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Augmented Reality is not a thing of the past, nor is it a new concept.  It has been around for many years and has, in fact, earned a competitive edge in the present digital age. Suppose you’re wondering what makes Augmented Reality a transformative solution for many present-day businesses and why it has become so adaptable for companies, including big brands such as IKEA and Target. In that case, this article is for you.  Today, we will discuss how augmented reality has redefined user experience across various sectors, including, but not limited to, online gaming, shopping, and even learning and development. Considering how rapidly augmented reality is being adopted and how it benefits the global business ecosystem, more and more startups and technopreneurs have shown a keen interest in investing in it. Suppose you're interested in how to build augmented reality app solutions and want to explore how a custom mobile application development company can help you create these innovative solutions. In that case, this article will guide you through the essential steps to get started.

Statistics On the Usage of Augmented Reality Apps for Businesses 

Yes, augmented reality is not a thing of the past.  And since the time of its inception, it has garnered a significant audience around AR-based products. What truly makes augmented reality app solutions stand a class apart?  Here are a few statistics that confirm its efficacy in the digital space: 

• Market Growth: The AR market is expected to expand from $3.5 billion in 2021 to $198.17 billion by 2025, with a CAGR of 63.3%.
• User Adoption: 50% of consumers are open to using AR in shopping, indicating significant potential for retail AR applications.
• App Usage: Around 1.5 billion mobile devices will be using AR applications in 2022, projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2024.
• Developer Interest: 68% of mobile developers plan to invest in AR and VR technologies as of 2023.
• User Engagement: AR applications can boost user engagement by up to 40% compared to standard apps.
• Performance Impact: 60% of users would abandon an AR app if it took longer than 3 seconds to load.
• Development Tools: Over 70% of AR developers prefer ARCore for Android development due to its features and support.

Which Market Has the Most Tech Users Located in the AR Space? 

A few good hotspots where AR technology has become quite the trend are Saudi Arabia, UAE, and the United States. Here’s the complete breakdown of which country has seen the use of AR technology and in what capacity: 

1. United States

The United States is home to many retail giants and has a thriving eCommerce market. The US has taken charge in almost every other industry, may it be manufacturing, hospitality, healthcare, or just about anything else.  As far as AR technology is concerned, the United States has earned a top spot, and companies like IKEA and Amazon have used AR to enhance the online shopping experience for customers, giving them the edge in visualizing products from the comforts of their homes. We have also seen the rise and adoption of AR in games such as Pokemon GO and saw massive success. All thanks to AR technology and its implementations. 

2. China

Similarly, China has also dramatically invested in AR games and applications over the years. Many local companies in China have invested in Augmented Reality applications and have helped thousands adopt robust educational tools, leading to a more interactive & engaging learning culture and environment.  A great implementation is where the Chinese museums have utilized Augmented Reality to create immersive experiences. For example, the Beijing Capital Museum and the Shanghai Museum offer AR-guided tours. During their visit, visitors can best interact with historical artifacts and view additional information about exhibits through their smartphones; in fact, they can experience reality augmentation by simply wearing AR glasses.  Chinese people can tour their favorite destinations, such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, which provide historical context, 3D reconstructions, and interactive storytelling to increase visitor experience. 

3. Japan

Similar to China, Japan is another market where AR technology has taken an uptrend.  For example, many retail brands exist, such as Shiseido, which use AR for virtual makeup try-ons. The global phenomenon, developed by “Pokemon GO,” first earned its popularity in Japan, where the app was initially launched. The game leverages AR technology, which allows players to catch virtual Pokemon in the real world. The game was highly influenced by Japanese culture, promoting indoor kids to engage in outdoor activities and encouraging them to go on tours and engage with local businesses.  Another great example that can be quoted here is Uniqlo, a famous Japanese clothing retailer that utilizes AR technology in its respective marketing campaigns. Uniqlo’s AR apps are built to assist customers in visualizing how certain clothing items will appear even before they physically try them on. As in the case of Uniqlo stores, customers can interact with different products by simply pointing their smartphones toward them. Eventually, a mannequin appears, optimizing the overall shopping experience for customers so it gets interactive. 

