---
title: "A Review of the Global App Market in 2015"
locale: "en"
language: "en-HK"
published: "2016-01-12T11:15:23+08:00"
updated: "2026-03-17T23:05:32.011Z"
canonical: "https://accordhk.com/blog/a-review-of-the-global-app-market-in-2015-226"
---

# A Review of the Global App Market in 2015

Mobile app usage grew by 58% in 2015, while mobile gaming usage declined by 1%. Personalization apps led growth, followed by news and magazine apps, productivity tools, and lifestyle and shopping apps.

## In brief

Mobile app usage grew by 58% in 2015, but mobile gaming usage fell by 1%. Personalization apps led with 332% growth, followed by news and magazines at 135%, productivity at 125%, and lifestyle and shopping at 81%.

Across the mobile market, [“Mobile First”](<http://app-developer-hongkong.com>)、[“Mobile Only”](<http://app-development-hongkong.com>) have become rallying cries, and online services are actively using apps as gateways to mobile users. So how did the app market perform over the past year?  

[The gaming app market](<http://hongkongappdeveloper.com>) is approaching saturation, with [app ](<http://appdeveloperhongkong.com>)usage declining  

Currently, more than 200,000 [developers](<http://appdeveloperhk.com>) worldwide use it across 720,000 [apps](<http://appdevelopmenthk.com>). The statistics show that [mobile app ](<http://appcompanyhk.com>)usage grew by 58%, an impressive rate compared with other mature industries. Previously popular [mobile gaming apps ](<http://appscompanyhk.com>)have seen growth stall, with usage declining for two consecutive years. Usage fell by 1% last year, indicating that [the gaming app market](<http://appcompanyhongkong.com>) is reaching saturation.  

By comparison, in 2015, [four major app categories ](<http://appscompanyhongkong.com>)delivered strong results, all with growth rates exceeding 100%!  

[Personalization apps](<http://mobiledeveloperhk.com>)  

Personalization app usage grew by more than threefold (332%)! This category includes Android lock-screen apps and Emoji keyboards. Among these, Emoji apps commonly used in [messaging apps](<http://mobiledeveloperhongkong.com>)—specifically [Emoji apps](<http://hkmobiledeveloper.com>)—were a key driver of the sharp rise in [personalization app ](<http://hongkongmobiledeveloper.com>)usage.  

[News and magazine apps](<http://androidappdevelopmenthk.com>)  

The rise of large-screen smartphones accelerated users’ shift from traditional television and computers to mobile devices for reading and viewing content. This drove annual usage growth of 135% for this category, placing it second.  

[Productivity apps](<http://mobileapplicationdevelopmentcompanyhk.com>)  

Productivity apps grew by 125%, driven by increasing numbers of young people and students using mobile devices to send and receive emails and use other [utility apps](<http://mobile-application-development-company.com>)。  

[Lifestyle and shopping apps](<http://app-developer-hongkong.com>)  

After strong growth of 174% in 2014, lifestyle and [shopping apps](<http://hongkongappdeveloper.com>) saw their growth rate fall to 81% last year. However, this still reflected the arrival of the mobile shopping era, placing the category fourth. Currently, more than 33% of online shopping in the United States comes from mobile phones, while the global average for mobile shopping reaches 40%.

> [A Review of the Global App Market in 2015: Emoji Boom, Mobile Gaming Cools, and the Four Hottest App Categories](<https://technews.tw/2016/01/11/2015-app-market-dynamics/>)

## Frequently asked questions

### How did overall mobile app usage perform in 2015?

Mobile app usage grew by 58%. The article describes this as an impressive rate compared with other mature industries.

### What happened to mobile gaming app usage?

Usage declined for two consecutive years and fell by 1% in 2015. The article interprets this as a sign that the gaming app market was reaching saturation.

### Which app category recorded the strongest growth?

Personalization apps led with usage growth of 332%. Emoji apps commonly used in messaging apps were a key driver.

### Why did news and productivity apps grow?

Large-screen smartphones encouraged users to move from television and computers to mobile devices, helping news and magazine app usage grow by 135%. Productivity apps grew by 125% as more young people and students used mobile devices for email and other tools.

### How did lifestyle and shopping apps perform?

Their growth rate fell from 174% in 2014 to 81% in 2015, placing them fourth. The article reports that mobile phones accounted for more than 33% of online shopping in the United States, with a global mobile shopping average of 40%.