Tests on mobile applications is a procedure for testing and confirming the functionality and performance of a mobile application.
With automated testing, it is possible to ensure that the app’s functionality is in line with all of the requirements of end-users and technical requirements before being released to the marketplace (App Store for iOS devices and Play Store for all Google or Android-based handheld devices).
Each mobile application created for handheld devices is tested to verify their usability, functionality, and stability.
For seamless user experience, mobile app testing is an important element of the software development cycle. It guarantees the security, reliability, and functionality of mobile apps. The increasing number of tablets and smartphones makes it even more crucial that app creators provide users with a satisfying experience.
Mobile UI testing is focused on testing the various components of user interface capabilities and their accessibility for mobile apps on different sizes of screens on platforms, screen sizes, and operating systems.
For a long time, mobile devices have been limited to communications and used to help us perform daily routines.
The dependence on mobiles has risen quickly due to the rapid development of numerous apps for mobile devices. These applications can perform different functions that we use daily and help us meet business needs.
Companies use mobile apps to expand their business and reach potential customers. With the rapid development of hybrid apps, native or mobile web apps have made mobile app testing an integral part of the development process.
This article will discuss automated testing, benefits, best practices, frameworks, and strategies for a seamless user experience. Testers and developers can design mobile applications that improve customer satisfaction and market performance by understanding and using mobile UI testing methods.
Mobile UI Testing For a Seamless User Experience
The process of mobile UI Testing is the method that tests a mobile application’s user interface across a range of sizes, platforms, and operating systems. Making a user-friendly, functional, and appealing software user interface is crucial. The aesthetics, responsiveness, and overall experience of a mobile user interface during testing.
Mobile UI testing focuses on these issues to ensure that UI components like buttons, menu forms, photos, and text are displayed, aligned, and styled appropriately across different screen resolutions and angles. It also involves analyzing the program’s response to user actions, such as swipes, taps, and device rotations.
Mobile UI testing allows developers to ensure users enjoy a uniform and seamless UI across various mobile platforms.
Human testers perform mobile UI testing manually, using real devices to simulate user scenarios. They then confirm the behavior expected. Automation frameworks and tools are used frequently to accelerate testing cycles, increase productivity, and automate routine UI test chores.
Why Is It Important to Test Your Mobile Apps on Multiple Devices?
Smartphones are now an integral aspect of our everyday lives. But, each platform comes with its requirements for launching apps, and every app performs various functions or operations for a specific operating system or platform. According to a study, an incompatible or typical mobile app loses around seventy percent of active users within three days of the application’s launch.
- i) OS Fragmentation
According to Statista, Android has a 72.73 percent market share; however, iOS has a 26.42 percent market share. Most (about 70%) of the app’s errors result from compatibility issues with the most recent version of the operating system for devices and manufacturer’s modifications on operating systems.
OS fragmentation is the result of various OS versions. The two OS, Android and iOS, come with different versions. Developers must ensure that their mobile applications run across all versions of operating platforms (Android and iOS) to ensure a seamless user experience.
- ii) Device Fragmentation
About 30 percent of Android crashes on apps are caused by the incompatibility of apps. The reason is that the various devices available are considered the most challenging part of the matrix for testing.
It’s difficult to ensure that the same program will work on different devices in the same family due to the many hardware parameters, like the CPU, resolution chipsets, memory screens, and more.
Therefore, it is crucial to run cross-device tests to ensure that our software is compatible with various screens and devices and configurations.
Let’s take a review of mobile internet browsers. Mobile browsers aren’t easy, either! Many mobile browsers, like Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, etc., have different versions of their browsers to run on different operating systems.
What’s the most effective method?
No! A physical lab within the company for devices can be challenging to run and maintain since every device is experiencing an exponential rise. To provide the top products on the market, creating the right device matrix is essential.
Based on the parameters of your device: Choose the device matrix by analyzing parameters such as screen resolutions, OS versions manufacturer, operator’s CPU, etc.
Based on the Device’s Popularity: Select the devices with the most market share.
Once you’ve chosen the device you want to target, you can select the actual cloud for your device to ensure every app is optimized to work flawlessly on different devices. The cloud that is specifically designed to run on devices can be your ideal option to get precise test results for testing native mobile apps in real-world situations.