4. South Korea

While the race for AR adoption has gained significant popularity in different parts of the world, South Korea has remained active. Today, many South Korean schools incorporate AR to establish interactive learning experiences. For example, the Korean Institute of Science and Technology has developed an AR platform called “AR Education,” which integrates augmented reality into science education as a part of their curriculum.  The program is specifically designed to allow students to interact with 3D models of scientific concepts, where they engage themselves with complex topics, especially the more tangible ones that are easier to understand. In classrooms, students are encouraged to use innovative technology to scan specially designed markers and visualize 3D displays, such as models of molecules, anatomy, or any physical phenomena. In one instance, we saw how a student was successful in visualizing the entire structure of DNA and rotating the model to explore the details. 

5. United Kingdom

No wonder the land of the Kings and Queens has not taken a backseat, especially when it came to the adoption of AR technology. In London, the British Museum is found to have integrated AR technology into its exhibitions in order to increase visitor engagement and understand the historical journey & the exciting artifacts.  The museum launched an app that allowed visitors to explore selected exhibits using AR. The app allowed visitors to point their smartphones or tablets at their desired artifacts and unlock interactive experiences.  For example, businesses in the UK can see 3D reconstructions of ancient objects and view them in context with their historical background. You can see their animations and illustrate their significance & do much more.

What Are the Benefits of Augmented Reality Applications?

With so much hype in the market, you might now be wondering what are the benefits of having an augmented reality application for your business as well. Here are a few practical business benefits of using AR. 

1. Competitive Advantage 

A good example of using augmented reality in corporate is how businesses use it in their marketing campaigns. Businesses often use augmented reality in their specific marketing campaigns and direct products or services to reflect a sense of market readiness, adaptability, and responsiveness towards technologies. If you’re in the product or service market seeking to create an impact, then as an early adopter with a forward-thinking approach, you can gain a competitive edge in the business world with AR. 

2. Advertising, Marketing & Sales 

As is the case with many modern-day businesses and entrepreneurs, they want to introduce something that actually helps them win their customers. Augmented Reality-based solutions can assist in following the AIDA model from theory to practical. While adopting AR in your advertising and polishing up customer support experience, here’s how businesses can best capture the audience’s attention. AR can be noteworthy in creating brand awareness, and the best part: brands such as Warby Parker, and Sephora are already nailing it. For example, Sephora gives its customers a chance to have virtual try-ons before purchasing a product. Advertisements can create unique customer experiences & allow for better visual communications internally & externally. 

3. Enhanced Customer Engagement

In today’s competitive market, businesses are on the hunt for ways to make a lasting impression on their customers. Augmented reality offers a dynamic approach to engage consumers more deeply. By integrating AR into their strategy, companies can reshape how customers interact with products. Take IKEA, for instance—they’ve developed an AR app that allows users to visualize how furniture would look in their homes before purchasing. This added interactivity helps customers feel more confident in their buying decisions and builds a stronger bond with the brand. The outcome? Enhanced customer loyalty and satisfaction, turning one-time buyers into dedicated brand advocates.

4. Streamlined Training and Development

Beyond customer engagement, augmented reality can also make a huge difference in internal operations, particularly in training and development. Companies can harness AR to build immersive training programs that provide practical experience in a low-risk setting. For example, manufacturers are using AR to simulate machine operations, giving employees hands-on practice without real-world risks. This approach not only shortens the learning curve but also drives efficiency and productivity. By investing in AR for training, businesses can develop a skilled, adaptable workforce prepared for new challenges in today’s fast-paced landscape.

How to Build an Augmented Reality Mobile Application? 

Since we now know which part of the world has the most AR app usage, let us explore how we can turn an augmented reality app into a reality. We understand that there’s a lot of technical stuff which goes into making an AR app and therefore, we are going to put together the perfect roadmap to build your AR-based application. 

