Mobile Testing
<default_to_action> When testing mobile applications:
- DEFINE device coverage matrix (Tier 1: 60%, Tier 2: 30%, Tier 3: 10%)
- TEST platform differences (iOS ≠ Android: back button, permissions, UI)
- VALIDATE touch gestures (tap, swipe, pinch, long-press)
- TEST mobile-specific scenarios (offline, low battery, interruptions)
- USE real devices for critical paths, emulators for fast feedback
Quick Mobile Checklist:
- Test on latest iOS + Android flagship devices
- Test offline mode and network transitions
- Verify push notifications work
- Test gesture interactions (swipe, pinch)
- Check permissions flow (camera, location, notifications)
Critical Success Factors:
- Emulators for 80% of testing, real devices for 20% critical paths
- Test on devices your users actually use (analytics)
- Device fragmentation is Android's biggest challenge </default_to_action>
Quick Reference Card
When to Use
- Native app development (iOS/Android)
- Hybrid apps (React Native, Flutter)
- Mobile web / PWAs
- App store submission preparation
iOS vs Android Differences
| Aspect | iOS | Android |
|---|---|---|
| OS Versions | 2-3 supported | 10+ in use |
| Devices | ~40 models | 1000+ variants |
| Back Button | Gesture/nav | Hardware/software |
| Permissions | Single prompt | Runtime granular |
| App Store | Strict review | Google Play + sideload |
Device Coverage Tiers
| Tier | Coverage | Devices |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 60% users | iPhone 15, Galaxy S24, iPad |
| Tier 2 | 30% users | iPhone 14/13, Pixel 8 |
| Tier 3 | 10% users | Older devices, other manufacturers |
Mobile Performance Goals
| Metric | Target |
|---|---|
| App launch | < 2 seconds |
| Screen transition | < 300ms |
| Frame rate | 60 FPS |
| Battery drain | < 5%/hour background |
Touch Gesture Testing
// Appium gesture examples
// Tap
await driver.touchAction({ action: 'tap', x: 100, y: 200 });
// Swipe (scroll down)
await driver.touchAction([
{ action: 'press', x: 200, y: 400 },
{ action: 'moveTo', x: 200, y: 100 },
{ action: 'release' }
]);
// Pinch to zoom
const finger1 = [
{ action: 'press', x: 100, y: 200 },
{ action: 'moveTo', x: 50, y: 150 },
{ action: 'release' }
];
const finger2 = [
{ action: 'press', x: 200, y: 200 },
{ action: 'moveTo', x: 250, y: 250 },
{ action: 'release' }
];
await driver.multiTouchAction([finger1, finger2]);
// Long press
await driver.touchAction({
action: 'longPress',
x: 100, y: 200,
duration: 2000
});Mobile-Specific Scenarios
// Offline mode testing
test('app works offline', async () => {
await driver.toggleAirplaneMode();
await driver.findElement('view-saved-items').click();
const items = await driver.findElements('saved-item');
expect(items.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
const banner = await driver.findElement('offline-banner');
expect(banner.getText()).toContain('No internet');
await driver.toggleAirplaneMode(); // Restore
});
// Location testing
test('location-based features', async () => {
await driver.setGeoLocation({
latitude: 37.7749,
longitude: -122.4194,
altitude: 0
});
const stores = await driver.findElement('stores-list');
expect(stores.getText()).toContain('San Francisco');
});
// Permission testing (Android)
test('camera permission flow', async () => {
await driver.findElement('take-photo').click();
// Handle permission dialog
await driver.findElement(
'com.android.packageinstaller:id/permission_allow_button'
).click();
expect(await driver.findElement('camera-view')).toBeDefined();
});Agent-Driven Mobile Testing
// Cross-platform mobile testing
await Task("Mobile Test Suite", {
platforms: ['iOS', 'Android'],
deviceTiers: [1, 2],
tests: 'regression-suite',
parallelDevices: 5,
deviceFarm: 'browserstack'
}, "qe-test-executor");
// Device farm integration
await Task("Device Farm Execution", {
service: 'browserstack',
devices: [
'iPhone 15 - iOS 17',
'Samsung Galaxy S24 - Android 14'
],
recordVideo: true,
captureNetworkLogs: true
}, "qe-test-executor");Agent Coordination Hints
Memory Namespace
aqe/mobile-testing/
├── device-matrix/* - Device coverage strategy
├── platform-tests/* - iOS/Android specific tests
├── gesture-library/* - Reusable gesture patterns
└── performance/* - Mobile performance metricsFleet Coordination
const mobileFleet = await FleetManager.coordinate({
strategy: 'mobile-testing',
agents: [
'qe-test-executor', // Cross-platform execution
'qe-performance-tester', // Mobile performance
'qe-visual-tester' // Screen size validation
],
topology: 'parallel'
});Related Skills
- accessibility-testing - VoiceOver, TalkBack
- performance-testing - Mobile performance
- compatibility-testing - Device compatibility
Remember
Mobile is not a smaller desktop - it's a different platform. 60%+ of web traffic is mobile. Device fragmentation (1000+ Android devices), touch gestures, sensors, permissions, offline scenarios - all require specific testing.
Test on real devices for critical flows. Emulators catch 80% of bugs but real devices needed for actual performance, sensor behavior, and platform quirks.
With Agents: qe-test-executor orchestrates testing across device farms, manages platform differences, and tests 10+ devices in parallel. Reduces mobile testing from days to hours.