---
title: "A Review of the Global App Market in 2015"
locale: "en"
language: "en-HK"
published: "2016-01-12T11:28:20+08:00"
updated: "2026-03-17T23:07:37.825Z"
canonical: "https://accordhk.com/blog/a-review-of-the-global-app-market-in-2015-294"
---

# A Review of the Global App Market in 2015

Mobile app usage grew by 58% in 2015, while mobile gaming usage declined for a second consecutive year. Personalization apps led growth at 332%, followed by news and magazine apps, productivity tools, and lifestyle and shopping apps.

## In brief

Mobile app usage grew by 58% in 2015, while mobile gaming usage fell by 1%. Personalization apps grew by 332%, news and magazine apps by 135%, productivity apps by 125%, and lifestyle and shopping apps by 81%.

In the mobile market, [“Mobile First”](<http://app-developer-hongkong.com>)、「[“Mobile Only”](<http://app-development-hongkong.com>) slogans are being proclaimed loud and clear, and online services are actively using apps as gateways to mobile users. So how did the [app market](<http://hongkongappdeveloper.com>) perform over the past year?  

The mobile gaming market is approaching saturation, with app usage declining  

Y is currently used by more than 200,000 [developers](<http://appdeveloperhongkong.com>) worldwide and deployed in 720,000 apps. Statistics show that [mobile app usage](<http://appdeveloperhongkong.com>) grew by 58%, still an impressive rate compared with other mature industries. Previously popular [mobile gaming apps](<http://appdeveloperhk.com>) have seen growth stall, with usage declining for two consecutive years and falling by 1% last year, indicating that the [mobile gaming market](<http://appdevelopmenthk.com>) is reaching saturation.  

By comparison, 2015 saw [four major app categories ](<http://appdevelopmenthk.com>)deliver standout performances, all with growth rates exceeding 100%!  

[Personalization Apps](<http://appcompanyhk.com>)  

Usage of personalization apps grew threefold (332%)! This category includes Android lock-screen apps and Emoji keyboards. Among them, [messaging apps](<http://appscompanyhk.com>) frequently use [Emoji apps, ](<http://appcompanyhongkong.com>)which were a key driver of the sharp rise in personalization app usage.  

[News and Magazine Apps](<http://appscompanyhongkong.com>)  

The rise of large-screen phones accelerated users’ shift from traditional television and computers to mobile devices for reading and viewing content, driving [app usage](<http://mobiledeveloperhk.com>) in this category up by 135% year on year and putting it in second place.  

[Productivity Apps](<http://mobiledeveloperhongkong.com>)  

Productivity apps grew by 125%, as increasing numbers of young people and students used mobile devices to send and receive emails and use other utility apps.  

[Lifestyle and Shopping Apps](<http://hkmobiledeveloper.com>)  

Lifestyle and shopping apps, which recorded strong growth of 174% in 2014, saw their growth rate fall to 81% last year. Nevertheless, they continued to reflect the arrival of the mobile shopping era and ranked fourth. At the time, more than 33% of online shopping in the United States came from phones, while the global average for mobile shopping reached 40%.

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

## Frequently asked questions

### How did mobile app usage change in 2015?

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

### What did declining mobile gaming usage suggest?

Mobile gaming app usage declined for two consecutive years, falling by 1% in 2015. The article interprets this as a sign that the mobile gaming market was approaching saturation.

### Which app category recorded the strongest growth?

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

### Why did news and productivity apps grow?

Large-screen phones encouraged users to move from television and computers to mobile devices, helping news and magazine app usage grow by 135%. More young people and students used mobile devices for email and other tools, driving productivity app growth of 125%.

### 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 phones accounted for more than 33% of online shopping in the United States, while the global average for mobile shopping reached 40%.