Everything you need to know about Native Mobile Apps.

In the digital era, mobile applications have marked a before and an after These have become an extension of our daily lives. From managing our finances, to shopping online, to entertaining ourselves and connecting with the rest of the world, apps are our basic tools to move in today's world. What many people may not be aware of is that there are different types of mobile applications with different functionalities, developments and even programming languages. In this post, we will focus on analyzing the most widespread type of app, the Native mobile applications . We will see their advantages and disadvantages, as well as their comparison with the other two types of applications: the Webapps and the PWApps.

Native Mobile Application developed for Lacasitos by Imascono

Since 2007, when the cell phone industry welcomed smartphones, mobile applications have been part of the way we understand and use our mobile devices. interacting with technology. From that moment on, our interaction with technological devices became much more intuitive, natural and accessible. If we look at the definition of native applications, they are programs developed specifically to operate on an operating system in particular, such as Android or iOS, using programming languages and development tools specific to each platform. These apps are installed directly on our mobile devices through the application store. The most widespread are Google Play and Apple App Store. Because they are designed for a specific operating system, native applications can optimize their performance, taking full advantage of the device's hardware functionality (camera, GPS, sensors...) offering a seamless and highly integrated user experience. In terms of development, the fact that the mobile application is native means that the programming team has to develop as many apps as operating systems are used. It is usual to create two applications, one for Android and one for iOS But increasingly, we are witnessing the birth of new markets and devices. For Virtual Reality glasses such as the Meta Quest or the Apple Vision Pro, it is also necessary to develop the VR app ad-hoc (customized) for these new hardwares. You may be interested in → Business Innovation: Spatial Computing Applications in Extended Reality . An example of a native mobile application that includes the latest innovations in this type of development can be found in the Augmented Reality app released by Disney , Telefónica and Ferran Adrià . Your Story in the Kitchen combines entertainment, gamification and recipes in an educational app designed for the whole family.

Once we have seen its definition, it is time to delve into the advantages for both companies and users of the development of native mobile applications . Superior performance and optimized user experience are some of them. Let's look at the main advantages of native apps:

Increased security

Native mobile apps offer a wide range of additional layer of security in our developments, since a rigorous review process is carried out by the official application stores such as Google Play or App Store. Users know that the apps downloaded from these official stores have passed checks for possible vulnerabilities and malicious code, reducing the risk of malware . In addition, these applications can take advantage of the frequent security updates provided by the devices and operating systems themselves.

Improved customization

OS-specific development also means improvements in app customization by allowing developers to optimize the user experience according to the specific characteristics and functionalities of each platform. Native applications can tailor their user interface to match the aesthetics and conventions of each operating system, which not only improves visual consistency, but also makes the application more intuitive for users .

Increased performance

If there is one feature of native applications that sets them apart from other types of apps, it is the higher performance to users. Thanks to its hardware optimization, lower latency and improved response times. As they are developed specifically for the operating system of the device, they can making the most of the resources of the mobile device . Delivering a smoother and faster experience. A particularly noticeable advantage in applications that require high performance such as video games with high graphics, video editing or 3D modeling applications. You may be interested in our publication→ Virtual Reality in video games: the future of entertainment.

Use without Internet connection

Another of the main advantages of native mobile applications is their ability to work in the following ways without Internet connection This feature is especially valuable in situations where connectivity is limited. This is a high efficiency in the use of phone data and faster response time - by not interacting with a remote server. It also gives users the advantage of always having access to the content and files stored in the app and being able to use it at any time.

Although native mobile applications offer a number of advantages, they also have some significant disadvantages that can be covered by the other types of apps . These disadvantages can be summarized as follows:

• Higher development cost and time. Developing these native apps is usually more expensive and takes longer, since a separate codebase is needed for each operating system. This approach requires developers to have specialized skills in multiple programming languages and frameworks, which raises both initial development costs and hiring costs.

• They are not cross-platform. Their native nature is a disadvantage when planning a cross-platform strategy. To reach users on different operating systems, such as Android and iOS, separate versions of the same application must be developed and maintained, duplicating the work and resources required. This lack of interoperability can limit the app's accessibility to a wider audience.

• Updates depend on users. Although native apps can take advantage of automatic operating system updates, these updates often depend on the user ultimately accepting them. Not only that, every update to a native application must be designed, tested, optimized and approved by each operating system separately. This not only increases work and costs, but also lengthens time to market. This complexity can hinder companies' ability to respond quickly to market changes or fix critical bugs efficiently.

Learn more about the advantages of web applications o WebApps at What is a WebApp? .

To counteract the disadvantages that can arise when developing native mobile applications, over the last few years, the following have been appearing new types of mobile applications in the app market. In addition to native applications, we can nowadays also find web applications and hybrid or progressive applications . In the following, we will analyze in detail their differences through examples of applications developed in different sectors.

Differences between native Apps, WebApps and PWApps

Native applications, as we have seen throughout this article, are apps developed specifically for an operating system Like iOS or Android, it offers high performance and excellent integration with the device's hardware. On the other hand, we find the WebApps or Web applications, These apps are accessible through a web browser and do not need to be downloaded by users; they are updated automatically, ensuring that the latest version is always used. They represent the evolution of the most static web pages, by bringing together in a single space the interface and interaction of desktop applications with the mobile applications. agility, active collaboration between users and cloud storage which offer services over the Internet. An intuitive and easy-to-share solution like Rafa Nadal’s WebApp. Developed during one of the latest editions of Roland Garros. A quick, simple and effective action that at the time was a trending topic on Twitter (X), achieving more than 18,000 photographs. Finally, we find PWApps or hybrid applications, developments that combine elements of both, functioning as native apps, but built with web technologies, which allows for a Easy cross-platform upgrade and maintenance. Nowadays we find great examples like Spotify, Instagram, Drive… All of them are apps that can be downloaded in the app stores, but that do not require the use of the mobile device's resources to function properly. Everything is done through an app. External server and cloud storage.

Now that we have seen the main types of mobile applications, it is time to get to know some of the most important ones. examples and use cases that have been carried out in different sectors.

• Developing more agile, intuitive and personalized mobile applications offers the opportunity to build the entire interface of an e-commerce site or online store from scratch, putting the user at the center. As in the case of the WebApp developed together with Movistar and Prosegur Alarmas, where users can see the different security devices in action through an interactive web-based house. All without having to download any mobile app.

• Another application in the retail world that exemplifies the strategy of integrating several technologies in a single commercial space is the App and Content Manager for the La Torre Outlet Shopping Center. A mobile application that is perfect for user loyalty and gamification.

• An application that combines fun and Augmented Reality is the success story of the Lacasitos App. An AR app in which children can create their own world full of fun and imagination, thanks to the amazing characters that come to life through technology.

• As an example of an application developed for the new devices of Virtual Reality We find the case of success of Kai XR Platform. One VR app for children and students through which you can access different immersive experiences that enhance imagination and learning about different topics: from the natural sciences to technology.

From Imascono We have helped a multitude of companies in different sectors to develop the mobile applications more suited to your needs and users . Native Apps, WebApps and PWApps all offer a multitude of benefits to facilitate the interaction between users and brands. Becoming one of the main communication channels for companies. Our engineers and designers will be happy to answer all of your questions and find out how we can help you to develop your mobile application Do you need a mobile application, native or web, adapting its functionalities to the specific needs of your company? Do you need a mobile application? Get to know our mobile application development service . ¡ Contact us at !