iOS vs. Android, Hybrid vs. Native: Which to Choose!
If your business is trying to decide whether to build a mobile app for business, you will need to understand the available options, and the most popular platforms and tools.
In this article, we will look at the technology, frameworks and programs used to develop mobile applications, and the pros and cons of each approach.
‘The choice of Android mobile apps development, iOS mobile application development, or hybrid mobile application development for your project will be driven by requirements, including your target market, customers or business users, technology landscape, and other factors.’
Apple iOS Mobile App Development
Pros of iOS Mobile Application Development
Apple iOS has strict guidelines and standards and integrated security features and biometrics to create a more hack-resistant environment. iOS developers enjoy a wide range of tools, including Xcode, which allows fast, easy development and compatibility. The iOS mobile app developer can work in a less fragmented development environment so it is easier to navigate screen size guidelines and hardware specs, making Apple mobile apps faster and easier to develop.
Cons of iOS Mobile Application Development
There are a few challenges to the iOS ecosystem. To create an iOS mobile app, Apple mobile app developers must work within a closed ecosystem, with significant controls on what the developer can do within the app, and the iOS restricts access to device and hardware functionality. iOS limits 3rd party platform integration, including some eCommerce payment gateways. And, finally, there is the testing and release process. To release an iOS mobile app, developers must submit for App Store review. The review team processes more than 1.5 million apps per year, so the process is slow, and Apple rejects more than 30% of the apps submitted annually.
Stats, Market Share and Ecosystem of iOS Mobile App Development
The Apple iOS ecosystem is not open-source. It is a closed, tightly controlled environment. By some estimates, its global market share is about 25%, and the U.S. market share is about 58%. Over the past few years, iOS users have spent an average of approximately $25 billion USD on paid downloads and in-app purchases. Less than 25% of iOS apps use monetization and ads as a strategy.
Android Mobile App Development
Pros of Android Mobile Application Development
Android mobile apps development is open-source, and it is easy to customize a mobile app user interface (UI), and features and functionality. The open-source environs enable easy integration of 3rd party apps and libraries, and provides Android developers free access to device and hardware functionality. Android distribution includes Google Play Store, and the Samsung Galaxy Store, so businesses can enjoy the expanded reach of mobile apps.
Cons of Android Mobile Application Development
Open-source is both a ‘pro’ and a ‘con.’ First, the plethora of screen sizes and device types creates an issue of fragmentation, making the design, development, and testing of mobile apps more complex and costly. Secondly, this open-source fragmentation issue creates security issues. Because the Google Play Store submission process is so accessible, users might upload apps with significant security and privacy issues or malware or suspicious code. There is an Android device and software update process for bug fixes and patches, but these fixes are spotty and are not released at the same time for all Android versions, models, and devices.
Stats, Market Share and Ecosystem of Android Mobile App Development
The Android OS is open-source. By some estimates, its global market share is approximately 72% and its U.S. market share is about 40%. Over the past few years, Android users have spent an average of approximately $7 billion USD on paid downloads and in-app purchases. Nearly 65% of Android apps use monetization and ads as a strategy.
‘If your business is trying to decide whether to build a mobile app for business, you will need to understand the available options, and the most popular platforms and tools.’
Hybrid and Cross-Platform Mobile App Development
Pros of Hybrid Mobile Application Development
Hybrid mobile app development produces a mobile app that is compliant with the Apple iOS and Android OS. Developing a cross-platform mobile app is faster and less expensive because hybrid mobile application developers are working with one code for both iOS and Android devices and can easily deploy the app to both platforms. Hybrid mobile application technology enables easy maintenance and upgrade, and requires developers to make changes to only one code base. The cross-platform mobile application development approach makes it easy to integrate mobile apps with cloud data storage and enables simple distribution to release patches and upgrade the mobile app.
Cons of Hybrid Mobile Application Development
Because a native mobile app – one developed only for the iOS or for Android – engages all the native features and builds on those to create the user experience (Ux), the native approach can produce a more user-friendly user interface (UI) than a hybrid mobile app. This mobile app development approach utilizes Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to access and control native iOS and Android features which requires 3rd party tools and functionality. In leveraging both operating systems, the hybrid approach often slows performance. Hybrid mobile applications require more processing power and memory because they rely on web technologies to serve and comply with both iOS and Android. This can decrease performance.
Stats, Market Share and Ecosystem of Hybrid Mobile App Development
The hybrid mobile application development environment employs HTML, CSS, and JavaScript web technologies, and provides access to device features, e.g., contacts, geolocators, cameras, and device buttons and functions. In the past several years, Flutter has emerged in the top position for hybrid app development tools, with 42% of the hybrid development market. This open-source platform allows developers to leverage and customize widgets and provides a significant advantage in performance and responsiveness. The market also includes React Native, Cordova, Ionic, Xamarin, Unity, NativeScript, PhoneCap, Katlin Multiplatform, Apache Flex, Kando UI, Kivy and others.
Keep in mind that the choice of Android Mobile Apps Development, iOS Mobile Application Development, or Hybrid Mobile Application Development for your project will ultimately be driven by your requirements and those considerations will include your target market, your customers or business users, your technology landscape, and other factors. The investment your organization makes in mobile application development is significant and, the best way to protect that investment is to work with a team that is expert in all popular frameworks, tools, and platforms.
‘If your business is considering mobile application development, it is important to undertake this initiative with a comprehensive understanding of the concepts, markets, technologies, and skills that factor into success.’
Find out how Mobile Application Development can address your unique business needs. Hire iOS and iPhone Programmers, Hire Mobile Application Programmers, Hire Android Programmers, and Build Your Software Team with dedicated resources. For a detailed discussion of Mobile Application Development read our article, ‘Mobile App Development is Important to Business, So Are Mobile App Programmers.’
Explore the benefits and components of Mobile Application Development with these complementary articles: ‘Mobile App Development is Important to Business, So Are Mobile App Programmers,’ ‘Why Mobile Apps Are Good for Business: Here’s the Inside Story!,’ ‘How to Develop a Mobile Application,’ ‘Skilled Mobile Application Development Services Are Crucial to Business Success.’ ‘Mobile App Development is Important to Business, So Are Mobile App Programmers.’
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