Statista's 2016 reports estimate that the global mobile app revenue will surpass 188 billion US dollars by 2020, more than doubling the revenue recorded in 2016.
The allure of the profitable mobile app economy is drawing numerous industry businesses to create a mobile-first online presence. Yet, making an informed decision on choosing a design suitable for the industry is crucial for effective mobile apps. Mobile app design services must thoroughly assess various design methodologies to ensure maximum user adoption.
This blog post explores three major variants in mobile app designs, highlighting their attributes and significance in their respective use-cases.
1) Native Mobile App Design
Native mobile apps, designed specifically for a particular operating system like Android or iOS, utilize distinct programming languages. An Android native app, for instance, is coded differently from its iOS counterpart. Spotify and Netflix serve as examples of highly successful native apps.
Essential Features –
- One or more features of the mobile device can be utilized by native apps. For example, Instagram can access your contact list, camera, microphone, and other mobile features.
- The UI/UX of a single native app tailors the layout for various platforms, allowing Android and iOS users to experience an app exclusively designed to meet their needs and device functionality.
- A robust architecture is supported by native apps, ensuring a consistent user experience across platforms. If constructed accurately, the likelihood of a native app experiencing a decline in performance or functionality is minimal.
Consider Native Apps for Your Business for the Following Reasons:
- The cost and maintenance are substantial
While native apps deliver a seamless user experience, they demand a substantial investment. Building and maintaining a native app necessitates professional UI/UX design services for a business. Hence, it is advisable for businesses to initially comprehend their user base across platforms and their digital requirements.
- Ensure responsiveness and offline functionality
In 2012, Facebook replaced its hybrid app with a purely native one, significantly enhancing its speed and efficiency and providing the most responsive user experience among other options. Native apps can operate seamlessly without internet connectivity. Agencies specializing in user experience design prioritize offline functioning for uninterrupted user engagement.
2) Hybrid Mobile App Design
Hybrid apps blend native apps with mobile sites, resembling other apps in appearance but constructed like web pages using HTML. The programming languages within hybrid apps are enveloped inside native applications, resulting in a UI design similar to native apps.
Essential Features –
- Hybrid apps, like native apps, incorporate crucial mobile features such as GPS, contact list, compass, and others.
- Unlike native apps, hybrid apps undergo a simpler design process, utilizing specific online tools like Ionic, PhoneGap, Sencha Space, etc., for their construction.
- Furthermore, a hybrid app employs a unified interface for a cross-platform presence, offering an attractive feature for start-ups and small organizations to develop apps with minimal resources and reduced maintenance efforts.
Consider Hybrid Apps for Your Business for the Following Reasons:
- Iterate quickly
Implementing technical changes in hybrid apps is much easier compared to native apps. Consequently, providers of UI UX design services favour constructing hybrid apps to expedite the design process.
- Achieve platform independence
Platform independence allows implementing a set of changes across all platforms simultaneously, reducing the need for additional resources and professional tools required to push changes in a native app, thereby enabling cost-cutting.
3) Flutter Mobile App Design
Google's product, Flutter, streamlines the development of both native and hybrid mobile applications. Flutter utilizes Dart, a programming language also developed by Google. Launched in March 2018, the Flutter platform serves as an open-source mobile app development framework.
Essential Features –
Apps created with Flutter, like any other native or hybrid app, are available on both Google and Apple app stores.
Understanding the underlying programming language of Flutter, namely Dart, is relatively easier. The language's similarity to Java and C# makes it easier for businesses to deploy developers and designers to utilize Flutter.
Consider Flutter Apps for Your Business for the Following Reasons:
- Include built-in Material Components & Cupertino Widgets
Google Material and Cupertino serve as visual design tools and widgets that enhance digital designs, enabling businesses to deliver a quality user experience while preserving the visual integrity of the design.
- Animation Library
Flutter includes a built-in animation library, allowing UX designers to incorporate a touch of animation into mobile app designs.
Conclusion
In the quest for optimal mobile app design, careful consideration is vital for business success. Collaborating with a proficient software development company in India ensures expertise in crafting designs tailored to meet specific needs. Choosing the right design is paramount for a seamless user experience and can significantly impact a business's digital presence and overall success.