Choosing the Type of AR App 

The first thing you need to pay attention to, especially when it comes to building an AR app, is what type of app you wish to launch for your business. There are multiple types of AR apps available in the market and finding the right one for your business can be easy. How? Well, you just have to look at the different features and decide which app works best for your particular requirements. As an augmented reality app development company, we can guide you through this process, helping you choose the AR solution that fits your requirements. The different types of AR apps are: 

1. Marker-Based AR (Image Recognition)

• Description: Marker-based AR relies on specific visual markers, like QR codes or images, to trigger virtual content. The app identifies the marker and overlays digital content on the user’s real-world view.
• Example: IKEA Place – Uses image recognition to allow users to place virtual furniture in their space, providing a preview of how it would look in their home environment.

2. Markerless AR (Location-Based or GPS-Based)

• Description: Markerless AR uses GPS, compass, and other location data to display virtual elements based on the user's location. This type is often used for mapping and location-based experiences.
• Example: Pokémon GO – Combines GPS and camera functionality to let players find and capture Pokémon in real-world locations, blending game elements with physical surroundings.

3. Projection-Based AR

• Description: Projection-based AR involves projecting artificial light onto real-world surfaces, creating interactive displays. This type often uses sensors to detect user interaction.
• Example: Projection Mapping in Museums – Some museums project digital animations or reconstructions onto walls and artifacts to bring exhibits to life, enriching visitor engagement.

4. Superimposition-Based AR

• Description: Superimposition AR replaces or adds elements to the view of an object. This type of AR is commonly used in applications that allow users to try products virtually or visualize modifications.
• Example: Sephora Virtual Artist – Allows users to see how makeup products like lipsticks or eyeshadows would look on their faces by overlaying virtual makeup on a live camera feed.

5. Outlining AR

• Description: Outlining AR uses object recognition to detect edges and boundaries, creating digital outlines for real-world objects. This is helpful in applications requiring enhanced visual guidance.
• Example: AR Navigation Systems – Some navigation apps use outlining AR to help drivers and pedestrians follow routes by highlighting lanes or pathways, improving real-time navigation.

6. Overlay AR

• Description: Overlay AR involves enhancing real-world objects by overlaying additional digital information or modifications, often used in technical fields.
• Example: AR for Surgery (AccuVein) – AccuVein is an overlay AR app used by healthcare providers to visualize veins on a patient’s skin, aiding in precise vein location for injections.

Based on whether you’re a tech startup or a full-fledged enterprise, you can invest in an AR app that best suits your business needs. Businesses mostly invest in app solutions to often fill a market gap by adding it as an added support. AR integrations most likely give a different yet new edge to your business by boosting its marketing & sales efforts. Altogether, futuristic technology adds a unique layer to your business to best engage marketers. 

Features - The Ones You Need to Add 

The feature set is mostly dependent on the functionality you wish to offer within your AR app. Here are the top 5 features which are necessary in modern augmented reality digital solutions that add greater value: 

1. GPS Detection and Map Integration

• Enables the app to recognize the user’s location and display relevant AR content on a map. This feature is commonly used in location-based AR apps, where virtual objects or experiences appear based on the user's physical location.

2. Built-In Camera Feature

• Utilizes the device’s camera to capture or scan real-world environments, which serves as the foundation for overlaying virtual content onto the physical world. This feature is essential for displaying AR visuals in real time.

3. Marker Recognition

• Allows the app to detect specific images, icons, or QR codes (known as markers) and trigger associated AR content. This feature is ideal for AR experiences that need to respond to certain physical cues, enhancing user interactivity.

4. Library of 3D Visuals and Text Elements

• Provides a collection of 3D models, animations, and text elements that can be displayed within the AR environment. This library serves as a resource for developers and users to create rich, visually engaging AR experiences.

5. Guest Sign-Up and Social Media Sharing

• Allows users to access the app without full registration and share their AR experiences on social media. This feature helps increase user engagement and allows for easy sharing, broadening the app’s reach and appeal.

Choose a Tech Stack, Create a Development Strategy

Once you have identified what features you want to add to your app, the next step is to choose the right tools and technologies to put together a robust architecture. AR development requires specific frameworks & software development toolkits - and a good number of them aren’t open-source and free.  Therefore, when you choose a tech stack, here are 4 things you need to consider: 

• What is the size of your AR app and how big is your target audience? 
• What type of features and core functionality will you prefer within your app?
• What is your plan? Whether you want to scale your AR product or business in the future? 
• What is your estimated budget for AR app development? 

