Mobile Insights

The Top 5 Mobile App Trends of 2020

2020 has been a tumultuous year. A global pandemic claimed the lives of nearly 1.5 million people, a worldwide movement emerged for racial justice, and American political division created widespread concern.  With COVID-19 forcing unprecedented social distancing, the mobile app economy has also experienced radical shifts. App consumption has exploded, Gen Z is gaming more than ever, and mobile news consumption dwarfed that of 2019.  And Apple’s announcements of impending data policy rule changes have upended an ecosystem.

iPhone 12 Pro Max Launch Dominates All Apple Devices Over Last Three Years

On October 13, 2020, in a highly anticipated launch event, Apple introduced its newest iPhone models, the iPhone 12 series. For the first time ever, Apple launched four devices that differ by size, price and features, including the first ever iPhone 12 mini at 5.4 inches. The devices launched in two waves: the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro on October 23, and the iPhone 12 mini and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max on November 13.

Smartphone Adoption Ramps in India as Diwali Becomes Top Shopping Holiday

Earlier this month, more than one billion people in India as well as expatriates across the world celebrated the festival of Diwali. Best known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is marked by family gatherings, fireworks and prayer, and is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India. Over the years, the weeks leading up to Diwali have become the most important holiday shopping season in the country with people splurging on gadgets, clothes, appliances, jewelry, and more.

Mobile Game Usage Shows Remote Learning Adversely Impacts Low Income Students

The spread of Coronavirus in the U.S. has not only threatened the economy, but also the American educational system. After the summer break, all but four states implemented either hybrid or remote learning models. With some parents working or taking care of siblings, among other factors, would students engage academically? In this report, Flurry measures academic engagement by looking at one of the most common activities that directly competes with classroom and study time —playing mobile games on smartphones.

Mobile App News Consumption Explodes as U.S. Presidential Election Hangs in the Balance

While 2020 has featured some of the biggest events in modern history —a global pandemic, an impeached U.S. President, widespread protests over severe social injustice, and a wildly volatile economy— 83% of Americans believe that who wins the presidency, according to Pew Research, matters more now than it has over the past two decades. In this report, we look at the massive spike in news consumption driven by this year’s U.S. Presidential election.

Mobile Gaming’s Endless Summer

Mobile game usage in the U.S. has increased substantially during COVID-19. In a previous report, we showed that mobile game sessions surged by 21% after stay-at-home orders took hold, on weekdays no less! In other words, as people began to work and attend school from home, they also reached for their phones more often to game. In this follow-on installment, we look at what time of the day people are gaming during the week, and the results are surprising.

Mobility Drops 50% in Western U.S. Due to Wildfires

Coronavirus has severely impacted U.S. mobility in 2020. Foot traffic to financial centers plunged by 60%. Trips to retail stores declined by 26%. Airport visits collapsed by 75%. And now with wildfires raging across much of the Western U.S., we see a new factor impacting mobility. In this report, we examine the impact of U.S. wildfires in the West on mobility through the usage of navigation apps.

How the Coronavirus Pandemic Impacted Summer Travel in 2020

When the coronavirus pandemic hit, borders closed around the world and Americans spent months under lockdown. As Summer approached, stay-at-home orders were lifted and many hotels reopened. However, travel destinations and activities remained limited. As a result, COVID-19 crushed many travelers’ Summer plans. In this report, we look at how American summer vacation behavior dramatically shifted between 2019 and 2020 due to Coronavirus.

Apple Grows 2020 Market Share by Appealing to Lower Income Segment

For the last several years, Apple has pushed the limits of premium price points with its flagship iPhone line. This pricing strategy has helped Apple maintain its premium position in the market and attract more affluent consumers. While this approach helps Apple court consumers who can further purchase subscriptions, it leaves demand from a lower income segment better served by its competitors —until now. In this report, Flurry measures how market share has shifted among leading OEMs in the U.S. since the release of the iPhone SE 2 earlier this year.