Web device testing and application testing have consistently been a critical component of the development process. This process entails detecting and rectifying bugs, such as navigation glitches, signup form issues, payment processing malfunctions, or discrepancies in font size. Effective testing ensures that modifications do not compromise the user experience on various devices.
An essential component of establishing a comprehensive testing process lies in selecting appropriate testing devices. The efficacy of a testing procedure can significantly vary depending on the device utilized for the testing process. Consequently, the importance of the testing device is of utmost importance. This importance is magnified when conducting tests on mobile devices, considering the diverse range of devices available, each with distinct operating systems, browsers, and hardware configurations.
This article will conduct a comparative analysis of real device testing and emulator testing for web devices.
Types of Mobile Device Testing Solutions
As technology has progressed, there have been significant advancements in mobile device testing solutions. These solutions have been developed to facilitate cross-browser testing of websites and mobile app testing on various mobile devices. They analyze the application’s behavior, functionality, and user interface to ensure optimal performance.
The primary objective of this testing is to verify the consistent performance of the website and app across various mobile devices. Due to variations in hardware configuration, operating systems, and screen resolutions among these devices, the functionality that operates correctly on one device may exhibit differences or anomalies on another.
There are primarily two types of devices to conduct mobile device testing:
- Virtual Devices
- Real Devices
What is Real Device Testing?
Real devices encompass a diverse range of mobile handset models utilized by end-users. Testing on real devices involves evaluating web, hybrid, and native applications on tangible devices. This approach implicates assessing how end-users interact with their mobile devices, enabling the examination of application functionality and ensuring seamless performance across customer devices.
When conducting testing, it is necessary to account for various factors that can impact the performance of an application on real devices. These factors may include temperature variations and other software functionalities. Real devices like smartphones are susceptible to interruptions like incoming phone calls, battery fluctuations, and screen lock mechanisms. It is imperative to test for these interruptions directly on real devices to ensure optimal app performance.
Pros of Real Device Testing
Real device testing allows for comprehensive evaluation of user experience, performance, and compatibility across different platforms, screen sizes, and operating systems. Here are a few advantages of real device testing:
Accuracy: Conducting testing on real devices yields more precise and dependable measurements. Such testing is commonly carried out in a real-time setting. This practice is essential as network activities can influence the performance of your application.
Expose Performance Issues: Real devices provide a more effective means of identifying performance issues.
Better User Experience: Conducting tests on real devices is essential to gain insights into the user experience, as it allows for a comprehensive evaluation of factors such as memory, size, CPU performance, and more.
Cons of Real Device Testing
The escalating demand for mobile and web applications has resulted in a corresponding increase in the necessity for real device testing. This method of testing offers benefits such as delivering precise results and identifying real-world bugs. However, it also presents certain limitations.
Here are a few drawbacks of real device testing:
High Costs: Conducting testing on real devices tends to incur higher costs due to the expenses associated with acquiring and maintaining the devices. Managing the logistical aspects of physical resources can also present complexities.
Slow Debugging: Testing software on physical devices can potentially introduce delays in the debugging process, particularly during the early stages of development.
Device Fragmentation: The diverse array of device types entering the market, along with varying operating systems and regular software updates, present challenges in conducting testing on real devices.
What is Virtual Device Testing?
A virtual device testing is a software program designed for computers to simulate key features of a real smartphone device. This tool replicates the functionality of a smartphone, enabling testers to assess the performance of software applications and anticipate their behavior on an actual device.
While virtual testing devices can simulate real devices and provide cost-effective alternatives, it is essential to note that they cannot fully replace real devices in terms of accuracy and reliability.
There are two types of virtual device testing:
- Emulators
- Simulators
What are Simulators?
A simulator is a software application designed to enable devices to execute specific programs developed for various operating systems. These simulators are typically coded in high-level programming languages and are commonly utilized for iOS devices. iOS simulators are frequently employed for app testing purposes to verify that applications function appropriately across diverse environments as intended.
For instance, in assessing an application’s ability to transfer data to another application, the impact of the underlying hardware configuration on data transfers for your program is expected to be minimal. Therefore, a simulated environment is generally adequate for such evaluations. Simulated testing environments are also valuable in verifying that an application’s interface displays accurately across various screen resolutions.
What are Emulators?
An emulator is a software application designed to replicate the functionalities of another software, hardware, or operating system found on the target device. It enables users to assess and test applications by simulating the behavior of an actual device. Emulators play an essential role in automation, unit testing, and debugging processes. Given the platform-specific nature of software, developers often create distinct applications for Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac systems.
Various types of emulators utilize diverse emulation techniques. Nevertheless, the ultimate objective remains consistent: to replicate the user experience of the original hardware or application. Certain emulators surpass the genuine product in terms of performance and offer additional features. Numerous online APK emulators are accessible for conducting app tests on different devices and operating system versions without manual configuration and installation.
