Mobile App Testing: Testing of mobile applications and systems

In more and more application areas and industries, the first screen contact with the website or app is via smartphones and tablets.

Mobile app testing plays a decisive role, from the private sector to corporate IT and safety-critical device systems, such as in medical technology.

The demands on intuitive usability, functionality, response times, memory requirements and energy efficiency are high. Combined with a multitude of different mobile devices and platforms, software quality assurance and software testing in mobile app testing face a variety of new challenges. We help you to master these mobile testing challenges economically.

What is mobile app testing?

Mobile app testing is the process of checking and validating the functionality, usability and performance of a mobile application on different devices and platforms. It includes various types of tests such as functional tests, usability tests, performance tests, security tests and compatibility tests to ensure that the app works smoothly and meets user expectations. The goal is to identify and fix bugs before the app is released to ensure high quality and a positive user experience.

App testing differs from other software tests due to the specific requirements of mobile applications. It requires tests on different devices and operating systems, takes into account touchscreen interactions, mobile networks and sensor interfaces. Important aspects include performance under real network conditions, the user experience on different screen sizes and enhanced security and data protection measures.

Why are apps different?

Function:

Cloud computing: Mobile apps often use cloud services to store and process data. This enables seamless synchronisation across different devices and gives users access to their data at all times, regardless of the device they are using.
Software and Things: With the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT), many apps interact directly with connected devices, from smartwatches to household appliances. These interactions require specialised testing to ensure that the app can reliably communicate with various IoT devices.
In-app purchases: Many mobile apps offer in-app purchases that allow users to purchase additional content or features within the app. These transactions must be designed and tested to be secure, reliable and user-friendly to ensure a smooth user experien

Operating environment:

Indoors or outdoors: Mobile apps are used in a variety of environments, from the comfort of home to extreme outdoor conditions. Weather conditions, network signal strength and other environmental factors can affect the performance and functionality of an app.
Geographical location: The geographical location of users can also play a role. Apps may need to respond to different language and country settings, process GPS data or provide region-specific content.

Usage scenarios:

Ad hoc use: Mobile apps are often used spontaneously and for short periods of time. The user-friendliness and speed of the app are therefore crucial in order not to frustrate the user and to ensure a positive user experience.
Ubiquity: The availability of mobile devices means that apps can be used anytime, anywhere. This requires apps to be robust and versatile enough to work smoothly in different usage scenarios.

Plattform:

Hardware: Mobile Geräte variieren stark in ihren Hardware-Spezifikationen, einschließlich Bildschirmgröße, Auflösung, Prozessorleistung, Speicher und Sensoren. Apps müssen auf einer Vielzahl von Geräten mit unterschiedlichen Hardware-Spezifikationen getestet werden, um sicherzustellen, dass sie überall gut funktionieren.
Betriebssysteme: Es gibt mehrere mobile Betriebssysteme (z.B. Android, iOS), und jede Version kann spezifische Anforderungen und Einschränkungen haben. Eine gründliche Prüfung auf verschiedenen Betriebssystemversionen ist daher unerlässlich.
Anwendungsarchitekturen: Mobile Apps können auf unterschiedliche Architekturen setzen, wie native Apps, hybride Apps oder Web-Apps. Jede Architektur hat ihre eigenen Vor- und Nachteile und erfordert spezifische Testansätze.
Entwicklungsumgebungen: Entwickler verwenden verschiedene Entwicklungsumgebungen und Tools, die die Art und Weise beeinflussen, wie Apps entwickelt und getestet werden. Das Verständnis dieser Umgebungen ist entscheidend für die effiziente Fehlerbehebung und Optimierung.

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Your benefits of mobile testing with imb

Test outsourcing: On request, we can take over the entire test process as part of our test outsourcing. T he infrastructure required for multi-device and multi-OS tests is therefore available to you on demand. Here you can find all information about test outsourcing with imbus.
Service level agreements: The imbus crowd testing service is an uncomplicated, cost-effective option for the quick check of beta versions, the usability check, for benchmarking with competitor applications or for the uncomplicated acceptance test in your target user group.
Flexible service call-off: Short response times and suitable capacity, whether individual test specialists, a professional test team or a crowd testing solution.

