How do you manage mobile testing devices and environments?

1 Choose the right devices

One of the first steps in mobile testing is to select the devices that you will use to test your app. You cannot test your app on every possible device, so you need to prioritize the most relevant and representative ones. You can use criteria such as market share, device type, screen size, resolution, hardware features, and user feedback to narrow down your device pool. You should also consider the diversity of devices in your target markets and regions, and include some older and lower-end devices to test performance and compatibility.

2 Use a device lab

A device lab is a physical or virtual space where you can access and manage multiple mobile devices for testing purposes. A device lab can help you save time, money, and resources by providing you with a centralized and standardized testing environment. You can either create your own device lab by purchasing, configuring, and maintaining the devices you need, or use a cloud-based device lab service that offers you access to a large and updated device inventory. A device lab can also help you automate your testing processes and integrate them with your development tools and workflows.

3 Simulate network conditions

Another important aspect of mobile testing is to simulate the network conditions that your app will encounter in the real world. Network conditions can affect the performance, functionality, and usability of your app, so you need to test how your app behaves under different network scenarios. You can use tools and techniques such as network emulators, throttling, proxies, and mock servers to simulate network conditions such as latency, bandwidth, packet loss, and connectivity interruptions. You should also test your app under different network types, such as Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G, and 5G, and different network operators and regions.

4 Test user scenarios

Mobile testing is not only about testing the technical aspects of your app, but also about testing the user scenarios that your app will support. User scenarios are the actions and tasks that your users will perform with your app, such as signing up, browsing, purchasing, sharing, etc. You need to test your app from the user's perspective and ensure that it meets their needs, expectations, and preferences. You can use methods such as user stories, personas, use cases, and user journeys to define and test your user scenarios. You should also test your app under different user contexts, such as location, time, orientation, mode, and mood.

5 Monitor and analyze feedback

The last step in mobile testing is to monitor and analyze the feedback that you receive from your users and stakeholders. Feedback can help you identify and fix issues, improve your app's quality and usability, and enhance your user satisfaction and retention. You can collect feedback from various sources, such as app reviews, ratings, surveys, analytics, crash reports, bug reports, and user testing sessions. You should also use tools and platforms that help you organize, prioritize, and respond to feedback effectively and efficiently.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?