A Suitable Technology Stack for Augmented Reality Apps 

Now you might be wondering what type of technology stack is required to build an AR app? All of these frameworks and software development toolkits come at a certain cost. Also Read: How Much Does Augmented Reality App Development Cost? Here’s a suitable technology stack that is well-suited for building just about any augmented reality app, your way. 

1. AR Development Frameworks

• ARCore (Android): Google’s AR platform for Android, providing tools for motion tracking, environmental understanding, and light estimation.
• ARKit (iOS): Apple’s AR framework for iOS devices, supports face tracking, object recognition, and scene reconstruction.
• Unity with AR Foundation: Supports cross-platform AR development by integrating ARCore and ARKit, allowing you to build a single app for both Android and iOS.
• Vuforia: A versatile AR SDK compatible with both Android and iOS that offers features like image and object recognition, model targeting, and ground plane detection.

2. Programming Languages

• Swift (iOS): Primarily used for developing iOS-specific AR applications with ARKit.
• Kotlin (Android): Ideal for developing AR apps for Android with ARCore.
• C# (Unity): Used when building cross-platform apps in Unity, especially with the AR Foundation framework.

3. 3D Modeling and Animation Tools

• Blender: An open-source 3D modeling tool for creating and animating models used in AR experiences.
• Maya or 3ds Max: Industry-standard tools for more complex modeling and rendering.
• Sketchfab or TurboSquid: Libraries that provide 3D models, which can be imported into the app if custom model creation isn’t required.

4. Backend Infrastructure

• Firebase: Provides real-time database, user authentication, and analytics. Ideal for handling user data, media storage, and login functionalities.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Google Cloud Platform (GCP): For managing large datasets, high-resolution 3D content, and any AI processing needs.

5. Cloud Anchoring and Content Delivery

• Google Cloud Anchor API (for ARCore) or Apple's ARKit Cloud Anchors: These allow persistent and shared AR experiences across devices by saving object positions and allowing other devices to recognize them.
• Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) like Cloudflare or AWS CloudFront: These are used to efficiently deliver high-resolution content, 3D assets, and images to users.

6. Additional Tools and Libraries

• OpenCV: A powerful library for image recognition and processing, enhancing marker detection and tracking accuracy.
• Mapbox: Integrates AR with GPS-based maps for location-based experiences, especially useful in outdoor navigation AR apps.
• Social Media SDKs (Facebook, Instagram, etc.): For social sharing and guest logins, enhancing user engagement and content sharing.

How do you Hire an AR App Developer for an AR App? 

The right developer can make or break your AR app game. Assuming you already have a technical background, understanding concepts like app coding, AR integrations, and AI programming will gradually become easier. You’ll also need to decide on the size of your team, whether small or large and consider if you want someone with a business background to ensure they understand your end goal. If you’re opting for a larger team, having a project manager can help reduce programming roadblocks. The human resources you onboard are crucial, as this will affect both your costs and the expertise you bring to your AR app. Here are a few things we recommend considering:

• Hiring an in-house team can be expensive since it requires full-time wages. Instead, consider options like staff augmentation or remote teams to develop your AR mobile app.
• Hiring a development team on an hourly basis—such as through staff augmentation or remote staffing—adds flexibility and gives you better control over project timelines.
• Another option is to outsource the entire project to a third-party AR app development company. In this case, you’ll have less control over the monitoring, testing, and launching phases of your AR app.

Just as cost and team structure are essential, so is the location of your AR developer. Here are some quick tips when hiring a professional:

• For a higher budget, consider hiring from the USA; cities like Miami, Houston, and New York offer skilled AR developers at relatively economical rates compared to Europe.
• Hiring experts from the UAE and Saudi Arabia is also cost-effective. Just make sure to thoroughly review their development portfolio before finalizing any contracts.

