According to the concept of the new Ukrainian school, the educational process is undergoing profound changes. This is partly due to the active implementation of variety of information and communication technologies and mobile equipment. The article discusses the methods of use of mobile applications for physics study. Foreign and Ukrainian experience of using information-technological and technical capabilities of mobile devices for educational purposes is analyzed. The classification of mobile applications is proposed, methodological advantages and disadvantages of their use in the educational process are defined. Mobile applications are the important part of the digital didactics tools. Examples of their application for conducting extra-curricular independent educational research in physics are given. Features of innovative teaching methods based on the use of the measuring, computing and modeling functions of the sensitive elements of gadgets are revealed. It is noted that the techniques with the use of mobile applications significantly increase the motivation to physics study, support the interconnected formation of natural science, technical and technological competences of learners, and the development of their creative and critical thinking.