A mobile app prototype is an preliminary visual mock-up that looks like a real app, and that demonstrates an app’s fundamental design and function, but does not contain working code. An app prototype can be as basic as sketches on paper or as high-fidelity as a clickable, digital model that works on your phone.

Prototypes convey the look and feel of your app, but they are usually not working software. They set the stage for the first functioning version of your app, often referred to as the minimum viable product.

Types of Mobile App Prototypes:

• Hand-sketched prototype: The most basic prototype is a simple series of hand sketches on paper. Each sketch represents a different screen and you can cycle through the sketches to show the app’s flow.
• Black and white digital prototype: The first digital phase of app design involves creating black and white “wireframes” representing each screen of the app. These wireframe designs can then be set up with a prototyping tool, such as Invision.
• High-fidelity digital prototype: Your high-fidelity digital prototype looks like a real mobile app. Even though the screens are just images—so you can’t type in fields, use the GPS or camera, etc.—the images reflect the intended design, are clickable, and are viewable on your mobile device just like a real app.