Try the professional test of your app with the "Starter Package"

In the Mobile Starter Package, we provide you with the exploratory test on one end device. This gives you an insight into how you can increase the quality of your app through professional mobile testing. You can be sure: We will find at least one error!

You will receive:

Informal test specification with app use cases
Written report of the test results
Detailed description of the most serious error found
Further bug descriptions (maximum 15)
Evaluation of the overall quality of the app
Estimate for extensive testing on multiple devices and regression tests

Request mobile testing app starter package now

App for test outsourcing!

Would you like to have your mobile application tested quickly, efficiently and according to the usual high imbus quality standards? Our experts, who specialise in mobile applications and are certified accordingly, will take a close look at your app as part of our test outsourcing. We have a comprehensive pool of the most popular and widely used smartphones and tablet PCs on the market, which can be used to map a wide variety of device and system combinations at any time. Visit our dedicated test outsourcing website for more information.

Customised modules for your project:

[Translate to English:] Beispiel Abbildung imbus Testoutsourcing

Explorative: intuitive troubleshooting
Functional: testing defined user stories
Test automation: automated test execution
Crowd: defined beta tests
Cloud: virtual test environments
Usability: intuitive operation
Load and performance: measuring stability and time behaviour
"In the wild": outdoor tests, etc.

Visit our page on test outsourcing with imbus

What do you need to look out for when testing mobile apps?

The dynamic market for mobile apps requires fast and frequent updates as well as the highest quality. Users expect reliable and user-friendly apps, as errors quickly lead to negative reviews. The variety of devices and different hardware specifications require extensive testing on different models. "In the wild testing" under real conditions is essential to ensure app performance in different environments. A professional test strategy, including competent test teams and detailed documentation, is crucial to mastering these challenges.

Below we give you an overview of the most important points to consider when testing mobile apps:

Market requirement:

Fast pace: The market for mobile apps is extremely dynamic. New apps are constantly being released and existing apps updated. To remain competitive, companies need to update their apps quickly and frequently, which requires a fast and efficient testing strategy.
Customer demand for quality: Users expect high quality from mobile apps. An app must be reliable and user-friendly in order to receive positive reviews and retain users. Even small errors can lead to negative reviews and a high cancellation rate.
High potential damage: As mobile apps are often used by a large number of users, errors or security vulnerabilities can cause significant damage. This can not only mean financial losses, but can also affect user trust and damage the company's reputation.

Variety of devices:

Different models and manufacturers: the market is flooded with a variety of devices that differ in size, shape, performance and operating system versions.This makes it necessary to test apps on many different devices to ensure that they work reliably everywhere.
Hardware specifications: Different devices have different hardware specifications, such as screen size, resolution, processing power, memory and sensors.This diversity requires extensive testing to ensure that the app works well on all devices.

New concepts:

Operation with gestures: Many mobile apps use gesture controls such as swiping, pinch-to-zoom and other touch interactions. These need to be thoroughly tested to ensure that they work intuitively and reliably.
Signals via sensors: Mobile devices are equipped with a variety of sensors, such as GPS, accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers. Apps that utilise these sensors need to be tested under various conditions to ensure accurate and reliable results.
Voice input and output: With the increasing popularity of voice assistants and voice-controlled apps, it is important to thoroughly test the voice control functions. This includes both speech recognition and speech output.

Dynamic test environments:

Partially spatially decoupled - "In The Wild Testing": mobile apps are often used in different environments, from urban areas to rural regions with different network coverage and environmental conditions. "In the wild testing" means that apps are tested in real usage scenarios to ensure that they work reliably under all condit.

Methodical approach:

Use of tools: Professional testing tools and methods are crucial for the efficient and thorough testing of mobile apps. Automated tests can help to perform repeatable tasks quickly and accurately.
Expertise of test teams: An experienced and competent test team is essential. Testers must not only have technical skills, but also a deep understanding of user expectations and requirements.
Proof and documentation: Thorough documentation of test results is important to prove that the app has passed all required tests. This includes detailed reports on bugs found, tests performed and the quality of the app.

Are you interested in working with imbus? Then please contact us by e-mail or telephone.

Benefit from our expertise in the field of mobile testing