The Must-Know Elements of Android App Design

When designing apps for Android, many elements must be considered. Primarily, an app should be accessible for as many devices as possible to increase its chances of success. This can pose a challenge, however, as variations in software and hardware capabilities can complicate matters. Learn how to navigate these challenges with our quick guide to the basics of Android app design.

Software Considerations

When designing an app, a range of software considerations must be taken into account. Here are some of the more common areas in which you should be knowledgeable.

Android OS Versions

Having a thorough understanding of different Android operating systems is crucial to the success of your app. Android regularly updates its OS, and it’s vital to keep up with each version’s quirks and how it will affect your app. 23% of all apps behave differently with the launch of a new version, so regular testing is recommended to identify any compatibility issues.

23% of all apps behave differently with the launch of a new version, so regular testing is recommended to identify any compatibility issues.

It’s also important when conducting testing of your app to consider a range of different Android versions. Many developers make the mistake of building apps that are only compatible with the latest version of Android. However, statistics show that nearly 25% of all Android users are using older versions such as Gingerbread and Ice Cream Sandwich, making it a wise move to maximise support for older versions.

OEM Customisations

Many Android device manufacturers build their own software to integrate with Android, releasing their devices with specially customised skins and interfaces. These changes to the OS are known as fragmentation, and can potentially cause apps to behave differently, even when used on the same Android version. Testing of your app should be conducted on a range of different phone brands to ensure Android fragmentation does not alter performance.

Software Dependencies

If your app is designed to launch another installed app on a device, such as a social media app, you cannot assume that all devices will have the app pre-installed. Testing should be carried out to ensure the app exists on the devices you’re targeting, and if not, allowances for these devices should be made.

Hardware Considerations

In addition to the software side of things, your app must also be able to work on a range of devices with different hardware specifications. Here are some need-to-know elements you should keep in mind.

Screen Resolution

Screen resolution is a crucial element when designing apps for Android, to ensure the app is displayed correctly on a range of different screens, from phones to tablets.

In recent years there’s been a shift towards larger, higher resolution displays, which have generally improved the appearance and performance of apps. However, issues can still be encountered on different devices due to low-quality screens, different display drivers, and low pixel densities.

While Android has the functionality to automatically scale and resize your app to fit a range of devices, it’s still essential for you to test and optimise your app for different screen sizes. Unfortunately, emulators are not always accurate, so it’s best to test on real devices. This ensures your app will display correctly on all devices, regardless of screen orientation or differences in colour.

Memory Requirements

While recent phones have large amounts of memory installed, many older devices have very little. Memory management should be implemented in your app, ensuring the best performance for a larger number of devices. It’s also a good idea to test the performance of your app on devices with different memory capacities. If older phones have insufficient memory and can’t cope, it may be best to exclude low-end devices from downloading your app.

The team at Appz are experts in Android app design

Sound like a lot of complicated elements to consider? Need some help?

Appz specialise in creating Android applications that work flawlessly across a range of devices. Talk to our team about applying our extensive knowledge to the construction of your next app!