Top 10 Mobile App Development Trends 2025

Mobile application development has become a priority and the new normal for many businesses. Without mobile-optimized solutions, companies undoubtedly risk losing a significant number of clients and lagging behind the competition. In this article, we’ve compiled the key mobile app development trends impacting the industry in 2025.

Market Overview

The increased adoption of mobile devices has led to the remarkable growth of the mobile app sector. Here are some impressive statistics.

• In 2024, the number of smartphone users worldwide was estimated at 4.88 billion.
• As of January 2025, there are 2.096 million apps on Google Play and 1.906 million on the App Store.
• 90% of mobile time is spent in applications, which is a significant increase from a few years ago.
• The most downloaded app categories are social media, games, and creative editing tools.

Using these figures, it’s evident that mobile apps are creating exciting new business prospects. Why? Well, today’s consumers prioritize convenience, freedom, and speed when engaging with any business’s products or services. The applications installed on smartphones, tablets, and other portable devices serve as the optimal tools to guarantee the convenience, freedom, and speed that customers seek.But there is a catch: not all applications appeal to users and perform as intended. This happens when mobile app providers don’t consider customer needs and fail to follow the top trends when designing their solutions.

Latest Trends in Mobile Application Development 2025

A great number of technologies, solutions, and social factors influence the mobile market. We want you to get a holistic view of the current trends in mobile development to understand what direction to take. The following information can be valuable for both business leaders and those who develop software solutions for mobile devices. Take a look to discover something new or spark fresh ideas.

1. 5G technology integration

The implementation of advanced features (IoT, AI/ML, AR/VR, cloud computing) into mobile devices is possible due to the enhancement of wireless connectivity. Hence, 5G is gaining traction in the world of mobile app development. 

Currently, the fifth-generation network is expanding globally. Statista reported there were about 2.17 billion 5G mobile subscriptions worldwide in 2024, up from just 1.58 billion the previous year. By the end of the decade, this number is predicted to rise to 5.56 billion; 5G is likely to overtake 4G as the top mobile network technology globally.

Main benefits of 5G for mobile solutions:

2. AI-powered personalization

The year 2017 was the point of no return for the mobile industry: Apple integrated the Siri voice assistant into applications and thus paved the way for numerous artificial intelligence and machine learning features in mobile apps. 

In 2025, mobile developers focus on creating AI-powered user experiences. Intelligent and context-aware applications can recognize user emotions and adapt to them, generate personalized content, provide real-time analytics, and ensure online payment security.

Among the popular AI frameworks for iOS and Android development are Core ML, TensorFlow and TensorFlow Lite, ML Kit, Turi Create, Vision, PyTorch and PyTorch Mobile, Keras, to name a few.

3. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)

An increasing number of apps are incorporating augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) features, and this trend shows no signs of fading.

In 2024, the global mobile augmented reality (MAR) market was estimated at $11.9 billion. Foreseen to experience significant expansion, it is predicted to reach $13.8 billion in 2025, and over $21 billion by 2028. 

A couple of years ago, AR and VR technologies were primarily utilized in gaming apps (remember the overwhelming success of Pokemon Go?) and marketing campaigns to entertain and impress customers. Today, the mobile world leverages augmented and virtual reality for more practical purposes, such as object measurement, navigation, interior design, user manuals, and more. AR/VR-powered apps provide incredible opportunities for virtually all industries, including ecommerce, healthcare, education, tourism, manufacturing, automotive, sports, and others.

Smartphone manufacturers have been increasing the production of AR-enabled devices. As a conservative estimate, in 2024, the number of devices allowing users to experience augmented reality reached 1.73 billion. This figure reflects steady growth from previous years, with 1.4 billion devices reported in 2023 and projections indicating continued expansion across consumer and enterprise applications.

4. Low-code/no-code development

Simplicity and speed — these are the two ingredients that all businesses strive for. Low-code/no-code development is a modern approach that doesn’t require deep coding knowledge to create mobile apps quickly and affordably. This approach can reduce development time by up to 90%, so it is ideal for rapid prototyping and iteration. It also enables non-developers and business stakeholders to participate directly in app creation, which can add value to the final product.

Gartner predicts that organizations will use low-code or no-code technologies to develop 70% of new applications in 2025.

OutSystems, Mendix, Microsoft Power Apps, Airtable, and Zapier are some of the popular platforms for designing mobile applications visually. 

5. IoT app integration

The Internet of Things (IoT) is everywhere now. So are mobile IoT applications. We can see the surge in the development of mobile IoT apps in various industries, from healthcare and agriculture to manufacturing and transportation. 

These apps empower users to monitor connected devices and sensors, access live video footage, analyze data, create charts, generate reports, manage devices, and perform many more critical tasks.

Thus, mobile applications serve as the central interface for human interaction with smart systems. For example, you can manage a smart coffee maker through an app and make coffee while comfortably lying on the sofa. Or, you can check what’s left in your smart refrigerator right from the store.

IoT apps offer equal advantages for consumer-focused solutions (like smart home appliances) and for enterprise-grade management. A popular use case is when companies develop predictive analytics systems and interact with them via mobile IoT apps. 

For example, an oil and gas company equips pipeline networks with control sensors. Engineers access real-time data and manage the system through mobile apps while out in the field. Similarly, railway companies place sensors on tracks to monitor rail load. Responsible specialists use mobile apps to analyze data, get alerts, and quickly handle any problems as they arise.

