Mobile UX design plays a major role in how people interact with digital products. As smartphones become the go-to device for browsing, shopping, and staying connected, businesses need to make sure that their mobile experience is smooth, intuitive, and engaging.

This is particularly true in the GCC region, where smartphone usage is exceptionally high. In countries like the UAE, smartphone penetration has exceeded 97% in 2024. With such widespread usage, offering an optimised mobile experience is essential for reaching and retaining users.

When done right, mobile UX design can boost user engagement, encourage repeat visits, and drive conversions. It’s about creating an experience that feels effortless for users while helping businesses achieve their goals.

Today, you will get to explore the key best practices for creating a smooth mobile experience. From improving navigation to ensuring faster load times, we’ll cover everything you need to design with your users—and their needs—in mind.

10 best practices for optimising mobile UX

1. Prioritise mobile-first design

A mobile-first design ensures that websites and apps are optimised for smartphones before scaling up to larger screens. Since most users browse on mobile, starting with a mobile-friendly layout improves usability, responsiveness, and performance.

Websites designed for desktops first often struggle to scale down, leading to cluttered layouts, slow load times, and difficult navigation. By focusing on mobile-first, businesses can create faster, more user-friendly experiences with well-sized buttons, readable text, and smooth interactions.

Using a Figma prototype helps refine mobile designs early, allowing designers to test usability before expanding to other devices.

2. Ensure responsive design for all breakpoints

Responsive design ensures that a website adapts smoothly across smartphones, tablets, and desktops, providing a seamless user experience regardless of screen size. It prevents awkward layouts, unreadable text, and buttons that are too small to tap on mobile.

A well-designed responsive site uses:

• Flexible grids and layouts to adjust content proportionally.
• Scalable images and typography that resize without distortion.
• Touch-friendly buttons and interactions for effortless navigation on mobile.

By designing with responsiveness in mind, businesses can ensure that users have a consistent and frustration-free experience, no matter what device they use.

3. Improve page load speed and performance

Slow-loading pages can frustrate users, leading to high bounce rates. If a page takes too long to load, visitors are likely to leave—impacting both user experience and conversions.

To improve speed and performance:

• Optimise images to reduce file size without giving up on quality.
• Minimise HTTP requests and enable caching to speed up loading times.
• Use a content delivery network (CDN) to provide content faster based on the user’s location.

Google’s Core Web Vitals measure page speed, interactivity, and visual stability, all impacting mobile SEO rankings. A well-optimised site enhances user experience and ranks higher in search results, driving more traffic and engagement.

4. Simplify navigation and user interface (UI)

Navigation on a mobile screen should be intuitive and effortless. With limited space, users need a layout that allows them to find what they need quickly.

Best practices for smooth navigation:

• Use a collapsible mobile menu (burger menu) to keep the interface clean.
• Make essential features easily accessible so users don’t have to scroll endlessly.
• Implement breadcrumb navigation to help users track their location within the site.

A Figma prototype can be incredibly useful for testing different navigation structures, ensuring a frictionless user journey before development begins.

5. Optimise for touch interactions

Unlike desktops, where users rely on a mouse, mobile navigation is entirely touch-based. This means buttons and interactive elements must be easy to tap and swipe.

Best practices for touch-friendly design:

• Design larger buttons that are easy to tap without zooming in.
• Ensure enough spacing between clickable elements to prevent accidental taps.
• Incorporate gestures like swiping, pinching, and tapping, where it improves usability.

6. Make content easy to read and interact with

Content on mobile should be clear, concise, and easy to scan. Users don’t want to pinch and zoom just to read text.

Best practices for readability:

• Use legible font sizes (at least 16px) to avoid strain.
• Break up long paragraphs into short, scannable sections.
• Make sure that there is a good contrast between text and background for accessibility.

7. Streamline mobile forms and checkout processes

Complex forms can frustrate users and lead to high drop-off rates. On mobile, people expect quick and hassle-free interactions, especially when filling out forms or making a purchase.

Best practices for smoother forms and checkout:

• Minimise the number of fields—only ask for essential information.
• Use auto-fill and smart suggestions to speed up data entry.
• Implement secure, one-click payment options to reduce friction in e-commerce transactions.

8. Use mobile-friendly pop-ups wisely

Pop-ups capture leads or display promotions, but when misused, they can disrupt the user experience. Intrusive pop-ups that block content often lead to frustration and increased bounce rates.

Best practices for effective pop-ups:

• Use small, dismissible pop-ups that don’t take over the screen.
• Implement exit-intent pop-ups instead of triggering them immediately.
• Follow Google’s guidelines to avoid SEO penalties for intrusive pop-ups.

With a Figma prototype, designers can test how pop-ups appear on mobile screens and make sure they improve rather than hinder the experience.

9. Focus on accessibility and inclusivity

Accessible design benefits everyone, making digital experiences usable for people with disabilities while improving overall functionality.

Best practices for accessibility:

• Use alt text for images to support visually impaired users.
• Ensure all features work with screen readers and keyboard navigation.
• Avoid relying solely on colour—use clear labels and icons to communicate information.

10. Conduct regular usability testing

A great mobile experience requires continuous testing and improvements. Regular usability testing helps detect pain points and ensures the design meets user needs.

Key mobile testing methods:

• Mobile usability testing – observing real users as they interact with the site.
• First-click testing – tracking where users click first to ensure clear navigation.
• Preference testing – comparing design variations to find the most effective option.

With a Figma prototype, teams can run these tests early in the design phase, gathering insights and refining the experience before development, saving time and resources.

Closing thoughts

Creating a seamless mobile experience requires ongoing testing and refinement. As user behaviour evolves and technology advances, businesses must continuously adapt their mobile UX design to meet new expectations. 

A well-optimised mobile experience can boost engagement, reduce drop-offs, and increase conversions, helping businesses stay competitive in the digital landscape.

Now is the time to take action. Start implementing these mobile UX best practices today and create a mobile experience that keeps users engaged, satisfied, and coming back for more!