Mobile App Design Trends for 2024

October 16, 2023

Mobile apps are developing and evolving at an incredibly rapid rate. Many factors contribute to this, including the increasing rollout of new smartphones, smart TVs, smart projectors, etc. As more consumers upgrade to newer devices, app developers must also step up their game and meet the minimum technical specifications new phones and gadgets demand. More importantly, they must meet customer expectations.

Considering technological advancement and user demand, here are the top mobile app design trends we can look forward to in 2024.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

iOS mobile phone users are the majority in the United States, but Android is the leader elsewhere in the world. If you have a global target audience, your apps must be compatible with iOS, Android, and other operating systems.

Even if you are mainly targeting North American consumers, you would be remiss to gatekeep your products and services by making them available only to iOS devices when you can expand your market beyond Apple users. Fortunately, app developers are now more inclusive and use cross-platform development frameworks to cater to as many platforms as possible.

Dark Mode

Scrolling on social media or browsing the web just before sleep has become part of our everyday lives. It also made dark mode more popular as the reduced light from mobile phone screens minimizes the strain on our eyes. It is an already-popular app design that will likely continue to trend next year.

Minimalism with Neomorphism

Minimalism is making its mark across all aspects of life, from home interior design to wardrobes to lifestyles – and yes, to mobile apps. Most people regard clean, fuss-free interfaces as professional, which increases their appeal. Navigation-wise, minimalist designs are easier to understand on first use, giving users a good first impression of an app.

Adding neomorphism to the mix enhances the experience. Neomorphism is a design trend that became popular among UI/UX developers because it adds a touch of realism to a flat, 2D interface. For example, neomorphic buttons mirror their real-life counterparts: they appear realistically protruding instead of simply floating on the page, and once clicked, they appear recessed or dented into the background, just like a physical button that sinks when pressed.

Many UI designers have been combining these two design principles, and people love it. Therefore, minimalism and neomorphism are high on our mobile app design trends list.

Flat Design

This design trend is also inspired by minimalism. The name may give an opposite impression, but a “flat” design can be engaging and vibrant. Designers can use bright colors and quirky typography while maintaining its 2D visuals: no shadows, no gradients, just clean lines and shapes.

Flat designs are ideal for mobile apps in which clarity and presentation of data are more important than flashy visuals. Examples are banking and finance apps, note apps, scheduling apps, activity trackers, etc.

Abstract Geometric Designs

Still in line with visual minimalism, we can expect mobile apps to showcase abstract geometry to elevate simplicity in design. Abstract geometry suits most industries, from lifestyle to corporate. Along with perfectly matching typography, abstract designs from various geometric shapes can feel formal and professional without looking boring. This is one of the more exciting mobile app design trends to look forward to next year.

3D Graphics

A contender to minimalism and flat design, 3D art has captured the attention of brands and mobile app designers who prefer more visually engaging and potentially interactive design elements. 3D graphics and animations are great if you want a futuristic look or to improve user experience using hyper realistic media.

5G-Compatible Features

Telecom networks and manufacturers of mobile phones, televisions, and Internet of Things devices have already started developing products that support 5G networks. The progression towards adopting 5G is inevitable: everybody wants it because it offers lightning speeds and ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC). For context on how fast 5zg is, 4G’s peak speed is 1G; 5G’s is 20G.

Tech-savvy brands will take advantage of 5G capabilities to give customers a much-improved experience on their branded apps. They now have an opportunity to deliver seamless operations, faster downloads, smoother streaming, and more.

Voice as Input Control

Mobile app input controls are no longer limited to buttons and text zones. We can now also use voice. Siri and Alexa set the precedent, and with the widespread adoption of the Internet of Things in households, commercial establishments, and offices, mobile app users are now comfortable using voice-enabled devices. Telling a room to turn on or dim the lights, play a specific song, or lock the doors is no longer something you only see in movies; it is very much our present reality.

Mobile app developers can tap into consumers’ increasing use of voice-based smart assistants and integrate the technology into their applications. The banking sector is surprisingly one of the avid consumers of voice smart assistants, and we can expect banking apps to start adding a “speak now” microphone button into their interfaces in the coming months.

Full-Screen Graphics

Some mobile apps benefit from offering immersive user experiences. Using full-screen graphics is one way to do that. Spotify took this a step further and integrated full-screen videos playing in the background when listening to songs with music videos.

Expanding media files edge-to-edge, from top to bottom or side to side without frames, looks attractive and draws the users’ attention to the screen. Since it helps increase app engagement and prolong active usage, full-screen graphics are unsurprisingly one of the most popular mobile app trends to emerge this year and will likely continue next year.

Passwordless Logins

Accessibility is always a priority for mobile app developers and designers. One type of innovation that stemmed from the need to simplify logins without compromising security is eliminating passwords. Apps that allow users to log in using an active social media or email account are much more convenient and attractive to people tired of memorizing another password.

If your audience is comfortable going passwordless and doesn’t see the need for stricter security like two-factor authentication, this trend will benefit you.

Gamification Elements

Brands and enterprises have become more aware of the benefits of engaging their core markets through branded mobile apps. Transporting audiences from social media platforms into your website or mobile app ensures you have all their focus and attention, making it easier to promote new products or upsell items that complement their most recent purchase. But to do this, brands need customers to stay on their apps.

Gamification or adding game elements to the user experience is an excellent way to make people stay and continue using an app. Educational apps like Duolingo have perfected this. By offering badges for completing a level, users feel they are making progress and are rewarded for it. This makes them want to continue, conquer higher levels, and collect more badges.

Social media also adds value to gamified features as people today love to share their interests and progress in anything – gaming, learning a new skill, completing a milestone, or ticking off an item on their bucket list. Gamification with social media integration is one of the app design trends in 2024 worth exploring.

Green Tech

In an era of growing environmental awareness, the public favors enterprises that promote sustainable business practices, including mobile app development. Apps requiring less energy or bandwidth will appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. If this is a market you want to target, it would be a wise idea to incorporate green technology and design elements that reduce energy consumption, aka., don’t drain batteries fast.

There are more app design trends in 2024 to explore and consider for your mobile app. If you represent a brand or company or are an enterprising app developer with plenty of ideas for a mobile app but need more experience or technical expertise, contact Jackrabbit Mobile.

We are a mobile and desktop app development company that uses advanced technologies like machine learning to create satisfying digital experiences for our clients’ clients. We help companies, professionals, business owners, and organizations build their dream apps. Our UI and UX specialists will help you design apps to help your business build meaningful, lasting relationships with your customers.