14 Emerging Android Trends to Keep a Watch for in 2022
Smartphones have become a daily driver of our personal and professional activities. Yet, most function at our absolute best without those small-screen devices, and we struggle to do the everyday work.
Whether you want to send a message or email, book tickets, connect with a client on the go, you need a good smartphone that can help you do all those tasks.
The adaptability and growth of the smartphone industry are credited to the great work that mobile app developers do regularly for several decades now. They change the lives of people through software.
When it comes to smartphones, two operating systems come into our minds: Android and iOS. Both provide impressive solutions, but Android has led the market share as of November 2021.
Current Android Trends
● As of November 2021, Android holds 70.74%, while iOS holds 28.4% of the market share.
● Speaking of market share, Android holds 85% in Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Turkey and Brazil.
● Android has over 2.5 billion active users.
● In 2020, 1 billion Android smartphones were sold across the globe
● Android, along with smartphones, powers tablets, laptops, televisions, tablets and wearables
● Along with iOS, Android also beats Windows
● Except for China, Android sales are increasing throughout the world.
These numbers prove that Android has a tremendous future and remarkable solutions to serve customers and users across the globe.
That means Android developers, agencies and consultants will have more opportunities in the coming time.
As we are stepping into the new year, we must keep a close eye on what holds in the future of the Android operating system.
Today, we are going to share 20 emerging Android trends that you should pay close attention to in 2022.
14 Emerging Android Trends to Keep a Watch for in 2022
1. Blockchain Technology
By 2022, worldwide spending on blockchain solutions will reach $11.7 billion.
Blockchain technology has been in the news for several years now, all thanks to the buzz of cryptocurrency because Blockchain is the technology on which most cryptocurrencies are based.
Blockchain’s competence and relevancy bring lucrative opportunities for all the technological fields, the Android application development.
Its nature discards all the possible scenarios of breaching into the system.
Blockchain dissolves the dependency of getting everything centralized and provides stellar cybersecurity options to app developers.
Blockchain technology brings a distributed ecosystem into the picture.
It offers enhanced security and effortless transparency with reduced fractions of intermediate databases.
If the mobile application is based on Blockchain, the database entries are distributed, making the application more secure, robust, and scalable.
Since everything is distributed, no one can change the database with proper authentication and identification, and therefore, it is hard to breach into the system.
2. Fintech Industry
Blockchain and cryptocurrency have put the fintech industry in the limelight.
Fintech has shown that we can still operate securely without the intervention of banks and financial institutions.
Fintech stands for Financial Technology, where financial transactions and financial activities are powered and executed through technology.
In the coming time, we will see many Fintech application development requirements with possibilities of upselling, cross-sell, down-sell, and integrating mobile wallets.
Indian Fintech industry valued at $50–60 Bn in FY20 and is estimated at ~$ 150 Bn by 2025.
We have thousands of mobile wallets applications globally, currently operating in different currencies, targeting different audiences and demographics and helping people manage the portfolio of financial transactions, funds and so on.
Mobile enables portability, and therefore, people can transact money through mobile applications on the go. Therefore, this Android trend is likely to thrive in the coming time.
3. Virtual Reality
Have you seen people wearing huge sunglasses on their faces and seeming to enjoy what they are watching?
Well, they are wearing virtual reality glasses or headset that takes a multimedia experience to a whole new level.
Virtual Reality is an environment generated through programming.
VR enhances the content consumption of the entertainment and educational industries and gives viewers an immersive experience.
Virtual Reality also works in the gaming industry as Global VR gaming revenues reached $22.9B in 2020.
Plus, 78% of Americans are familiar with VR technology. As more and more people are consuming VR content, we will see more VR mobile apps in the coming time in games, OTT, video streaming, etc.
4. Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence has always been consistent as a favorite topic in the audience. Here’s the Google Trends graph of the phrase ‘Artificial intelligence.’
AI is no longer a concept discussed in movies, web series, animated shows, and Sci-Fi books.
AI is the ability of machines and robots controlled by another machine, also known as computer programs, to quickly execute time-consuming and monotonous tasks.
AI exists to help humans save time so that they can indulge in other cognitive and creative tasks and make better use of their time.
The requirements of AI in Android development will likely grow more in the coming time.
Well, Android is still serving users with AI-powered applications of the camera, voice assistants, chatbots and so on.
But AI will mature in the Android ecosystem and can do so much more than it is currently doing today.
Whether it is automatic application alerts or scheduling updates and notifications when certain conditions are met, the uses of artificial intelligence will enhance in the coming time.
Along with smartphones, AI with Android will also disrupt and improve current hardware like television, wearables, smartwatches, smart speakers, and so.
5. Machine Learning
Machine learning is a part of artificial intelligence. ML allows computers and robots to comprehend data and make accurate predictions.
With the help of machine learning, artificial intelligence can predict the outcome of the activity more accurately and therefore execute the tasks more efficiently.
With this philosophy in mind and making machines smarter, the implementation of machine learning will be more agile and scalable in Android ecosystem devices in 2022.
Currently, machine learning plays a vital role in making artificial intelligence more usable and efficient in Android devices.
Mobile applications like Google and Alexa are already utilizing artificial intelligence to comprehend users’ data, analyze their search history and provide accurate predictions and product recommendations on the smartphone.
This feature will be more mainstreamed in the coming time, and other apps will also utilize such features.
6. Chatbots
Technology is evolving, and we all have a habit of getting solutions quickly.
We want answers, solutions and services as quickly and accurately as possible.
As the retail industry is also thriving, and customers want to access everything on their mobile phones.