Decide your Devices Beforehand
From a basic “snake” game in 1997 released by Nokia; the world has developed high-quality mobile apps that provide a lifeline for many companies. Although every app is distinctive, there is lots of competition, and the game is extremely competitive.
To make things clear, when we upload applications for mobile usage to Google Play or the Google Play store, we’re only an example out of 3.5 million apps currently on the market. But we can invest the time and effort required to create our ideas.
A great user experience is key to every app’s success. So, the most effective apps follow a proven testing process and a plan to ensure the app is of the highest quality. The app’s performance should be identical across every user regardless of their device. Thus, you must test your application on every device users use.
It is impossible to test it on all products available on the market. “Whatsapp stopped support for Android versions older than 4.1 this year.” These kinds of headlines appear on the top of the tech news due to the lack of features available on older versions.
If the parts you provide are available on every device, then that’s all excellent; however, it is not the case since we’ve come quite a long way to 2021, but only 4 percent of users are using Android 4.4.
Therefore, the best option is to study the manual and understand the Android versions that your applications will require. It will ultimately aid in creating a stable and reliable matrix of devices.
For instance, the calendar API includes functions relating to the calendar, like calendar events and other calendar-related functions. However, this API was first introduced with Android version 4.0, and If you’re employing it, Android 4 becomes your minimal operating system.
Thus, you must go through these pointers while selecting a device:
- i) Feature Support
As mentioned in the previous part, support for features can assist you in deciding which devices to be part of the compatible browser matrix.
- ii) Market Share
Market share can assist you in evaluating the equipment that must be considered in the matrix. It is the same for operating systems as well. As mobile devices are pricey and manufacturers seldom offer more than three major upgrades, many users are stuck with older versions. It is why it could be incorrect to assume that all people are running the latest Android versions.
iii) Google Analytics
The next step in testing your mobile app is to look at your Google Analytics results to determine the devices that will most often be able to access your app. It is a good option if you already have a website in operation and are now transitioning to the mobile version. You may also check the analytics of your competitors when they have them.
- iv) Emulators or Simulators
When all is completed and you’ve made the list of devices you’ll test, you must decide which devices you want to use. It is best to choose real devices, but this can be expensive. Buying every device and building an entire lab is possible, which takes lots of time and cash.
Another option is opting for virtual devices. Virtual devices are available in two forms, which are simulators and emulators. For more information on the two, this article on emulators and simulators can help you. You should examine the differences and similarities to determine which one is best for your needs in this area.
Dividing your Automation Tests For Seamless User Experience
Automated tests were added to the software development process to cut down time and cut down on repetitive tasks. To achieve those goals, we must decide what tasks to put into the system and what we can take care of on our own. Also, we must decide how to split our automated tests to improve effectiveness while testing an application on mobile devices.
It is possible to run tests for regression without examining them if the two projects have little in common.
However, this isn’t always the case. Even if two projects appear very similar, taking an overview of the tests may reveal insignificant situations or have been red upon the test was completed. You may also split the tests into separate ones by running them over the course of a night on your system and then running some of them under your supervision.
Therefore, you should separate your tests into distinct sections before beginning because they could be repeated if your mobile app is updated to successive versions.
Beta Testing Is Always the Best Practice
In the past, businesses used to send their applications for beta testing, pick applicants ( very few), and then pay them for their work. This was an almost identical process to usability testing.
This technique is still used nowadays, but on a massive scale that spans several nations, time zones, and many users. The bottom line is that beta testing is an essential improvement to your mobile app’s strategy. What can it do to assist?
While performing beta testing, there is a chance to spot the flaws and bugs of an application that might have been introduced into production. In the end, your application will be error-free for all users. This method is, however, taken as a benefit for all businesses.
If I’m talking specifically about testers, testing beta frees them from the burden of the accumulated defects received from users. Imagine how much work would rise if an app crashed within one operating system that was not evaluated for a genuine reason. Keeping this arrow in your arsenal is essential if you’re looking for the best strategy for testing mobile apps.
Conclusion: Mobile Automated Testing Strategies for a Seamless User Experience
If we talk about Google Play Store, you can find Android apps are available in the range of 80 to 140 thousand monthly. Not everyone will agree with me, but I follow the same method described in this post. Also, tell us the most popular mobile tool or framework for testing apps you typically utilize in your projects.
