"It works on my device" is the most dangerous phrase in mobile development. Here's how to actually test mobile apps.
The Device Fragmentation Problem
Android alone has thousands of device configurations. iOS versions matter. Screen sizes vary. Your test device isn't representative.
The Testing Pyramid for Mobile
Unit tests form the foundation. Business logic should be testable without a device.
Integration tests verify component interactions. API calls, database operations, state management.
UI tests validate user flows. But keep them focused—UI tests are slow and flaky.
Manual testing remains essential. Some things can't be automated effectively.
Real-World Conditions to Test
Network variability. Test on 3G. Test with packet loss. Test offline transitions.
Battery states. Low battery changes OS behaviour. Background processing gets restricted.
Interruptions. Phone calls, notifications, app switching—your app will be interrupted.
Memory pressure. What happens when the OS kills your background app?
Device Coverage Strategy
Physical devices for critical paths. Emulators can't replicate everything.
Cloud testing services for breadth. AWS Device Farm, Firebase Test Lab, BrowserStack.
Focus on market share. Test the devices your users actually have.
Don't chase the long tail. Supporting every device isn't cost-effective.
Crash Reporting Is Non-Negotiable
Implement crash reporting from day one. Crashlytics, Sentry, Bugsnag—pick one.
Monitor crash-free rates by device and OS version. Patterns reveal systematic issues.
The Release Strategy
Beta testing catches user-facing issues. TestFlight, Google Play Internal Testing.
Staged rollouts limit blast radius. Don't ship to 100% immediately.
Have a rollback plan. You will need it eventually.
At Logic Leap, we help teams build testing strategies that catch issues before users do. Need help establishing a QA process? Let's connect.
What's your mobile testing approach?
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