2024 Guide to Native Mobile App Development

Native mobile app development is now becoming a new phenomenon for developers. Mobile phones have become an integral part of our lives. They generate nearly half of the internet traffic as users access different applications and websites through their mobile phones.

All of this is making the Chicago mobile app development industry one of the most lucrative industries in the world. It is why developers entering the market are eager to learn quickly.
Native mobile app development can be helpful for developers to create a robust and user-friendly mobile application. Let's start by getting an in-depth understanding of what a native app is.

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What is a Native App

The term native app, in the context of app development, means an app for a particular operating system. For instance, developers creating an application for Android tend to rely on Java and Kotlin. On the other hand, many developers use Swift or Objective C for iOS app development.

So when these programming languages combine with their corresponding platforms, they are called native languages. These native languages can help create applications for their specific operating systems. The difference between native app development and cross-platform is within the name–one is for specific platforms while the latter is built for multiple platforms.

Apart from native app development, there are other ways around it, such as hybrid app development. However, many developers believe they can develop the best application using native mobile app development rather than hybrid app development and cross-platform development.

It is because of the amazing advantages that native app development offers. Let's go over some of the benefits of using native languages.

Advantages of Native App Development

Using specific languages to build multiple operating systems applications gives developers many benefits. Below are some benefits that developers in the Chicago mobile app development industry can get from native app development.

     1. Better Performance 

If you want to get ahead of your competitors in this digital era, you need to focus on giving a better user experience. That is why many developers prefer native development, it allows their applications to produce better performance for their users.

Since native apps have better compatibility and familiarity with the operating system, these applications will operate better on their native platforms. As a result, it gives the end-users optimal speed and performance.

     2. Much More Secure

As native apps have better safety measures because of the layers of an OS, they are more likely to be safe and secure. As a result, it can protect the user’s data and personal information. Cyber attacks and threats are a concern for many developers. This is why they spend so much time focused on proper safety measures for their apps.

     3. Optimal Functionality

The development of native apps can help you provide better interactivity and navigation for users. It is something that you cannot get from cross-platform development. Since it is easy to build APIs through native app development, you can expect to get better functionality from it.

Also, it is easier for you to integrate with UX/UI elements compared to other mobile app development. As a result, it can enhance the user experience and make your application user-friendly.

Examples of Native Apps 

Native app development has helped many tech giants become what they are today. Their speed, reliability, and UX/UI design help them make a name for themselves. Now you can find a plethora of native applications for messaging, music, networking, etc.

Since it is difficult to tell whether an application is a native app or not just by looking at it, here is a list of the top applications that involve native mobile app development.

     1. WhatsApp

On top of the list is the most popular messaging application, WhatsApp. It is a native app that runs on the Android and iOS operating systems with smooth integrations. One of the main reasons for its popularity across the globe is its native app development and the experience that allows for it.

     2. Spotify

Another popular application on the play store is Spotify which involves native mobile app development. It helps you to download your favorite songs, listen to podcasts, and gives you access to other exceptional features.

     3. Pokémon GO

One of the best cloud-native application examples is Pokémon GO. The application's usage of AR in the gaming industry is changing the course of the entire market. As game development is one of the most lucrative industries in the world, it is hyper-competitive.

That is why its developers used native mobile app development. It allowed them to stand out from the heap of gaming applications available.

     4. LinkedIn

This social media networking site for business is also an example of native mobile app development. The company first decided to go with and deploy HTML5 for mobile web apps. However, switching to native helped LinkedIn to improve its performance, enhance its speed, and UX/UI design.

Ways to Enhance Native App Development

It takes a lot of effort, dedication, and investment to build an app using native app development. If you want to make sure that your native app is effective and yields a large ROI, here are a few ways you can do it:

     1. Get Users’ Insight 

The best way to create a robust application is to know what your users want. Therefore, it is important to run a testing sample to get user feedback. You can take advantage of the MVP development process to understand how the general public feels about your app.

     2. Coordinate with Your Team and Client 

Before the deployment phase of the app, you must ensure that you and your client are on the same page. There needs to be no confusion and proper coordination regarding the planning from the beginning. In addition, your team must follow the plan to ensure the project is completed on time and within budget.

Trends for 2024 and Beyond

Every few years we see features that are congruent across thousands of mobile apps. In the finance industry, increasing security has always been a priority. Now there are integrated features where Touch ID and Face ID are used to log in, ensuring an even safer experience.

     1. AI Integration

Machine learning is improving every single day. However, this is only the beginning of the app development industry. Machine learning is sometimes thought of as just being an Alexa or Siri, a virtual assistant. Except the use cases are improving and changing on a daily basis. We’re now able to log in to websites and apps using biometric data, like fingerprints and face scans. We expect to see an uptick in the use of AI for verification in 2024 and beyond.

     2. The Metaverse and VR

Similar to AI, virtual reality technology is becoming more prevalent in our day-to-day lives. Although Mark Zuckerberg started the trend by switching Facebook to Meta, the trend of the metaverse in app development is here to stay. You’re now able to see how clothes look on yourself by using the camera on your phone. Additionally, if you’re in the market for a pair of new glasses, you’re able to virtually try them on through mobile apps. Features and technologies like this offer a better user experience and are here to stay through 2024 and beyond.

     3. On-Demand Service Apps

Apps like Uber and Airbnb dominate the market because of how easy they are to use, the constant demand for their services, and the widespread adaptation of decentralized services versus centralized ones (Taxi companies versus Uber, hotels versus Airbnb). There are many industries where technology hasn’t caught up to the market. Looking towards the future, it’s likely that more apps will integrate this feature into their services to make them more efficient.

Takeaways

Native mobile app development opens many avenues for mobile app developers. It is why many new beginners are focusing on it to climb the ladder in this hyper-competitive market quickly. Nevertheless, there are many opportunities available in the Chicago mobile app development market.

With so many advantages that Native mobile app development offers, you can use it to create a robust app in no time. All you need to do is create a plan and align with a strict timeline to ensure the completion of the project on time. The future of mobile development is bright with so many features and technologies being explored. It’s only a matter of time before the entire industry is transformed once again.