Everything Looks Good - Time to Test & Launch

The last step is to send your app live so it can be downloaded by your target audience.  Testing the app in the beta phase is an integral part of your app launch. During this phase, the app will be checked for multiple aspects such as user experience, performance glitches, and errors in coding.  AR app developers normally follow three different standards for testing the app.  They check the app on technical performance - App developers work in tandem with quality assurance experts to check whether the app is bug-free, virus-free, and doesn’t crash while running on different platforms & screen sizes.  They check the app on navigation & user experience - App testers continuously check the app’s user journey and see if the app is intuitive enough and has a decent load time, sign up, sign in, and other important features.  They check the app for data accuracy and security - App security specialists ensure they run penetration tests to prevent ethical hacking and make sure they don’t fall prey to data breaches and don't leak sensitive user information. 

Concluding Thoughts 

Building an augmented reality application for Android devices can be a strategic move for businesses aiming to innovate and engage customers effectively. At the forefront of custom Android app development, we understand the market landscape like no other. By leveraging the right AR technologies, and by focusing on taking a user-centric approach, Branex can create compelling AR experiences, one that increase brand loyalty and drive your business growth. The future of AR is bright, and not just that, but this technology has set a stone in today's competitive market. If you haven’t invested in AR technology for your business, now might be the perfect time. 

A few years ago, Google introduced Kotlin for Android apps, a statically typed programming language that has inspired developers worldwide.

First unveiled at Google I/O in 2017, it quickly gained traction among Android app creators and became the second official programming language for Android. 

With Google's endorsement, Kotlin has sparked innovative app ideas among individual developers and enterprises alike. 

There's no denying that this language is intuitive and adaptable.

But will Kotlin ever be able to replace Java as a programming language? Let’s find out. In this article, we are going to talk about some of the leading benefits of Kotlin. 

Altogether, it will help us learn why Kotlin has become a preferred app development programming language. So without further ado, let’s learn everything about it.

The Power of Kotlin

Here’s a statically typed programming language that works wonders on JavaScript and JVMs (Java-based Virtual Machines). Powered by JetBrains, Kotlin has easily made its place in the Android development world. Since the time Kotlin was introduced into the digital stratosphere, it has gained a lot of traction among enthusiastic developers. Today, with the native version released in the market, Kotlin’s popularity among Android app developers has increased tenfold. 

To give you a much better insight, here’s a snippet from JetBrain's official website indicating how Kotlin has earned its significance.

Some of the many business leaders, including names like Pinterest, Uber, Evernote, Atlassian, and Pivotal are using Kotlin for their custom Android app development. 

Here are some of the other renowned apps which are powered by Kotlin.

With so many recent apps powered by Kotlin, app developers may wonder what makes Kotlin such a reliable app development language. 

It may make them ponder whether Kotlin is going to replace Java in the coming days or not. So here, we are going to list down the best benefits of Kotlin that make it so exciting.

What Are The Benefits of Using Kotlin? 

We asked some of our clients what benefits they think reliable Kotlin app development services such as ours have to offer them and here’s what we learned about it from their feedback.

1. Achieve App Efficiency with Kotlin

As far as the code syntax of Kotlin is concerned, the code is cognitive and adaptive. Hence, there’s no doubt that one of the major factors why Kotlin is an incredible programming language is because it improves the efficiency of the app. As in Java and other platforms, where you have to write a pile of code to make the app work, Kotlin requires minimal coding practice. What might take you ages to compile with a different programming language, Kotlin allows you to compile it in a few lines of code.

In a way, it dramatically reduces the time required to create an app.

2. Kotlin Requires Minimal Maintenance

The maintenance of Kotlin is fairly easy compared to other programming languages operating in the coding stratosphere. The platform offers a significant number of IDEs (Integrated Development Environments), which makes the maintenance of the app code fairly easy compared to the rest of the market.

One of the reasons why we believe Kotlin has become significant among Android developers is because of the range of SDKs and IDEs the programming language supports. When coupled with the right toolkit, there’s no doubt the programming language holds the ultimate potential which makes it a favored choice among Android developers.

3. Kotlin is Also an Interoperable Language

Kotlin is a fully interoperable app, which means that the programming language can share data with Java easily. If there are certain Java codes that you want to leverage in Kotlin programming language. You can easily transfer these codes to Kotlin and program your Android app experience accordingly.

It’s one of the reasons why many Java developers can easily adapt to Kotlin. The language itself allows maximum liberty to coding experts so they can enhance the efficiency of their apps by improving the bulky code formats pre-designed on Java. With Kotlin, they have the freedom to reduce these code lines to a bare minimum and create a much more efficient app than it was before.

