Advantages of Android 14 for App Development

We're almost there. Android 14 will be released to the public this August, bringing with it a wide range of new changes that will impact anyone using a phone driven by Google's mobile OS. But in addition to the user-facing changes, custom mobile developers will benefit from the new release as well. These Android 14 app development advantages range from improved efficiencies to enhanced security, all designed to make apps more functional, usable, and effective.

With more than 2.5 billion active users, Android is the most popular mobile operating system in the world. This guide will help both developers and businesses better understand what exactly the new release means, and how it can benefit their mobile presence.

Android 14 App Development Nuances to Keep in Mind

Before we dive into the specific advantages of Android 14 for app development, let's cover a few nuances that are important for all stakeholders to keep in mind. 

First, and perhaps most importantly, most improvements and updates to the operating system are designed to be user-facing. The natural goal of any major OS update is to improve the user experience, so you can expect new features to follow the same pattern.

For example, one of the most frequently promoted new features is the ability to make fonts more accessible by increasing their size further. This change could have a big impact, especially for older users, but will likely not change much when it comes to app development.

In addition, developers have been able to view early versions of Android 14 since February, before April saw the first beta release. This means not only do we have plenty of evidence to support the advantages and improvements listed below, but also that Google has been able to improve its new OS further and hone its advantages based on the release process.

With these nuances and considerations in mind, let's dive into exactly how Android 14 might change the game for mobile app developers and the companies commissioning those apps.

Notification Flashes for Better Push Notifications

It's difficult to overstate the importance of push notifications when communicating with your audience, especially once they have installed your app. After all, 81% of Android users opt-in to receive push notifications from apps, leading to a 4.6% reaction rate—higher than your average email click-through rate.  Personalize notifications or add features like emojis, and that reaction rate increases further.

And here's the good news: with Android 14, push notification options are expanding. With a single toggle in the Accessibility session of the OS settings, users will be able to set up push notifications to have the camera, phone display, or both flash each time they receive a notification. You can even choose the color of the flash.

According to Google, the feature is largely designed to help people with hearing loss. But it's certainly not limited to that audience, making push notifications at once less obtrusive and easier to notice.

That becomes especially evident when developing your own Android 14 app. The switch should make push notifications even more popular among users, allowing you to create the app with a stronger strategy for this communications feature. Moreover, different industries may benefit from different types of push notifications—the less intrusive flash, for instance, could work well for games or other low-stakes apps.

Language and Regional Improvements for Better Multilingual Development

Especially for developers and businesses looking to go beyond a single market, Android 14 offers a few new features that can significantly simplify the experience. Those three features revolve around both language and regional settings:

• First, Google is refining the support it offers for gendered languages like French and German. Per the developer's log, this will provide a "more personalized and natural-sounding user experience for users in those languages."
• Second, developers can build individual app language control into their coding. That allows them to customize the list of available languages by user region, run A/B experiments in and with different languages, and even improve localization push notification opportunities for users based on the language they choose.
• Finally, Google will allow users to change their system to measurements, calendars, and other metrics that use non-American tracking systems. Celsius rather than Fahrenheit? No problem. Making the first day of your calendar Monday instead of Sunday? Absolutely.

The opportunities that this increased multilingual and localization focus opens are significant, since consumers are more likely to buy a product if they can read about it in their native language. Put simply, Android 14 app development will make it easier than ever to include different languages and cultures and expand your target audience in the process.

Key Privacy and Security Features to Implement in New Mobile Apps

If the last few years of app development have been defined by anything, it's an increased emphasis on user and data privacy. From building secure apps to protecting against breaches through regular app maintenance, user awareness of data sensitivity is higher than ever, and should be taken into account by developers.

Related: 10 Reasons Why Mobile App Maintenance is Important

It's no surprise, then, that Android 14 is following that same trend. New features related to data privacy and security will include:

• A loss of support for pre-Android 13 apps that could make the mobile device more vulnerable to breaches
• Improved support for Android passkeys within individual apps that allow developers to move away from passwords for logins and toward biometric data
• Guest phone access that restricts access to individual apps, phone logs, etc. when someone borrows the user's phone
•  The ability to restrict location data sharing to only when the app is being used, along with notifications letting users know when data is shared with third parties

Implementing these changes will enable app developers to build more secure solutions, ultimately creating safer spaces for any user looking to engage with their apps.

More Customized Share Options for Android Users

The advantages of custom Android app development have always included the ability to create unique solutions that go beyond a standard template. Android 14 is embracing the same concept, particularly in how it will enable users to customize what they share on a deeper level.

It starts with being able to select what photos, videos, or other media to share with a specific app. Instead of having to grant blanket access, this seemingly minor change can restrict access to the entire media and file library for unfamiliar apps, ultimately lowering users’ threshold of shared information.

Just as important, though, is the new feature allowing users to customize the share menu within apps. Developers can now add custom options to these share sheets, which will enable them to more specifically guide the user journey from that screen. Android 14 will also enhance the app data used to determine priority within the share sheet, building a more user-friendly and consistent menu for its users.

Part of building a successful mobile app has always been the ability to prompt users to share content within the app or even the app itself with their network. Through these improvements, developers can more easily prompt those actions and indirectly influence the spread of their apps.

Cross-Device Development Improvements for New Apps

The ability (or lack of) for Android developers to build a single app designed for multiple screens and device types has always been problematic. With Android 14, that appears to be changing.

The new operating system is getting additions specifically designed for developers that allow apps to more easily change and adjust depending on the screen size. Window size classes and sliding pane layouts can help in that process, allowing for a development process more akin to responsive web design than the previous box version.

This feature has featured in the preview versions of the OS already, so developers have already had a chance to adjust their apps to the change. The seemingly clear goal for Google is to create the ability for apps to work well across devices, including phones, folding phones, and tablets. 

New and Improved Lock Screen Widgets

Finally, Google is using Android 14 to make some changes to how widgets work. Widgets, of course, are the interactive parts of apps that users can place on their home screen so that core functionality, like the weather or calendar, is visible without having to navigate into the app.

Related: 6 Qualities to Expect from a Custom Mobile App Development Company

Most importantly, widgets are coming to the lock screen. Users will be able to customize their lock screen with app widgets, bringing new opportunities for developers to communicate with their audience and provide value even without their app being opened.

There has also been some other speculation regarding potential upcoming widget features, such as allowing users to stack them for scrolling and add more to their home screen. But regardless of whether or not these changes will also take place, a renewed emphasis on widgets can certainly benefit developers and businesses looking to maximize their user engagement and app usability on Android.

Get Ready for Android 14 App Development Improvements Now

Google has done it again. The newest upcoming major Android update will once again come with major tweaks that will influence every part of the user experience, from enhanced data security to more customized in-app and lock screen experiences. 

But just as importantly, many of these changes, updates, and new features have a direct impact on your mobile app development opportunities as well. Many of the Android 14 app development updates and new features allow for tweaks to your app specifically designed to enhance UX, leading to improved engagement and ongoing use. 

Of course, you won't get there automatically. Your mobile app can only leverage these benefits if you're able to integrate the new features into its interface and backend. 

That's where Milo Mobile comes in. As experienced custom mobile app developers, we're excited about the coming changes and improvements and ready for the future. Contact us to book your free consultation and to chat about the potential changes and improvements Android 14 could bring to your mobile app this year.

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