Optimization

In the context of Super Apps, the Internet of Things, beacon technologies as well as AR / VR, many companies find that in the process of increasing mobile app revenue creating a cohesive business environment and great user experience is even more challenging than developing the technology itself.

You may have all the tools at your disposal to build a powerful Super App with wonderful mini-apps developed by separate teams… but the bigger the scope, the more difficult it is to explain it to new users and accommodate them once they install an app.

Customization and optimization become key for user acquisition, adoption of services and ultimately user retention. Customization of apps becomes a must-have feature.

The more complex an app becomes, the more data-driven this process should be — from careful optimization of their product pages on all app stores, to promotion and marketing.

Testing will be more important than ever, just like having a good mobile measurement partner that will give our app means to learn more about its users.

14. Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

The larger the scale, the more sophisticated our solutions need to become. Artificial intelligence and machine learning will be crucial in the process of optimizing user experience and ultimately allowing the best customization of mobile apps possible. From news-feeds, product recommendations, notifications, usage patterns and security measures — AI / MR will be a key tool for providing analytics teams with data.

Chatbots are an increasingly popular way for mobile apps to provide customer support. Their market alone (not only for mobile apps) is predicted to reach $13.9 billion by 2027 according to Researchandmarkets.com.

The year 2023 belongs to generative AI – reshaping content creation through online services and mobile apps. While app users get new and exciting ways to create stunning works of art, app marketers have access to even more possibilities to level-up their app growth game.

State of AI in Mobile Marketing

Discover AI’s transformative role in mobile app marketing and learn how this technology is reshaping competitive research, ASO, and user acquisition strategies.

Access the report

15. Localization

After analyzing hundreds of A/B tests conducted through our platform SplitMetrics Optimize, we highly recommend all mobile app developers and publishers: localize your product and product pages on all app stores.

The inclusion of culturally relevant imagery and messaging on an app’s product page can lead to a dramatic conversion rate uplift.

More and more companies are noticing that the key to growth lies in diversification of their offering and messaging. This trend goes beyond marketing & promotion or just providing multilingual interfaces. Apps need to be optimized for a wider range of devices and systems. This trend was big already, but will be even more important in 2023. Lucky for you, if you are a mobile app publisher, you can immediately profit from it. Take a look at these case study to see how:

• ZiMAD Gets 36% Conversion Uplift by Optimizing App Store Screenshots for Japan;
• FiftyThree: How Paper App Got 33% More Installs A/B Testing Screenshots for App Store.

16. Gamification

Self improvement, achievements and rewards are at the core of gamification, a design strategy that uses game elements, such as points, rewards, and competition, in non-game contexts to encourage engagement, motivation, and participation.

This trend lies behind the colossal success of many non-gaming apps, who utilize it to boost app-engagement and reduce retention. Whether it’s learning languages, acquiring new skills, maintaining training routines, investing or unlocking various rewards for any form of user-generated content – mechanics that appeal to the winners in all just work. No wonder gamification can both increase engagement and lower retention scores for apps, according to Optimove. There’s also serious scientific evidence that gamified health & fitness apps are capable of increasing the level of physical ability in people (Source: MDPI).

If gamification means self-improvement or other benefits to the users and engagement and profits for an app – that in this case everybody wins.

Mobile Trends For 2023

Without the shadow of a doubt, mobile technology is the future. By using all of these mobile trends, businesses can shape and design their growth model accordingly. Besides, some of these trends are more likely to evolve into a less complex system, rendering companies enough room to flourish. 

However, one primary question that you need to bear in mind is: what kind of apps will be in demand in 2023? 

When you are already aware of the in-demand apps and mobile trends in 2023, it can be effective for your business strategy. 

Here at SplitMetrics, we hope that these trends will inspire you to improve your user acquisition efforts in 2023. Some of them you just need to keep an eye on. But with some things you can get right to work — introducing new features or marketing ideas.

You may also install an accounting software to your business processes to boost your business. Accounting software reduces the screen time on data entry, enabling users to sync their credit cards or business bank payment systems with the software. This helps formulate key financial reports and keeps all of your financial data in sync.