Basics of Native Mobile Design

Discover the pros and cons of creating native and hybrid apps
Basics of Native Mobile Design Lesson

Let's imagine you have an idea for a mobile app. There are 3 main options for developing one. You can create a native app, a hybrid app, or a mobile responsive website that provides the same user experience as an app.

Each option has its pros and cons, and when selecting your path, you should consider things like the budget, team's skills, timing, and device preferences of your target audience. For example, hybrid and native apps require more effort from users to find and download, while web apps are easy to discover. On the other hand, web apps lack a native feel and may discourage users' expectations and even affect the overall user experience.

What is a native app?

Native apps are designed to work only on a specific mobile operating system and don't work on devices running other operating systems. For example, if developers create an app for iOS, Android users won't be able to utilize the app. The main advantage of native apps is that they run smoothly on their native operating system when developed properly.

Before you place a bet on this type of mobile development, consider its downsides:

  • Development expenses: Developing a native app requires specialized skills. It will cost a lot more if you've created a native iOS app and later decide you need apps for Android or Windows as well.
  • Maintenance: Maintaining native apps is not an easy task for developers since they have to deal with multiple versions of the same information across different platforms. Apps need to be updated regularly, packaged, and placed in the app store.
  • Content restrictions policy and fees: Dev teams of native apps must deal with the app store's content restrictions and get their approval before uploading an app. Additionally, Apple's app store takes 30% of subscription fees, which is a huge disadvantage for an app's revenue.

Native apps are also less discoverable and have a higher interaction cost.[1]

When properly developed, native apps work smoothly on devices using a specific operating system. Thus, one of the most significant advantages of native apps is access to all the device-specific features, including GPS, camera, gestures, accelerometer, compass, contacts, and notifications.

Unlike web applications, which depend on a browser and may lack support for features like notifications, complex gestures, or offline functionality, native apps can fully utilize device capabilities. They can also run seamlessly in the background and offline, providing a more reliable and integrated experience.

Additionally, native apps provide a better user experience consistent with the operating system and other apps. For instance, if you're an iOS user, you get used to specific native UI components and device-specific interactions. That's why native apps feel more familiar and allow users to complete tasks faster.

Hybrid apps are designed to work on multiple platforms and use a single standard code language like C# or a combination of HTML5 and JavaScript. Like native apps, they can be downloaded from app stores and have access to many device features like notifications, gestures, or GPS.

The good thing is that users can hardly see any difference between a hybrid and a native app. They only care about getting a positive user experience. Besides, developers can manage device-specific interactions with the right plugins for the needed operating system.

However, there's a limit to what plugins can achieve, and some complex interactions can present a challenge and require more costs.

iOS native app design standards

Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) refer to a software development document that provides app developers with a set of recommendations and specifications. Its main goal is to ensure developers create visually and functionally consistent, intuitive, and accessible digital interfaces with an excellent user experience.

Most guidelines are limited to defining the visual design and behavior for applications in a particular desktop environment or operating system. For example, the iOS section of Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines focuses on design principles, the look and feel of UI elements, navigation, typography, and other conventions specifically for mobile Apple devices. These guidelines help developers create apps that feel native to iOS and align with user expectations for the platform.[2]

Another example of this guideline document is the Design Library for Windows Phone.

Android native app design standards

Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) provide recommendations for designing apps for Apple's ecosystem.

Material Design Guidelines serve a similar purpose for Android developers. These guidelines help ensure apps maintain a consistent look and behavior across the platform, aligning with Android’s unique design principles and native elements. By following these standards, developers can create apps that feel intuitive and familiar to Android users while supporting platform-specific features such as navigation patterns, typography, and touch target areas. Material Design also emphasizes accessibility, providing clear recommendations for touch sizes, color contrast, and typography to cater to diverse user needs.[3]

Errors in native apps Bad Practice
Errors in native apps Best Practice

Web applications can rely on browsers to deal with things such as poor connection, non-existent pages, or server errors. Those might not be the best system messages, but they work and are better than nothing.

Apps aren't browsers. It means native apps have to address errors themselves and communicate problems clearly, so users don't need to wonder whether something happened with the app, device, or connection.

Designers should work with UX writers and developers to find ways to predict problems and generate meaningful and helpful warnings and error messages for situations like offline states, service failures, or poor Internet connections.

Besides, it's a good thing to consider first- and second-time user experience, the app behavior in the background, ways to minimize user input, and prioritize content, so users don't feel overwhelmed.

Recent data shows that fewer people are continuing to use mobile apps after downloading them. In January 2024, only about 7.88% of users were still using an app 30 days after they first installed it.[4]

What can designers do to keep users interested and engaged in returning to an app?

  • Onboarding: First impressions matter, especially for mobile apps. Even if your app offers great user experience, provide a quick introduction—whether through welcome screens, tooltips, or clear, helpful pages with prominent buttons that guide users to take action.
  • In-app messaging: In-app messages, such as feature announcements, updates, or onboarding tips, can engage users effectively when they're targeted and contextual. Unlike push notifications, these messages have no character limits and can be more personalized.
  • Push notifications: While push notifications are more intrusive, they're often overlooked due to user fatigue from multiple apps. Designers and marketers should work together to craft concise, useful, and time-sensitive messages to ensure they stand out and are acted upon.

Hybrid apps are popular due to their ability to support multiple operating systems with lower development costs compared to native apps. Developers can reuse HTML code across different platforms, eliminating the need to build separate codebases for each mobile OS.

Oppositely, native apps require specialized knowledge in languages like Swift or Objective-C for iOS, or Java or Kotlin for Android, which means higher development costs and expertise.

Hybrid apps are often perceived as web apps packaged in a native wrapper. They combine features from both web and native apps, allowing businesses to quickly replicate their websites and get into app stores without investing heavily in native iOS or Android development.

Despite their advantages, hybrid apps come with some limitations. They may not offer the same polished feel as native apps, resulting in a less intuitive user experience and slower performance. Additionally, hybrid apps typically require more testing to ensure they function properly and appear consistent across different devices.

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