Top 6 Features Every Smartphone App Should Have in 2025

The incessant release of junk apps and bloatware in smartphone app stores has perpetuated a bad reputation for most apps. 

 

Many modern apps often have unfinished features, intrusive monetisation practices, or half-baked design choices—in other words, features that can swiftly lead users to uninstall the app.

 

In general, this is a good and a bad thing for the app industry. The bad part lies in the reality that most users automatically suspect new apps as being deceptive or bad, barely giving many apps a fair shot. 

 

The good news is that developers can exceed user expectations and create a user experience more easily. They can achieve this by leveraging the right technology and tapping into the right network to bring their app idea to life in a way that’s smart, efficient, and beneficial to its intended audience.

 

Of course, achieving such a feat is easier said than done. Many app developers and teams struggle to create a great app from start to finish for various reasons, from a lack of resources to a limited ability to execute ideas to code.

 

However, it is possible with the right strategy and knowledge base. If you want your smartphone app to succeed in 2025 and beyond, you’re in the right place. This article will delve into the top features every smartphone app should consider adding to stay ahead of the competition.

 

Let’s jump into it and look into these features in greater detail.

1. Table of Contents

   AI-Powered Personalisation

Artificial intelligence has penetrated nearly every industry in recent years, and in the app development field, things are no different. In fact, AI is arguably the most felt in this field for the everyday consumer—as many of AI’s capabilities run on computer systems like smartphones.

 

With that said, jumping onto the AI trend is something every app developer should consider. There are many ways AI can improve an app, from streamlining customer data more accurately to creating more efficient functions through its generative and predictive capabilities.

 

As a classic example of AI in action, many app developers and websites are turning to AI-run chatbots to handle customer inquiries through chat. This helps lessen the load of your customer service workforce. It also enables 24/7 operations without having to hire workers to handle overtime operations—all in a cost-effective package.

 

Of course, the nature of your app matters a tonne in this regard. If you have a shopping app, for instance, you can use AI to push more relevant products to specific customer segments. If you’re developing a game, then you can use AI to adjust level difficulty depending on the player’s skill level and performance in previous rounds.

 

By harnessing AI tools to craft a better user experience, the resulting app can be more efficient and intuitive. Furthermore, 2025 will very likely see more developers integrating AI into their apps. If you don’t want to trail behind the competition, having AI improve your app’s functionality is something you should deeply consider.

1. Cross-Platform Compatibility

In 2025, cross-platform compatibility is something that many developers have perfected and integrated seamlessly into their apps. Game data and document files can be synchronised and accessed on both phones and desktops, with some app types offering real-time simultaneity. 

 

Lagging behind in the cross-platform department can cause friction in the user experience, which can lead to a poor user experience and users switching to another app to fulfil their needs. If you struggle in this department, tapping into seasoned app developers like the PixelForce app development team can help scale your project to new heights.

 

The most common way developers implement cross-platform compatibility is by using cloud-based storage and seamless API integrations. Cloud syncing helps update user data and progress whenever a user has finished using the app on a respective device, eliminating the need for manual transfers.

 

Moreover, app development software like Flutter, Unity, and React Native also grant developers the ability to easily build apps that work smoothly on iOS, Android, and Windows devices without extensive reprogramming. 

 

When a platform has cross-platform compatibility, it makes for a more accessible, engaging, and seamless experience for its users. This can make the app more attractive and widely adopted in 2025, as users continue to own and switch between different smartphone brands and operating systems.

1. Enhanced Security and Privacy Features

Apps need to have safeguards in place to protect themselves against cybersecurity threats that may arise. 

 

Sensitive user data, including personal details and passwords, can be exposed if security measures are inadequate. Ideally, these data points should be scrambled, limited, and heavily encrypted to ensure that there’ll be no vulnerabilities that can cause data breaches.

 

Besides reinforcing your app’s backend security, you should also create authentication processes to allow users to have more control over their personal information. Enabling features such as facial recognition and biometric authentication can be an effective way of reducing unauthorised breaches.

 

With each passing year, cyber threats continue to proliferate and strengthen. App developers need to continuously stay on top of these threats and create systems to ensure that their app won’t be easily accessed by unscrupulous actors and that they remain complaint with global data regulations.

1. Versatile Payment Options

In 2025, more people are switching to cashless options to make payments. In the world of apps and mobile games, cashless payments is the go-to way to make purchases, whether you’re paying for the app from the app store, subscribing to a service, or making microtransactions.

 

As much as possible, you should integrate multiple payment methods into your app for seamless checkouts for all types of users. Being able to grant Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and credit card payments is a good way to increase payment flexibility and improve user satisfaction.

 

When users can pay however they want, they’ll be less likely to not abandon carts and instead push through with the purchase. This can mean more revenue for your business. Of course, it’s also essential to ensure that these payment methods are secure and that payment systems are thorough and comprehensive.

1. Intuitive User Design and UX

Most users are quick to uninstall an app that fails to meet their standards in terms of visual appeal. The same outcome is bound to happen if the app’s interface is also clunky and hard to navigate. 

 

As an app developer, it’s crucial to prioritise making apps with clean interfaces, adaptive layouts, and little to no clutter. Giving users the ability to personalise the app to their liking—like having dark mode features—is also a great way to improve the user experience and cement your app’s reputation as a reliable and trustworthy one.

 

There are many ways app developers can improve the UX and UI experience of their app. Apps can integrate AI to auto-adjust UI elements based on past user behaviour, for instance. Smart suggestions, like an auto-fill toolbar, also helps make the app easier to work with—making it appealing for customers.

 

By focusing on the user and creating an app that caters to their needs, your app will be positiond for success in the long run.

1. Smart Push Notifications

The average smartphone has 35 apps installed on their phone. While this may seem like a lot, a vast majority of them consist of the popular social media, banking, and entertainment apps. Only a small handful of these apps are particularly unique across phones.

 

As an app developer, you want your users to be active on your app and make payments. But you don’t want to be overly intrusive to the point that users get annoyed and choose to uninstall your app altogether. You want to strike a balance.

 

In 2025, you should focus on building a strategy in optimising your app’s notifications and reminders. Consider A/B testing different messages and frequencies and figuring out the most engaging strategy for your app. Moreover, ensure that your userbase can silence notifications or get custom alerts to control how and when they receive updates.

 

By being smart about your push notifications, you can engage and inform users without becoming disruptive. This can ultimately lead to them continuously using your app and remaining loyal to it.