Benefits of real device testing

With mobile and web apps becoming integral to the lives of people everywhere, it has become essential to ensure that they are the best in terms of performance and user experience. Consequently, the significance of software testing has grown exponentially in recent years. Firms are testing their apps comprehensively using the best testing tools available to ensure the apps meet user expectations. As per Apollo Technical, experts predict a 5% increase in software testing every year until 2032. 

With recent app failures and rejections, it has become evident that apps need to be tested across real devices to verify the apps across real user conditions. Earlier testers relied on simulators and emulators to test apps, but discovered that these virtual devices have limitations and cannot replicate real user conditions efficiently like real devices.

Limitations of app testing through simulators and emulators

Some organizations test mobile apps through software programs called emulators or simulators that mimic the behavior of real devices, since they prevent the need for physical devices. The reason for this is that most simulators are available to be downloaded for free and do not have to be purchased online.  Installing apps on emulators is also faster, facilitating easier testing, and many teams also experiment with cloud-based options such as the TestGrid Android emulator online to speed up early-stage validation. 

Although testing with simulators and emulators can have the aforementioned benefits and be appropriate in some circumstances, they may also overlook problems that could be readily found with a real device cloud. Because of this, software developers won’t be able to ensure a consistent, enjoyable user experience across all platforms and devices, and testing results might not be trustworthy. Real device testing enables a more effective testing process and assists testers in overcoming such obstacles.

Benefits of using real devices for application testing

Real device testing has many advantages for developers and testers when compared to testing on emulators and simulators.

1. A precise testing environment

A more accurate testing environment is provided by testing apps on actual devices, allowing you to assess apps on actual devices where you can evaluate apps on real-world devices with different hardware specifications and network conditions. Real device testing helps identify issues that may remain undetected when using emulators or simulators and that could lead to more severe issues later.

2. Improved user experience

When you test apps on real devices, the software is verified under real user conditions. For example, you can run tests to verify conditions like battery consumption, network speed, and so on. This guarantees that the application will perform optimally during such actual user conditions, ensuring a consistent user experience.

3. Greater test coverage

Testing across real devices enables more comprehensive testing, allowing testers to evaluate the functionality, usability, performance, and security of the applications. This is possible only while using a physical device identical to that of the end user. An iPhone simulator or Android emulator cannot help testers achieve the same results.

4. More reliability

Through real device testing, you can ensure that the application you test will be reliable under all circumstances. Testing on actual devices helps identify and fix issues that can cause the app to malfunction or crash. With real devices, there is no risk of false positives or negatives, and you derive real findings that clearly disclose the app’s performance flaws.

5. Cross-platform testing

When you perform real device testing, you can conduct tests across multiple platforms, operating systems, and OS versions, letting you verify the app’s functionality in different situations. 

6. Let’s you replicate end-user actions

Another excellent advantage of real device testing is the ability to recreate the actions users take while navigating the apps using real devices. This helps testers validate the apps’ performance while encountering hardware interruptions like calls, SMSes, push notifications, and so on.

7. Increased customer loyalty 

Testing mobile devices and apps on real devices ensures that your software products meet user expectations. When your end users are satisfied with your app’s performance, they are likely to give good reviews and recommend your product to others. Moreover, it will increase their trust in your products and make them more inclined to do business with you.

Undoubtedly, testing apps on real devices offers advantages that cannot be overlooked. Real device testing holds greater significance, especially in the case of mobile apps. 

Instances where mobile app testing on real devices is crucial:

• Initial stages of development: Testing mobile apps in the early stages helps to identify the issues early, saving a lot of time and resources.
• Before release: Testing on real devices just before launch helps to ensure that the app works well on different devices and platforms,so that users may have a positive experience.
• After changes or updates: Testing after major updates or changes can help one to know that the change or update has not caused any issues or created any bugs.
• Targeting specific devices or platforms: if one’s app has been developed for specific devices or platforms, testing on such devices is important to prevent future performance issues.
• While adding new features, verifying your apps on actual physical devices when incorporating new capabilities is vital for consistent performance.

Conclusion

Testing your mobile and web applications on real devices during all stages of development will ensure your apps’ high quality and a positive user experience. However, procuring real devices for testing and installing them on their premises can be costly for organizations with limited budgets. Moreover, maintaining and updating these devices regularly can be time-consuming and drain your resources.

The advent of real-device cloud testing is an excellent, cost-effective solution for organizations facing the challenges of installing and maintaining physical devices. With secure and reliable cloud-based testing environments like that of platforms like TestGrid, you can perform real device testing safely across thousands of actual devices, browsers, and OSes for a 100% real user experience.

TestGrid, with its AI-powered features, lets you perform automated cross-browser testing across multiple environments in parallel or in a sequence. It ensures that your business-critical applications are dependable, responsive, and perform consistently, regardless of the devices or platforms used. 

With TestGrid’s codeless automation capabilities, you can deliver perfect apps with superior UX faster to the market and generate more ROI in the long run.