Since 50% of customers assume businesses are open, 24/7 brands will require a way to interact with customers.
Brands will require chatbots to interact with the buyers when the sales executives are not around or the office hours are over.
69% of customers also expect to interact with the chatbot when they want to know something about a business or a brand.
Plus, 80% of businesses are projected to integrate some form of chatbot system by 2022.
7. Augmented Reality
Augmented Reality can make the devices much more interactive and enhance the user experience.
With Augmented Reality, real-world objects are enhanced with computer-generated information in the form of audio, visual, haptic, olfactory, and somatosensory.
Augmented reality applications can help in eSports, real estate, healthcare, fashion and lifestyle industries.
Tim Cook, the current leader of the brand Apple, has quoted,
“I do think that a significant portion of the population of developed countries, and eventually all countries, will have AR experiences every day, almost like eating three meals a day. It will become that much a part of you.”
Interactive user experience makes content more comprehensive and, therefore, results in higher engagement and better traction. So, in the coming time, we will see more apps integrating Augmented Reality.
8. IoT
IoT stands for Internet of Things which is the technology that integrates the capability in hardware to remotely communicate, be controlled, and be monitored.
With IoT, devices get connected in a network to transfer data, execute tasks, and achieve a collective output of improving customers’ life at scale.
The consumer IoT market is estimated to reach $142 billion by 2026 at a CAGR of 17%
So, in 2022, the requirements of IoT devices will likely increase. And to control and monitor them, we will have mobile apps.
Industries like healthcare, home improvement, factories, sports, automotive and others, will likely try for IoT and yield maximum benefit.
9. 5G
Smartphone manufacturers like Samsung, Xiaomi, and Vivo are already launching devices with 5G antenna bands.
5G networks will cover 40% of the world by 2024 and will handle 25% of mobile traffic data. Plus, by the end of 2024, 1.5 billion 5G mobile subscriptions are predicted.
This shows how eager people are and how versatile this technology is to improve the overall lifestyle of humans through mobile networks.
In the coming time, we are likely to see applications that can leverage the power of 5G data speed and enable enhanced user experience to users.
10. Mobile Commerce
Smartphones enable shopping on the go and save hours of the time of transportation for customers.
That brings a massive opportunity for online sellers to jump into online retailing in the form of m-commerce.
In 2021, m-commerce is predicted to contribute 54% of total sales of the eCommerce industry.
In the coming years, we will see more brands jumping into the bandwagon of m-commerce and selling products on mobile applications.
Mobile commerce applications are better in performance compared to desktop eCommerce websites.
On desktop eCommerce sites, we have to ensure that the loading speed is quicker and SEO parameters are covered to ensure a higher conversion rate.
In m-commerce, most things are minimalist, so CRO is more accurate and enhanced, resulting in better sales overall.
Plus, Android is a secure operating system, so customers can confidently purchase goods without worrying about information breaches.
11. Instant Apps
Figuring out which mobile application is the right fit for our needs can sometimes become a hassle.
You install an application, create an account on the app, and use it to determine whether it is the right fit for you.
When you download the application on your device and if it is not supported, then you will uninstall and delete the app altogether; and switch to another app.
If the application is paid and not supported on your device, your investment will be wasted.
To avoid any unwanted experience, we have a terminology called ‘Instant Apps.’
Instant Apps will allow users to use the application without downloading them on their smartphones.
Instant Apps don’t occupy memory in internal storage, and users can still check if the app is good for them before they decide to download its full version and use it.
In the coming time, we will see the rise of Instant Apps to delight customers and provide them better user experience.
12. Enhanced Video Streaming (eSports, OTT, etc.)
The preference for screen size has changed today, and more people prefer to buy phones with a screen size between 6–7 inches.
Bigger screens result in better content consumption.
Therefore, people enjoy consuming entertainment content from that smartphones. Plus, games account for 43% of all smartphone use.
Today, gaming smartphones are a separate category and manufacturers like Asus ROG, Sony, and POCO are producing gaming phones at scale.
Hence, people will expect better and stable video streaming capabilities at a better frame rate and higher refresh rate to have an immersive viewing experience.
This Android trend is likely to flourish even more in the coming time.
The reason is, not every consumer can afford to have bleeding-edge and flagship devices.
Therefore, to increase their reach and target more consumers, brands and platforms will require good applications to improve video streaming and make it as efficient and as accessible as possible for most users.
13. Foldable Android Devices
Foldable Android devices have been rising for the past couple of years.
Samsung, Motorola, Xiaomi, Oppo, and others are doubling their efforts into foldable devices.
Speaking of the Android operating system, a foldable smartphone gives manufacturers a chance to serve users better with wider screens.
Users get more estate and better screen size to have better accessibility and user experience with their smartphone while also having a compact device in their pockets.
Hence, manufacturers will focus heavily on developing foldable-phones-friendly applications to attract more buyers.
14. Beacon Technology
Technology has the capability to integrate the real world with the digital world.
It analyses the user behavior in the offline world and determines how they operate when they go to a restaurant or local department store.
Based on their behavior, it sends out custom notifications and tailored offers they can avail of using the smartphone.
This activity is done using Beacon Technology.
It enhances usability and allows publishers to deploy custom adverts that resonate with buyers. But, more importantly, all these advertisements are relevant since they are based on the customers’ behavior.
So, we will see that more applications are leveraging Beacon Technology in the coming time and serving the customers.
Conclusion
Let me know what you think about these 14 emerging Android trends.
If you would like to add any trend to the list, feel free to contact me, and I would love to hear your thoughts.
If you are looking for Android developers, be sure to get in touch with AllianceTek Inc. today!
