Mobile apps development in 2022: How to develop apps for foldable devices
After Samsung’s debut of the Galaxy Z Fold in 2019, a new player entered the market, bringing with it a fresh new and distinct design that has helped to shatter the monotony of traditional smartphones.
Is it possible that foldable devices will obliterate modern smartphones? Everything is dependent on how functional they are. The passage of time will reveal all. For the time being, we’ll keep an eye on things and consider how we may contribute to the trend by creating creative foldable gadget accessories.
Here’s what you’ll discover:
* Is it worthwhile to develop apps for foldable devices?
* What impact do foldables have on app development?
* Important considerations for the creation of foldable apps
* Building apps for foldables presents unique challenges
*The creation of an app is broken down into steps.
Let’s get started with the guide and look at how to make apps for foldable devices.
FOLDABLE DEVICES – WHAT ARE THEY?
The term “foldable gadget” dates back to Nokia’s Morph idea, which was launched in 2008. The availability of flexible OLED displays that may be folded into a double-size full-screen display is a distinguishing feature.
Users get a better and more immersive experience with foldable gadgets. The Samsung Galaxy Fold, which is now available for purchase, is the most vivid example of such a smartphone. Manufacturers of smartphones and tablets, on the other hand, are expected to become more interested in the technology.
So now is the time to understand the fundamentals of developing apps for foldable devices.
WHAT IMPACT DO FOLDABLES HAVE ON MOBILE APP DEVELOPMENT?
While the concept of foldable technology is appealing to users, there is no clear grasp of how it will affect mobile app development. With many organisations researching the new technology, the technology has already had a significant impact on the sector.
Let’s take a look at some of the improvements and advantages foldable devices bring to app development:
Extra screen real estate – the major goal of foldable devices is to give customers an immersive experience by allowing them to use a huge screen. The foldable technology combines two screens into one large screen.
Small form factor — today’s users must pick between a small form factor and a large screen. They get everything in one gadget with foldable devices. Foldable smartphones can offer twice the screen size of regular smartphones.
New sorts of content – thanks to the greater screen size, creators will be able to release new types of content that make full use of the larger screen.
More features – current smartphones have a small screen size that prevents them from displaying all of the necessary functionality. With foldable smartphones, multi-screen applications will be possible, allowing users to access more functions on a single screen.
Foldable tablets and smartphones will one day dominate the world of such gadgets, bringing with them a slew of new possibilities.
THE DIFFICULTIES OF CREATING APPS FOR FOLDABLES
Before you start working on an app for foldable smartphones, make sure you understand the obstacles you’ll face. To create a high-quality and user-friendly foldable application, consider the following factors:
EXCELLENT QUALITY:
Nobody is claiming that creating apps for foldable devices is simple. Foldable phones must have several orientations and a different aspect ratio than standard smartphones, so bear that in mind.
User expectations, on the other hand, remain unchanged. They want to be able to use your app without any issues. As a result, you must understand how to create apps for foldable smartphones; else, your app will be destroyed.
ADDITIONAL TESTING:
Different use cases and scenarios are available with foldable solutions. You must test every feature and conceivable usage scenario to ensure that there are no issues lurking in the background. More time and money will be spent on QA and testing the multi-window software as a result.
TIME AND COST OF DEVELOPMENT:
If you decide to create a foldable device app or adapt an existing one, you will be entering a new territory with your solution. You’ll have to design, develop, and test your app for a variety of modes and scenarios. With more work comes higher costs and the need for additional time for development.
IMPROVEMENTS AND CHANGES:
Following the release of your app to the market, you will need to make a number of adjustments depending on customer input. If you currently have an app and want to make it compatible with foldable devices, this is extremely critical.
If you want to learn how to overcome all of the aforementioned obstacles while developing a foldable app, keep reading to learn about the best strategies for doing so.
MAIN CONSIDERATIONS FOR DEVELOPING APPS FOR FOLDABLE SMARTPHONES
As you may be aware, developing apps for foldable devices differs from developing regular websites. From concept to development and testing, you must keep it in mind at all times.
THERE ARE TWO SCREEN STATES
On foldable smartphones, the screen can be in two states: folded and unfolded.
A foldable device resembles a standard smartphone or tablet when folded. The way people interact with the smartphone and its functions is identical.
An ordinary smartphone becomes a large-screen gadget when it is unfolded. The additional room provides an immersive experience as well as numerous obstacles for feature development.
As a result, your software will need to be designed to work in both states. You’ll have to figure out what happens after a user unfolds the gadget and which functions will be displayed on screens.
A smartphone in its unfurled position provides a lot of flexibility for developing new functions that were previously impossible.
ONE-HANDED OR TWO-HANDED APP DEVELOPMENT
The status of the screen has an impact on the user’s overall experience.
Users engage with their smartphones with one hand in the majority of circumstances. They will need to interact with both hands in the unfolded condition. As a result, the location of user interface elements will need to be adjusted correspondingly.
STATE WITH MULTIPLE WINDOW
As previously said, the primary goal of foldable smartphones is to give customers with a larger screen and improved multitasking capabilities. Users may interact with a few multi-window apps in some circumstances, therefore keep this in mind when designing and building apps for foldable devices.
