Nine Examples of Mobile UX Innovation in 2019

In this article, we’ll review some of the most exciting innovations that emerged or are set to launch this year, and how they’re shaping UX design in 2019.

1. Combining IoT and Voice UI
   In other words, merging the “Internet of Things” with voice user experiences that make life easier. The cloud is now much more than just a place to store documents—it’s a service that makes everything important in our lives (well, except for people, who are hard to put in the cloud) accessible and convenient from anywhere, now also controlled by voice through your smartphone. Voice technology has improved dramatically in recent years and has gone mainstream—think Google and Alexa, whose voice systems control the entire home from the living room, and can be managed by voice or touch on your phone. Using voice in UX is a powerful tool in the designer’s creative arsenal and offers a convenient, advanced way to solve problems.

2. Split and Foldable Screens
   At the end of April, Samsung is set to launch its long-awaited flexible, foldable smartphone. To accommodate these devices, mobile app interfaces must handle scenarios where the screen isn’t fully open, but split, and also be responsive for wider screens. Some apps will likely seek to leverage the dual-screen functionality.

3. Microinteractions – Fun in the Details
   Microinteractions are the small details users can play with in apps, making the overall experience much more engaging and personalized. A good example is the like button in Facebook Messenger—the more you press it, the bigger the like gets.
   They’re great for tasks like adjusting volume or changing settings. Microinteractions make users enjoy interacting with the interface and allow them to express themselves. They also help form user habits—the goal is to create an experience that doesn’t require much thought, just intuitive action. Expect to see lots of microinteractions this year—don’t say we didn’t warn you.

4. Chatbots Are the Future
   No one really likes filling out forms and registration details. With the amount of time people spend shopping online, watching tutorials, using social media, or job hunting, filling out pages of personal info has become tedious and time-consuming.
   To address this dull user experience and improve intimacy and understanding between users and services, chatbots have become increasingly popular and are now integrated into many apps. Chatbots provide user-friendly data input, leading to higher satisfaction. This approach lets users get exactly what they need from a service using AI, which is designed to meet a growing range of needs and demands.

5. VR Interfaces
   Before the innovation of augmented reality, we could only imagine how a new sofa would look in our living room. Now, with services like IKEA Place, you can arrange their furniture in your home at real scale and in 3D—the result: a realistic vision of how products will look, increasing the likelihood of purchase. Not just IKEA—many apps now let users simulate how experiences, services, and products will look in real life.

6. Better Navigation Experience
   As screen real estate grows, so does the ability for users to explore and search more personally and closely. This also means the search bar can be much more visually prominent when browsing the web or using apps. Developers have taken advantage of larger screens, making the search bar more visible and accessible, which is a great service for users.

7. Smartphones as Assistive Devices
   Recently, drones have become a craze among tech enthusiasts. Unsurprisingly, smartphones and tablets now connect to drone controllers, providing high-quality visual assistance during flight. They offer not just a camera—you can also control drone functions via your phone and update various features.

8. Small Text, Big Impact
   Error messages, help prompts, and guides are usually written in tiny text, but UX experts are now using these small clusters of text to create more human and detailed interactions. Copywriting has become a central focus in UX, meaning users now receive information in a much more pleasant, personal, and high-quality way.
   We’ll soon see more targeted messages in our apps, as well as a reduction in spammy notifications. Copywriters are now working closely with developers to create meaningful microcopy.

9. The Right Order for First Actions
   Statistics show that when a user’s first actions are organized more clearly and accessibly, navigation becomes much simpler and more convenient. Instagram, for example, designed its bottom bar to be very intuitive and easy, with other functions accessible at the top of the app. No need to get lost in submenus—everything is clearly displayed and neatly packaged in one place.

In summary:
These are nine examples of mobile UX innovation in 2019. We believe more trends and innovations will emerge throughout the year, and we’ll keep our finger on the pulse to see how these design developments impact the market and users.