What Is Mobile App Testing & Why Is It Important?
Mobile apps are an integral part of the smartphone experience. In fact, in 2021, users downloaded 230 billion mobile apps to their smartphones, (https://www.statista.com/) increasing over 63% in last 5 years. As a result, mobile apps have revolutionized our everyday routines, from booking a taxi to grocery shopping, and continue to grow in importance.
Given the crucial role that mobile apps have in our lives, these software must work smoothly and effectively and are user-friendly and reliable. This is where mobile app testing comes in.
Mobile app testing is the process of testing applications developed explicitly for mobile devices to ensure that they are functioning optimally. This testing is done before launching the app to the public.
Mobile app testing is vital for your app to succeed in today’s competitive market. It helps ensure the best possible experience for the users and highlights any issues relating to security, performance, and UI. However, the process can be complex since it involves testing various operations systems, connection types, etc. Hence it may be a good idea to avail of the services of a mobile app testing company like Oprimes.
This article will help you learn about the types of mobile application testing and the mobile app testing tools available to you.
Types Of Mobile App Testing
Mobile app testing can be divided into three broad categories: functionality, non-functional use, and real environment.
Functionality Testing
This type of mobile app testing is done to identify and eliminate a range of issues:
- UI testing, e.g., different display modes, languages, screen sizes
- Cross-platform coverage
- Business flows
Non-Functional Testing
This type of mobile app testing is done to improve the overall user experience and includes factors such as:
- Security
- Mobile app performance testing and availability
- API testing
- Accessibility
Real Environment Testing
As the name suggests, this type of testing is carried out on real devices instead of simulators. It focuses on revealing problems related to:
- Impact of network conditions
- Interruptions such as text messages or incoming calls
- Background/foreground operations
- Gestures (e.g., force touch).
Factors To Consider While Testing Mobile Apps
Now that we have covered the benefits and types of mobile app testing, the next step is to understand the factors you must keep in mind before onboarding a mobile app testing partner and shortlisting mobile app testing tools.
Virtual Devices vs. Real Devices
QA teams often struggle with deciding what kind of device to use while testing a mobile app.
Virtual devices are of two types- emulators and simulators. Emulators mimic the hardware and software of the target device on a computer, while simulators only mimic the software. Though emulators can be used for testing the mobile’s external behavior, e.g., making transactions, these virtual devices have many limitations and are less reliable
Real devices are more appropriate for testing your app’s performance as the evaluation is done using the actual devices that your consumer will use. By imitating the conditions of the end-user, this type of testing provides more accurate results.
Manual vs. Automated Testing
You must decide if you want your testing to be automated or manual. Though mobile app
automation testing can help quicken the testing process, manual testing is more reliable for assessing functionality and first impressions. Even if testing automation becomes more accurate and advanced, manual testing will continue to be an important component of mobile app testing. You can also consider using both types of testing at different stages of the process.
Key Challenges While Testing Mobile Apps
Mobile app testing can be a complicated process with many challenges. Working with reputed mobile app testing services can help you overcome these hurdles with ease. Let us look at some of the problems you might face while testing your mobile app:
OS Fragmentation
This occurs due to the several versions of operations systems available. For example, Android and iOS both have over ten versions available, and the app must be tested to ensure it runs properly despite the OS installed on the device.
Device Fragmentation
There are countless models of smartphones available today, and apps need to function smoothly on all of them. Different products from the same brand can also have varying hardware specs such as screen resolution and memory, thus making testing very difficult.
Performance
Mobile devices have many apps running in the background, which drain the battery and negatively impact the smartphone’s overall performance. Therefore, while testing an app, you should check that power consumption is optimal before the market launch.
Launch A Bestselling Mobile App With Oprimes
With billions of options, consumers want to use the best apps that provide them with a seamless experience. Businesses must rigorously test their mobile apps before launching them to avoid a negative reaction: a mobile app crashing can have an adverse effect on your entire brand reputation. eCommerce mobile app testing is also gaining importance as more users turn to apps for their retail needs. Oprimes mobile app testing SaaS platform is a reputed and reliable solution for end-to-end testing of your software in a time and cost-efficient manner.
Oprimes mobile app testing services and a global network of testers can help you deliver products that you are confident in. Crowdsourced testing for your mobile app involves distributing the software to a group of expert testers. These testers run the app on various devices in real-world conditions to identify problems in usability, functionality, security, and UX.