CONTINUITY OF THE SCREEN
End-users should be able to seamlessly transition from folded to unfolded condition. The app’s location and status must be restored.
You should keep the number of interface layout shifts to a minimum; otherwise, the user experience will be disrupted.
MULTI-RESUME
The multi-window feature of foldable devices is well-known. Only one app could be restarted when the phone was blocked before Google released Android 10. The latest Android versions allow users to run many apps at the same time. All of the open apps can resume their previous state without causing the others to freeze.
This functionality, which enables for multi-window mode, should be kept in mind when developing apps for foldables.
SERVICES & PROCESSES FOR BUILDING APPS FOR FOLDABLES
You must first comprehend the major stages of app development before learning how to design apps for foldables.
In the majority of cases, companies typically divide the process into two stages: discovery and development.
1. THE DISCOVERY PROCESS
The discovery stage is critical to the long-term success of your foldable app, as it allows you to save time and money on future reworks.
If you collaborate with an IT vendor, the discovery stage will be used to determine your needs, technical requirements, and how the development team will approach the project.
The following are some of the most important deliverables from the discovery stage:
*Analysis of the market
*Analysis of the competition
*Functional specifications
*Backlog of products
UX/UI design takes up a large portion of the exploration step. You’ll need to establish the logic behind the user interface, figure out how users will interact with your foldable software, and design the UI’s visual elements.
The following are examples of UX/UI deliverables:
*UX wireframes
*UI mockups
*Branding components (such as a logo and unique icons)
*Illustrations and animations
STAGE 2 OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
The development stage is where your application’s coding and creation take place. You’ll need to specify the entire set of future tasks, write project requirements, and determine a timeframe for implementation at this point.
Development is usually separated into a few stages:
Coding — writing the code for your future project, integrating with APIs, and integrating with other third-party solutions.
QA & Testing – a crucial aspect of mobile app development that guarantees that the functionality is implemented as specified. This stage usually includes of several sorts of testing and QA, depending on the type of application.
Deployment, Ongoing Development, and Support — After your foldable app is released to the market, you’ll need to keep working on it. Ongoing support and upgrades will keep it afloat, allowing it to surprise users with new features and fix bugs in a timely manner.
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO BUILDING APPS FOR FOLDABLES
This section of the article will walk you through the steps of creating a foldable app step by step. You’ll learn how to plan development and make it go smoothly for your business.
Application development is divided into seven stages
1. COMPETITOR ANALYSIS AND MARKET RESEARCH
It’s hard to create an app without first understanding the situation of the industry and your rivals. This level will assist you in obtaining the following answers:
*For what industry would you like to develop a foldable device?
*Who do you want to reach out to?
*Who is your main rival?
*What will your app’s consumers get out of it?
*Would you like to develop a feature?
*How will your app set itself out from the competition?
2. COMPLETION OF THE APP CONCEPT
You’ll be able to finalize the app concept once you have the answers to the above questions, which includes deciding on the final set of features, how users will interact with your app, and the unique selling proposition.
3. APP MARKETING STRATEGY
The specific technique you use is determined by the type of app you intend to create. In most cases, you have a few options to pick from:
*Advertisements
*Partnerships
*In-app purchases
*Freemium model
*Subscription
After you’ve completed this stage, you may design a business model canvas to organise all of the data for future app development.
4. CHOOSING AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PARTNER
If you aren’t a tech-savvy developer and don’t want to cope with the development process, you’ll need to hire a development firm to help you transform your concept into a successful digital product.
This step is critical since picking the wrong partner might cost you a lot of time and money.
Here’s how to lower your risks and pick a company that will become a trustworthy technical partner:
*Start your search on sites like Clutch, The Manifest, and others.
*Look through the portfolio for similar projects.
*Ask the correct questions to determine the firm’s expertise.
*Read reviews from current and former customers.
*Select a company based on a favourable location.
5. FOLDABLE APP WITH CUSTOM UX/UI
Create a design for your app that takes into account all of the nuances of building apps for foldable devices. The device should be feature-rich and user-friendly, making the most of the foldable smartphone’s larger screen.
6. DEVELOPMENT OF APPLICATIONS
Scalability and security should be considered when developing any software. The architecture should be adaptable, allowing new features to be added with each iteration.
7. STRATEGY FOR COMPREHENSIVE MARKETING
Building an app is no longer sufficient. To connect users with your service, you’ll have to put in a lot of effort. If you don’t want your efforts to go to waste, you’ll need to develop and establish a market strategy.
SMM, content marketing, paid commercials, and event involvement are all examples of compensatory marketing strategies. Long before you put your app on the market, you can start working on brand recognition.
SUM-UP OF ARTICLE ON HOW TO DEVELOP APPS FOR FOLDABLE SMARTPHONES
In the realm of portable gadgets, foldable devices are only getting started. Samsung’s foldable cellphones are the most striking example. Experts anticipate that the future of technology will be dominated by foldable devices.
Now that you’ve learned how to make a foldable app, it’s time to put what you’ve learned into practice.