6. Mobile wallets and payments

Ecommerce is one of the most rapidly developing markets in the world, and mobile shopping is among the top trends. Consequently, the demand for mobile payments is growing.

After 2020, there was a significant surge in the number of mobile payment app users. This was primarily caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and people’s avoidance of cash payment. Thus, over two billion people used mobile payments in 2021. 

The global mobile wallet market was valued at around $12.20 billion in 2024, with projections to grow to approximately $88.20 billion by 2032. Statista predicts that digital wallet share will reach 61% by 2027.

Why is this payment option becoming so popular? Just like with the low-code/no-code development trend, simplicity and speed play the key role here. Since smartphones are always at hand, people can make payments quickly and easily. Not many people want to deal with cash today. First, it is not always convenient to carry many banknotes and coins with you. Second, living in the post-pandemic world, people believe that contactless payments are safer. 

In addition to numerous banking applications, the most widely used payment apps include Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, AliPay, WeChatPay and Zelle. 

7. Mobile app security

Today, all the major stores, banks, or airline companies have their own mobile applications. Since their users are feeding and managing confidential information in these apps, they need excellent security measures in place. Unfortunately, many apps are full of vulnerabilities that open loopholes for hackers.

Cyberattacks can cost a business dearly: they lead to direct financial losses, provoke fines from regulators, cause an outflow of customers, and worsen the company’s reputation on the market.

Therefore, app security remains the hottest issue for providers and consumers. The mobile development priority for the near future is to pay extra attention to creating built-in security features in applications. 

Developers should implement a range of measures to secure mobile applications effectively. To begin with, it’s important to use trusted libraries and frameworks: be cautious with third-party tools, ensure they are secure and regularly updated. 

Code obfuscation and encryption are meant to protect the application code from reverse engineering. Multi-factor authentication (MFA), industry-standard encryption algorithms (e.g., AES), and secure communication protocols (e.g., HTTPS) safeguard sensitive data. Biometric authentication is another innovative method to protect apps. Role-based access control (RBAC) limits user permissions based on their roles. It’s also required to minimize the amount of sensitive data stored locally on devices, conduct regular security testing, patching, and updates. 

8. Apps for foldable devices

Everything new is a well-forgotten old, people say. Foldable devices are making a significant comeback, with popular models like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Huawei Mate X5, and Motorola Razr 40 leading the market.

In 2024, approximately 17.7 million foldable smartphones were sold, marking an 11% increase from the previous year. Looking ahead, the market for foldable devices is projected to experience significant growth, with forecasts estimating sales to reach 70 million units by 2027.

This growth is driven by increasing consumer interest in innovative designs and functionalities, despite challenges such as high prices and concerns about durability. Foldable smartphones attract users by their customization options. It is possible to adjust the screen size according to user preferences. For example, you can unfold the device to watch a video on a larger screen and then fold it to make a call. Portability is preserved, while customer experiences are expanded. 

As such, the need for specialized mobile applications is growing as well. Software solutions should provide optimized interfaces as the screen folds and unfolds.  

9. Predictive analytics

The main goal of integrating predictive analytics features into mobile applications is the personalization of user experiences. With this technology, apps can analyze historical data and forecast user behavior. In practice it means that, for example, a music streaming service recommends playlists based on your listening habits, or a fitness solution creates workout plans individually for you. Convenient, isn’t it?

89% of marketers in the US claim that they managed to increase revenue on their apps due to personalization. And predictive analytics was of the central role in that result.

10. Wearable technology integration

Wearable devices and their growing number of use cases uncover new opportunities for businesses. Mobile app development for wearables is one of the most booming industries because applications ensure a tighter connection between brands and users. If a wearable device is paired with an app, customers are more willing to use it as they get a wider range of opportunities (e.g., the collected data analytics and personalized recommendations).

Wearable apps differ from smartphone apps: their interfaces are concise due to small screen sizes, and they need to have low energy consumption.

Google Play has around 4,000 apps for Android Wear devices. Samsung Gear Store contains over 1,000 smartwatch apps.

Currently, apps for smartwatches and fitness trackers are the most widely used solutions. But the trend shows that more apps will be designed for other mobile devices, such as smart glasses or healthcare gadgets.

Why You Should Choose SaM Solutions as Your Mobile Development Partner

SaM Solutions has been present on the market for over three decades. Mobile app development is among the key services we offer to our clients. 

Whether you seek consultancy, app modernization, or custom development from the ground up (be it for iOS, Android, Windows, or a cross-platform solution), we have something to offer. 

Regardless of the complexity of your concept, our team of mobile developers are enthusiastic about turning your ideas into reality. Armed with hands-on expertise in advanced technologies such as .NET MAUI (Xamarin) and React Native, they prioritize the security and quality of the final product. Your expectations are carefully considered throughout the development process, so you get a tailored solution that aligns with your vision.

To Sum Up: Going Mobile Is the Right Way for Business

New trends in the mobile development landscape prove that technology continues to penetrate ever deeper into our lives. Applications that previously were just another touchpoint with the brand have come to the forefront.

Mobile development follows the latest innovations and offers powerful and convenient solutions. Companies focus on apps to attract loyal customers, while customers expect more services to be available via apps.

Soon, we’ll see an increasing number of smartphone solutions that will use multiple advanced technologies. Many companies will turn to apps as a complementary or even primary source of income.