As technology advances rapidly and tech trends shift like the wind, users become more demanding and are less likely to be easily impressed by basic applications. So, an unavoidable question arises: are native apps dead?
It’s no secret that, as technological advancements hit the market faster, we users have become more demanding and less likely to be impressed by whichever application, gadget, or device falls into our hands. This phenomenon, where trends and user preferences ebb and flow with the ever-changing digital tide, has brought on a paradigm shift in the app development landscape, and we, app development partners, must now prioritize what we know works and ignore what doesn’t. As a result, and shaped by technological advancements, user preferences, and the ever-present need for innovation, a persistent question echoes through the corridors of app development: Are native apps dead?
As we stand at the crossroads of innovation, and with the rise in popularity of groundbreaking technologies such as AI, quantum app development, and cross-platform frameworks getting more efficient, we at Foonkie thought it was fascinating to explore what awaits on the digital horizon of native applications and what place they occupy in our ever-evolving technological landscape. Let’s begin.
What are native applications?
Native applications are software programs designed and developed to run on a specific platform, operating system, or device. They are built to run smoothly and take full advantage of the features and capabilities offered by that particular OS. They can also be programmed to directly access the device’s hardware features and leverage platform-specific APIs, making native applications highly optimized to deliver the best possible performance, much more cohesive, and more adept at providing an intuitive user experience.
Native applications boast considerable popularity, with their global market valued at $5.3 billion in 2022 and a projected $48.8 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 25.2% from 2023 to 2032.
Native applications: The threats
While native apps typically do offer excellent performance and robust device-specific features, they require separate development efforts for each platform, making them more cumbersome and increasing the appeal of cross-platform frameworks and technologies that help streamline app development across multiple platforms. Here are the main threats that native applications currently face.
The upsurge of PWAs (Progressive Web Apps)
PWAs are web applications that merge the best of traditional web pages with the star features of native mobile apps. They provide users with a fast, reliable, and engaging experience, regardless of their device or platform. In that sense, PWAs blur the lines between web and native apps, allowing users to enjoy the best of both worlds without downloading an application specific to their OS. These characteristics of PWAs bring forth a web-centric approach to app use that raises questions about the need for standalone native applications.
The efficiency of cross-platform app development
Cross-platform app development is the gateway to faster, more scalable, innovative, and robust mobile products that meet user expectations and stand the test of time. Since it allows app developers to build a single application that works on different platforms, cross-platform apps are more cost-efficient, productive, and robust. They help mobile and software products reach a broader audience without extra time or monetary investments. Moreover, with the advent of efficient cross-platform frameworks such as React Native and Flutter, the dominance of native app development has been dramatically challenged.
App Store intricacies
This point doesn’t just affect native apps. All mobile applications, including cross-platform products, must navigate the intricacies of various app stores. From strict guidelines, restrictions, and revenue models to advertising, optimizing visibility, and meeting specific design standards, app developers need to navigate a multifaceted environment when it comes to showcasing products in app stores. As a result, discontent with app store monopolies is growing, and alternative means of app distribution, such as PWAs, are becoming more attractive to both app development partners and users.
More demanding users
As we mentioned earlier, modern users are more demanding and only become loyal to applications that offer them seamless experiences and quick access to content, especially when that content becomes available without the commitment of app downloads. Here is where PWAs may become torn on the side of native applications and can start creating significant shifts in user behavior, particularly in scenarios where instant access is a priority.
But how are Native apps equipped to survive?
While the threats native apps face question their future and raise genuine concerns, they also excel in many areas and offer many benefits over PWAs and cross-platform applications. Here are the primary weapons that native apps possess to fight being lost in oblivion.
Stellar performance
Native apps are optimized for a specific OS, which makes them fast and highly responsive because they are designed to take full advantage of platform-specific features and APIs. This performance is far superior to that of cross-platform applications and provides a much smoother user experience. Also, while cross-platform apps strive for uniformity across operating systems, native apps tailor their performance to the unique characteristics of each platform, which raises the question: is it worth choosing a solution that compromises optimization in search for uniformity and cost-efficiency?
Native APIs
Native APIs are the core of native applications and offer the significant benefit of providing a direct interface to the underlying operating system and device hardware. As a result, native apps have direct access to the device’s specific features, such as camera and GPS, allowing app development partners to build feature-rich and highly interactive mobile and software applications. These functionalities are typically unavailable in PWAs or cross-platform apps, giving native applications an upper hand when it comes to remaining relevant in the modern ap development landscape.
Offline functionality
Native apps often offer offline functionality where the application can continue working and provide a seamless user experience even when the device is not connected to the internet. Native apps can cache data locally, ensuring users can use extensive functionality even without online access.
Final verdict: are native apps destined to disappear?
The pursuit of innovation and relevance in the app development industry is relentless. Any product that lags in functionality, performance, or design will unavoidably be left behind. So, are native apps part of those products destined to meet their maker? The answer is nuanced. On the one hand, the allure of cross-platform applications and PWAs is undeniable, which threatens to overpower the foundation of native apps. But on the other hand, native apps provide unmatched benefits and continue to thrive with their optimal performance and platform-specific features. Either way, adaptability is the key to remaining relevant in the fluid app development landscape. So, whether native apps evolve, coexist, or eventually perish depends on app development partners staying agile and striking a balance between native resilience and cross-platform flexibility to open new horizons and ensure users enjoy seamless digital experiences.
Are you wondering what a native app looks like? Or maybe you want to hire your next app development partner. At Foonkie Monkey, we always strive to build innovative products, and we have more than ten years of experience building groundbreaking applications. So, get in touch, and let’s get started!