According to Sensor Tower, the top 10 most-downloaded iPhone apps in the US in May 2021 were 298% larger than five years ago, requiring 2.2 GB of storage.
Gmail saw the greatest increase at 1,797%, while Facebook's Messenger remained the most lightweight.
The top 10 iPhone games grew 197% to 7.6 GB.
Apple's larger storage options and expanded app size limits facilitated this growth.
Developers adopt strategies of consolidation (e.g., Gmail integrating Meet and Chat) or condensing (e.g., Facebook trimming Messenger for older devices).
iOS 14 and 15 introduced widgets and App Clips to reduce full app downloads, offering new ways to manage size and user experience.
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