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Mobile Application Testing Challenges

Testing of the mobile application is more complex when we compare to the Web and Desktop applications. Desktop applications can be tested on the specific platform and versions. Multiple mobile platforms are available like Android and iOS etc. and multiple brands are available with Android OS. In Android, it is difficult to ensure the application quality in all the versions and applicable brands in all the resolutions. 

The following unexpected issues need to be considered for the mobile application testing

1. Network change causes the low performance in the application
2. Application crashes due to functional defects, new app version update, network change, Insufficient space in the device and platform upgrade
3. More battery consumption while using the specific application
4. Memory allocation of the specific application in device

Our Testing strategy

The following types of testing is required for all type of mobile applications

1. Functionality
2. Performance
3. Installation
4. Uninstallation
5. Interrupt testing
6. Network
7. Compatibility
8. Conformance
9. Usability

We are using the Emulator/Simulators for the testing in a different environment, platform, and versions. Application functionality can be tested in Emulator/Simulators. Testing the application in physical device is necessary to verify the following

1. Performance
2. User experience
3. Network changing scenarios
4. Location based scenarios

Selecting the appropriate device for testing

Supporting and testing on the maximum number of mobile devices is essential to any application, but it makes the huge investment of time, effort, and money. It is difficult to select the perfect list of devices to test the mobile applications.

It is easy to select the iOS device because of the releases are only for Apple devices. In Android, selecting on the device is depends on the current market standard. Challenges to test the Android applications in different screen sizes, processor speed, internal memory etc. So the device selection is the major entity for testing. 

The Major disadvantages of emulated devices are may not give the accurate results in the testing. Initially, start testing in Simulator/Emulator to stabilize the application functionally in the devices with different hardware configurations. Simulator/Emulator testing in an early stage will help to achieve these goals at a relatively low cost. Finally, testing on real devices is essential to validate the applications are functioning as expected, and certifying that all development requirements and objectives have been met, we can achieve these testing in the specific devices alone.