Pros of Testing on Emulators
Emulators are software applications designed to replicate the functionality of a specific device or platform’s functionality, allowing developers to assess their applications within a virtualized setting. In contrast to traditional testing methodologies that necessitate tangible hardware, emulators present a variety of advantages that position them as a favored option among developers.
Here are a few advantages of testing on emulators:
Cost: The most prominent benefit is that emulator testing is more reasonable and can be implemented through local and cloud-based platforms.
Capturing Results: Utilizing a virtual device enables users to easily capture results by taking screenshots of observations related to bugs.
Variety: Virtual device testing enables comprehensive testing of applications across a diverse range of platforms, accommodating varied use cases that necessitate evaluation on multiple devices and operating systems.
Availability: Emulators are easily accessible for utilization without any limitations.
Cons of Testing on Emulators
Emulators have emerged as a prevalent option among developers due to their cost-effectiveness and efficiency in application testing. However, it is essential to acknowledge the various limitations of utilizing emulators for testing.
Here are a few cons of testing on emulators:
Limited Realism: As emulators exist solely as virtual environments, their ability to replicate the hardware and software characteristics of real devices is inherently limited.
Hardware-Specific Problems: Certain hardware-specific functions, such as camera performance, battery life, and GPS accuracy, should be tested in real-world scenarios to ensure optimal and accurate results.
UI and UX Testing Limitations: Evaluating UI/UX in virtual environments may present limitations in accurately capturing the realistic tactile experience and responsiveness of real devices, including touch sensitivity and tangible buttons.
When to test on Emulator and Real devices?
By leveraging testing devices in a targeted manner, developers can access a range of features that facilitate more efficient app testing processes, ultimately enhancing the quality and functionality of the app being developed.
The best practice incorporates testing on the accurate device to attain the desired outcomes:
- Emulators provide an improved debugging solution and are particularly advantageous in the early phases of development. Through frequent iterations in the initial development stages, employing an emulator for testing purposes can enhance the speed and efficiency of the development cycle.
- Emulators provide the benefit of a new instance without the need to modify settings, making them a valuable tool for developers in agile organizations seeking to conduct preliminary sanity testing.
- Real device testing is more effective for obtaining accurate and reliable results, particularly when seeking a comprehensive understanding of user experience.
- The primary objective of your business is to increase user adoption of your application. Therefore, creating a high-performing, user-friendly mobile application is crucial. Choose the suited tool depending on your organization’s risk management strategy, business requirements, and customer demands.
| Criteria | Real Device Testing | Emulator Testing |
| Reliability | Real devices demonstrate precise outcomes and enable testing under identical conditions as experienced by a typical user. | Emulators solely simulate the functionality of a device and are unable to accurately replicate authentic user conditions, such as specific hardware and software configurations. |
| Cost | Purchasing real devices at scale is expensive. | The minimal cost incurred as one can install them for free. |
| Processing Speed | Real-device software testing is much more rapid. | Software testing on an emulator is a sluggisher due to Binary translation. |
| Cross-Platform Testing | Cross-platform testing can be carried out by utilizing real devices. | Cross-platform testing can be effectively achieved through the utilization of virtual devices. |
| Suitable for Debugging | Debugging with real testing devices can present challenges, particularly when identifying and capturing defects. | Emulators streamline the debugging process by providing a range of features that facilitate meticulous issue capture and resolution. |
Adopting a cloud-based mobile application testing can furnish the best of both worlds. Cloud-based application testing offers diverse options that combine various mobile testing frameworks, OS versions, etc. Cloud testing is perfect for agile development, and developers can utilize a private cloud for testing. It also ensures security.
Make the most of cloud-based test execution platforms such as LambdaTest for web app testing. LambdaTest, an AI-driven test orchestration and execution platform, empowers you to conduct manual and automated tests efficiently, with access to over 3000 real devices, browsers, and OS combinations.
This platform facilitates cross device testing on an extensive online device farm, featuring a diverse array of real devices, operating systems, emulators, and simulators. Whether utilizing the real device cloud or emulators and simulators, you can expedite testing and debugging processes significantly.
Furthermore, there’s no need to establish an on-premise device lab. LambdaTest enables instant testing on a Real Device cloud without any setup or maintenance costs.
For app automation, leverage the capabilities of the LambdaTest Appium testing platform to test apps on the Appium mobile device cloud. It offers various features including testing native app functionalities, gestures and interactions, accessing comprehensive test logs, geolocation testing, LambdaTest tunnel for testing locally hosted apps, integration with over 120 third-party tools, and much more.
Conclusion
When it comes to web device testing, both real devices and emulators have their advantages and disadvantages. While real devices offer a more accurate representation of how a website will perform on a specific device, emulators provide a cost-effective and efficient way to test on various devices. Ultimately, the best approach to web device testing will depend on the specific needs and goals of the project.