Kotlin Code Syntax is Concise and Readable

Kotlin shines with its concise syntax and advanced features, resulting in more readable and maintainable code. Its type inference, for example, eliminates the need for explicit type declarations, reducing clutter and improving code elegance. Kotlin's null safety feature ensures that null references are handled gracefully, preventing null pointer exceptions and enhancing code robustness. Additionally, smart casting automatically narrows down variable types, reducing the need for explicit casts and improving code clarity.

Kotlin Offers the Best Safety Features

Kotlin focuses on safety with features that prevent common programming mistakes. It includes null safety and enforces immutability by default, so objects can't be changed accidentally. This boosts code reliability and makes it easier to understand how a program works. Kotlin also uses "non-null types" letting developers mark variables or function parameters as non-null. This gives extra safety assurance.

Kotlin Offers Complete Programming Support

Kotlin makes use of functional programming with strong support for lambdas and higher-order functions. This helps developers write concise and expressive code. You can pass lambdas, which are anonymous functions, as arguments to higher-order functions. This approach promotes code reusability and modular design. Functions like map, filter, and reduce make working with collections easier and allow powerful transformations with simple syntax.

Kotlin Introduces Android-Specific Features and Extensions

Kotlin provides Android-specific features and extensions that streamline Android development. For example, Anko, a popular Kotlin library, offers a concise syntax for common Android UI and networking tasks, reducing the amount of boilerplate code required. Kotlin Android Extensions provide a concise way to access views and improve code readability by eliminating the need for explicit casting. These extensions enhance productivity and make it easier to build robust Android applications.

Kotlin is Very Reliable for Android

Because of the programming language’s inter-compatibility and bare minimum maintenance. It has surely become a reliable programming language for Android development. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg because, with Kotlin, you get fewer bugs, better support for functional programming, no more null-point exceptions, complete support for IDE Android Studio, and in fact, a whole lot more.

Kotlin Adoption and Vibrant Community Support

1. Growing Adoption in the Android Ecosystem

Kotlin is making waves in the Android developer community, and for good reason. Its adoption has been steadily increasing, thanks to its powerful features and the backing it gets from developers and tech leaders. Back in 2017, Google gave Kotlin a big thumbs up by officially supporting it for Android development. This move made Kotlin even more popular and credible in the Android world.

2. Industry Giants Embrace Kotlin

After Google's endorsement, many big names like Netflix, Uber, and Pinterest jumped on the Kotlin bandwagon. They've used Kotlin to build or revamp their apps, proving that it's a strong contender for handling complex projects. This recognition from such well-known companies shows that Kotlin is a reliable language for Android development.

3. Developer Survey Insights

A 2022 developer survey by JetBrains, the folks behind Kotlin, revealed that 64% of developers use Kotlin for Android app development. This statistic shows just how popular Kotlin has become, establishing it as a favorite among Android developers.

4. Active and Supportive Community

The Kotlin community is lively and full of enthusiastic developers from around the globe. They're constantly pushing the language forward, creating open-source libraries and tools that expand Kotlin's capabilities. This makes Kotlin an even more powerful and flexible choice for Android development.

5. Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration

Kotlin developers love to share their knowledge. Through blogs, forums, and conferences, they spread their expertise and tips. Events like KotlinConf bring fans and experts together to learn, network, and shape Kotlin's future.

6. Rich Ecosystem of Tools and Frameworks

Thanks to the community's hard work, Kotlin boasts a rich ecosystem of tools and frameworks that boost developer productivity. Libraries like Ktor and Kotlin Serialization simplify tasks, making it easier for developers to create top-notch Android apps.

7. Driving Future Adoption

With its rising popularity, active community, and rich ecosystem, Kotlin is set to keep leading the Android development scene. Its easy-to-read syntax, safety features, and seamless integration with Java make it a top pick for developers. Kotlin's future in Android development looks bright.

