Which technology should you choose for your mobile app?

At the beginning of 2024, the number of unique mobile phone users reached 5.61 billion. This represents 69.4% of the world’s population, demonstrating the deep penetration of mobile technologies in society. Global smartphone shipments will increase by 2.3 percent year-on-year in 2025, to 1.26 billion units, according to IDC. These figures underline the growing role of mobile applications and mobile technologies as key tools in everyday life and business. It is therefore worth considering how a mobile app can help you grow your business and, above all, how to create the perfect product that will be popular with mobile users.

Popular types of apps

Mobile apps can be divided into three main types. Native apps, which are specifically developed for a particular operating system such as iOS or Android, offer high performance and excellent integration with the device’s functions. Hybrid apps, which use web technologies and are embedded in a native container, offer ease of updating and the ability to run on multiple platforms from a single source code. Progressive Web Apps (PWA) are web-based applications that behave like native apps, can work offline and integrate with system functions without installation. The choice of the right type of app depends on the project requirements, user preferences and the available budget.What are native apps?

Native apps are designed and developed specifically for specific operating systems such as iOS or Android using the languages Swift and Kotlin. This ensures the highest possible performance and excellent responsiveness. They have full access to the device’s functions, which allows the latest technological solutions to be used.

Advantages of native apps:

• Highest performance and smoothest operation.
• Full access to device functions, allowing for better use of its capabilities.
• Excellent responsiveness and user experience (UX), providing the user with intuitive and well-thought-out interactions.

Disadvantages of native apps:

• Higher costs and longer development time due to the need to write separate versions of the app for different operating systems.
• The need to hire specialists for each system, which further increases project costs.

2. What are hybrid applications?
   
   Hybrid applications combine elements of web and native applications. They are created using web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and then packaged into a native application using tools such as React Native, Flutter or Ionic. This allows for easier and faster creation of applications available on different platforms.

Advantages of hybrid apps:

• Shorter development time and lower development costs thanks to the use of a single code for multiple platforms.
• Easier code maintenance and updates.
• Faster time-to-market with a minimum viable product (MVP).

Disadvantages of hybrid apps:

• Slightly lower performance compared to native apps.
• Limited access to some native device features.
• Possible compatibility and optimization issues on different devices.

3. When to choose a native app and when to choose a hybrid app?

   Native apps are best suited for situations that require high performance, excellent responsiveness, and deep integration with the device’s operating system. For example:

1. Mobile games – native apps are ideal for games that require intensive graphics processing, fast touch responsiveness and smooth operation, which is crucial for ensuring an optimal user experience.
2. Apps that use device functions – apps such as photo editing or fitness management apps that need to use advanced camera, GPS, accelerometer or other device-specific sensor functions.
3. Applications that require offline work – applications for data management in the field that must function without internet access and synchronize data when reconnected, for example, applications for emergency services or field workers.

Hybrid apps, on the other hand, are more suitable for situations where the speed of development and support for multiple platforms are more important than performance and access to advanced system functions. For example:

1. Business applications – applications that are mainly used to view information and are used on different types of devices, such as CRM systems or human resources management applications, where quick adaptation to different platforms and ease of updating are a priority.
2. Information and media applications – applications such as news portals or e-commerce platforms that need to be launched quickly and be available on multiple devices to maximize reach and content availability.
3. Minimum viable products (MVPs) – start-ups that want to quickly verify the idea for an application among users before investing in the more expensive development of dedicated native applications.

Proof of Concept – minimal idea verification

Before deciding on the technology for a mobile application, it is worth conducting a Proof of Concept (PoC) – i.e. creating a simplified version of the application to test key technological and functional assumptions. PoC allows verify that a given technology meets the requirements of the project before investing time and budget in full development.

For example, if a company is planning to create an app with an extensive augmented reality (AR) function but is unsure whether a cross-platform technology such as Flutter or React Native will be able to handle the performance, it is worth creating a prototype with a basic AR implementation and testing its operation on different devices. In many cases, it turns out that concerns about performance or device feature availability are unfounded, thus avoiding unnecessary costs associated with choosing native technology.

Advantages of Proof of Concept:

• Minimum cost and lead time – PoC can be created in a few days or weeks, instead of building a full application.
• Quick verification of technological risks – checking whether the selected technology meets the users’ expectations.
• Better decision making – the data from the PoC allows the team to consciously choose the best technology for the final version of the application.

Introducing PoC as a stage before the actual development allows to minimize the risk of choosing the wrong technology and focus on the optimal solution in terms of budget, performance and functionality.

4. How to make the right decision?
   
   Before deciding on the technology, it is worth asking yourself a few key questions about your business goals, target group and available resources. Considering these aspects will help you choose the best technology for your project. It is also worth consulting an experienced software house, who will help you evaluate all the options and choose the most suitable solution.

UniqueDevs – trusted technology partner

When deciding on the right technology for mobile app development, it is crucial to work with an experienced and trusted technology partner. Software house UniqueDevs specializes in mobile app development, offering its clients access to the latest and most advanced technologies available on the market. It constantly explores and tests new technological solutions to ensure that applications are always one step ahead of the competition.

What sets UniqueDevs apart from other companies in the industry is its approach to working with clients. Each client is a partner who is supported at every stage of the project. This partnership-based philosophy ensures that UniqueDevs is always on hand to provide help and advice, tailoring technological solutions to the individual needs and business objectives of each project.

Thanks to extensive experience in the mobile app development industry, UniqueDevs is able to carry out even the most complex and innovative projects, providing applications that not only meet customer expectations, but also contribute to their success in the market.