Mobile Testing Basics: An Overview

Just getting started with mobile testing? Get a comprehensive mobile testing overview. 

Learn about:

• Types of mobile apps.
• Types of mobile testing.
• How mobile testing differs from web testing.
• Types of mobile testing.
• How to create a mobile testing plan.

Related Blog: What Is Mobile Testing?

Ready to get started testing mobile applications? 

Consult this guide on automating mobile app testing in 10 steps, including: 

1. Determine scope of testing/test coverage.
2. Determine the types of devices you want to test on.
3. Decide what types of tests to automate.

Related Blog: The Complete Guide to Testing Mobile Applications

There are several mobile test frameworks you can use. 

Many mobile developers and testers debate which framework is the best. While there are certainly reasons one platform may work better than the other, the real truth is that each platform has its merits and benefits. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to which automation framework you should choose.

Some are specifically frameworks for iOS test automation. Others, like the Flutter framework, appeal more to Android developers.

Three of the most popular frameworks are:

• Espresso for Android.
• XCUITest for iOS. 
• Appium for mobile testing.

Find out which one is right for you. Compare Espresso vs. XCUITest vs. Appium. 

Espresso is a test automation framework for Android, developed by Google. 

Android developers need to validate the Android application (APK) after every code change. But there are challenges that get in the way of Android testing — like dependencies on remote servers and remote workstations. To top it off, new Android devices and OS versions are released constantly. 

See how using Espresso solves these Android testing challenges. 

XCUITest is a test automation framework for iOS. It's built on top of XCTest, which is Apple's official framework. Using XCUITest can help you solve challenges in iOS testing.

Here's why XCUITest is critical for iOS app development and testing. It's intuitive, fast, reliable, and mature. Plus it reduces test maintenance.

Learn more about using XCUITest.

Creating successful mobile apps is key for many companies and development teams today — from banking to healthcare.

But there's also intense pressure on mobile app developers and testers to deliver. And there are 3 key challenges they face:

• Fragmentation.
• Time.
• Performance.

Learn how to solve these mobile testing challenges. 

A 5-star app rating can make your mobile app a success. It elevates the visibility of your app in the app stores. And it influences decision-making when consumers see a 5-star rating.

Here's what testing teams can do to get 5-star app ratings:

• Make sure your app works.
• Go beyond functional tests.
• Leverage test automation. 

Mobile Accessibility

Accessibility testing is important. You need to test that your app will work well for everyone. 

How to do mobile accessibility testing >>

Mobile Responsive Design

It's also important to test responsive design between web and mobile apps.

3 tips for testing mobile responsive design >>

Mobile Screen Size, Resolution, and PPI

You'll need to spend time testing how apps perform under different resolutions, screen sizes, and PPIs. Ensuring thorough test coverage is difficult.

How to test mobile screen size, resolution, and PPI >>

Mobile Application Battery

You'll also need to make sure your mobile app doesn't eat up battery life. 

How to do mobile application battery testing >>

Mobile Testing on Real Devices vs. Emulators

Should you test on a real device? Or an emulator/simulator? Find out.

When to test on mobile devices: real vs. virtual >>

Compare testing apps on emulators vs. simulators >>

Mobile Devices Supported

Test on the right mobile devices. Perfecto keeps you up-to-date with a mobile devices list.

Check the list of mobile devices >>

All-in-One Checklist

Don't miss anything with this helpful checklist for mobile testing. We break it all down for you across different types of testing.

Mobile app testing checklist >>

Advanced Automated Mobile Testing Techniques

As mobile applications continue to advance in their features, teams must also find ways to create automated tests that cover these new capabilities. 

Here are some advanced mobile testing techniques to consider when building more comprehensive automated tests:

Geolocation Testing

By adding IP geolocation into your tests, you can validate scenarios like languages, currencies, time zones, and more. 

Geolocation testing: What it is & how to automate it >>

Biometric Authentication Testing

Enterprises should expect an increase in scenarios that will involve not just one, but two forms of biometric validation. Teams will need to test these biometric validations at scale, and on both real and virtual devices, to cover them sufficiently. 

How to test biometric authentication >>

Voice Recognition System Testing

Automating voice assistant flows as part of your end to end testing can be achieved with open-source tools such as Appium and additional APIs that are offered by Perfecto.

How to test voice recognition in 4 steps >>

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Testing

There are various two-factor authentication scenarios for which testers must prepare, from user registration to device authentication and password resets. 

How to test two-factor authentication: A guide with use cases >>

Advanced BDD Test Automation

With the right BDD testing framework, non-technical testers can even automate complex scenarios like image injection and accessibility testing.

How to achieve advanced BDD test automation >>