Many mobile app development companies around the world are now slowly adopting the Kotlin programming language for creating remarkable Android experiences. From AI-powered mobile apps to enterprise-level solutions, Kotlin is capable of providing the best coding practices to its respective individuals. It’s just a matter of time before Kotlin will become a hallmark in Android development.

A Few Drawbacks

Surely nothing is dot-point accurate or perfect. Just as everything has its fair share of flaws, so does Kotlin. But are they that grave? For that, we did a bit of our exploration and concluded.

Kotlin was found guilty of:

• Fluctuation in compiling speeds.
• Very minimal community support.
• A budding developer community.

No wonder Kotlin has gained significant traction among Android mobile app developers. But there’s still a gap in the application programming language. The gap exists because of a relatively small community and it’s one of the reasons why people are not adopting Kotlin at the moment. 

If there’s a problem you encounter while coding on Kotlin, a developer might require a lot of research or go through a trial & error method to fix the coding issue completely. However, when it comes to syntax & speed, Kotlin sure does leave some of the world’s best programming languages behind.

Do you have something interesting to share about Kotlin? Hire the best mobile app developers. 

Branex is a mobile application development company, we always step up to offer you top-notch advice on Kotlin app development.

There is no clear-cut answer as to which operating system is better. A lot of factors come into play your own taste and needs are very important here. In general, Android offers a much more versatile, customizable experience. Home screens are virtually infinitely customizable, and any task you can think of can be automated via Tasker (which, arguably, unlocks the true power of Android). Flawless and deep integration with Google is another plus (no pun intended!), and this element of Android is indispensable for those who rely on Google for their email/calendar/navigation needs. Android is what enables you to have dual-screen phones like the YotaPhone 2; its principles are "freedom" based. If you’re a mobile app developer, no matter new or old, this question might bug you a lot. Android vs iOS both have pros and cons, and this blog will help you to make the right decision. Also Read: Trends to Watch for iOS App Development However, there are two perspectives which are kept in consideration while writing the blog: Either you’re developing the app as a hobby, or you want to make money by making Apps. Whatever the reason might be, I would suggest reading the blog till the end.

Distribution and Promotion

To date iPhone has a better distribution mechanism in the app store than Android. Apple surely has a uniform and simple user experience. Assuming your app hits the top 20 categories or Apple features your app, it gets a lot of traction. But soon this will be over. The Android marketplace just got better, and I am sure Google will put all its efforts into user experience. In the start, Android was faced with poor user experience issues but as time passed Google worked hard to overcome it.

Approval Process

Apple has a complicated approval process, which takes 5 - 7 days for initial approval and each subsequent update. To maintain quality and streamline Apps, this is a great approach, but for developers, it’s quite frustrating to move through all these processes. If you are doing something that can start a debate (Age-restricted material), then it's best to leave Apple for now. Also Read: Why is Kotlin Favored for Android App Development? With Android, there is no such restriction. You can make an App and Google will happily approve your app within 4-5 days.

Monetization

Apple uses iTunes to take payments from users. So every user must have an iTunes account. On the other hand, Android uses Google Wallet to make payments. Apple has a better framework for making payments. As per my suggestion, Apple wins the race when going for paid apps. I have heard developers making large money out of Apple stores while developers are having difficulty making money out of Google apps. As for monetization with ads, you still require a lot of downloads and ad impressions to make decent money. Therefore it really just goes back to the distribution and promotion question (see above). I believe there are real ad networks you can leverage for both platforms (AdMob for iOS/Android, and for iPhone, etc.).

Bottom Line

In short, Android will give you an environment to try anything and do some really awesome things, as there is no limit to what you can customize and create. Take a look at any Android app development company, and they will suggest you go for Android as it has better customization options. iOS is a much better platform if you're looking to make money, as it has much more support for making the user's experience seamless when making purchasing decisions, as well as having a much larger application store, but at the cost of having to follow strict guidelines on what an app is allowed to do. Let me say this again in one last way, this is something that I have been saying about Android vs iOS since the days of Froyo and is less true today than it was then, but I still stick with it: With iOS, you ask what your device can do and you stick with that, with Android, you ask yourself what you want to happen, then find out how Android can do it. The bottom line, iOS is a powerful tool, if you want to do what it wants to do, Android is a powerful tool no matter what you want to do.