What is Mobile App Splash Screen? How is it Beneficial for Your App?

Have you ever thought of a mobile app that looks different from the way it is now? Can you imagine it looking any better than this? Of course, not, we love it the way it is now.

What do you think is one of the most beautiful parts of a mobile app? Undoubtedly, it is the design. We are all attracted to the design of the app. A web designer always strives hard to ensure that the icons (powered with graphics and/or graphic design) are perfectly enriched to allure the users into being smitten by these. This is how designers ensure that the mobile app that they have unrolled is the best.

The success of any application lies majorly in the design. This design is the foundation of an app and something that ensures that the users are attracted to the app.

The screen of an app is the most imperative part of the app, which ensures that everything is tuned well. These screens are simple and are not accompanied by any annoying buttons, and disappear within sometime (after the app is launched).

These screens are often referred to as launch screens and their job is to provide the users with each of those minutest details that they are searching for, right from the instant that the app is launched. Whatever details this launch screen reveals decides whether the user is influenced or not and its future (whether the user wants it or not).

So, now it is the user who decides the fate of the app starting from the moment they arrive at this screen. There are many factors that you could actually alter and make it better to ensure that your app has a longer life. Let us start with the most intricate of these details:

Splash screens: The most important of all

As you know, the first impression is the best. Let us ensure that our app presents a rocking first impression – introduction. The splash screen introduces the app and it is usually referred to as the load screen or boot screen. Now you know why it is so important. This screen appears when the app boots or loads, so this is the launch screen. There are no functional elements for this screen as such. It usually comes with an image of your app or a logo of your brand or app. Also, this gives a hint to the user that the app will be launched very soon (a sign that it is not going to crash, rather start).

Why does your app need it?

Many a time, it happens that we actually wonder whether our app needs this screen. Regardless of whether you are designing it for iOS or for a placeholder UI for Android apps; “do we need this app?” one question that often crosses our thoughts.

Some say it might not be needed, while others agree that it is an important part of an app. There are varied responses.

How does it help your app?

Brand loyalty

Let us take the example of “Facebook” app that we all have on our mobiles. Doesn’t it look familiar? We can easily relate to it. This splash screen that is designed with your company’s logo in it is something that will attract the users.

This is the point where you can give the users a sneak peek into the company or designer behind the app’s design. But, be careful, because this could seal the fate of your app if you are not an expert. If the awesomeness is unbeatable, your people would instantly fall in love with this one and would want to try more similar apps designed under your brand’s name. Unless you provide them with an idea of your company or brand, your people will never know who you are, but ensure that you do not overdo it, delaying their venture into the further app details, displaying a splash screen that takes too long a time with the introduction part. This is the challenging part of an app.

Improving UX

There are apps that are quite complicated; the screen might take longer to load as it is made up of too many complications. So, in that case, this splash screen comes in handy. It will take the people through something interesting while the app gets time to load without boring them. The giants, such as Google and Apple, are recommending splash screens as they believe these help in improving customer experience. Also, if you have an app that will be used regularly on a daily basis, it is better to avoid implementing a splash screen, as this could be annoying. The app’s loading time is one of the factors that decide whether you need a splash screen or not as it has an important role in improving the UX.

How do we decide which one is best?

The name splash suggests something that is splashy. But, do not annoy your people with splashes. Let it stay in just the name. We should aim for something different and unique that will ensure that your users’ waiting time was effectively utilized.

The resolution of the screen

This is one of the most important aspects of your splash screen design that affects your user. So, ensure that the splash screen is implemented with the highest of quality from all aspects. The placeholder of your introduction to the app should work well if it comes with a beautiful image, ensuring that your users find an attachment element from the instant they arrive at your app.

The size of your screen

The expert claim is that the size of your splash screen should come in three different resolutions, including the small, medium and large ones. You can even check Google’s recommendations, which comprises of information of what kind of screen size would fit into different ones on a general basis. Apple’s recommendation says that you can use a Xcode storyboard or a set of images that are static for any device.  

Neatness

It is important that you find a balance between simple and aestheticness. Remember this is something professional, so do not forget that your image is just an introduction to the splash screens and it won’t be there for too long. Do not go about adding marketing functionalities to this, which will annoy your people rather than impressing them. Ensure that it will just take them to where they want to go.

Let them see the progress of the launching

It is always a better idea to show the launch process and its progress. This will help the users to know that it is launching and there is no crash happening. Also, they will be excited to wait and watch what unveils on their device. If anything is delayed, we are actually experimenting with the patience of our people, so it is better to notify them that it is happening.

Designing the images

Now since you have decided you need this launcher screen or splash screen, you should take into consideration some points or tips when you design these images.

The image that you choose should be a 1024×1024 image. As per android, it can accommodate icon of seven varying sizes depending on the density of the screen. So, your image should be flexible enough to fit into these. In the initial days, Android could do with much lesser number of screens, but with time, it increased, though for iOS it should be 17 different sizes.

You can generate icons, using the icon generators, which includes NativeScript Rocks and NativeScript Image Builder.

Also, there is no restriction to the maximum number of icon sizes that you can create though ensure that it is not too less in number.

When you assign your images to these services, they will influence it and improvise it, in turn molding your images into the sizes of your expectation, fitting these absolutely into the screens of your iOS or Android devices.

Both these offer an excellent image-customizing service ensuring that your image looks good on screen sizes of varying resolutions. Once you have chosen your image, provide your splash screen with an enticing background color. Do not include gradients into your image design as these may not look great with splash images.

Also, maintain a ZIP archive with a few images.

Yes, it could be a time-consuming task to develop these splash screens, but your design is incomplete without these.

Ensure that you create a great splash screen design for your app, such that it will entice your users and they will wait till the app reveals itself. In short, the UX is one of the factors that need to be taken into consideration when designing for splash screens. The interaction experience is what matters and ensure that it is bridged well.

If you have any further queries, you can reach out to our team.

Acodez is a leading mobile app design and development company in India. We also offer a variety of web design services in India and abroad. Within a short span of 6 years, we have grown a lot, in the meantime helping our clients reach their goals. We design android, iOS, windows, etc. apps based on your business requirements.