How to Test Cloud-Based Mobile Apps?

By  //  December 1, 2022

Are you looking for various devices which can perform cloud-based mobile app testing? And finding different ways on how to test cloud-based mobile apps. Get the learning here! 

Mobile devices are working differently nowadays. They are available with various resolutions, functions, and screen sizes, with the abilities expanded by millions of applications to meet specific requirements at home and work. 

It is very convenient for the customers, with distinct operating systems, models, and manufacturers; but making sure your application works across these variations is quite challenging. 

Mobile app testing is a way to ensure functionality before it hits the customers. However, you are required to perform thousands of test cases as there isn’t a surety that an application created on an Android device will perform without any glitches on the trendy Samsung or Apple iPad handset. 

Accessible platforms have screen aspect orientation, or ratios can happen on the same operating system but with distinct device models. So, what is the answer now? 

What is Cloud Mobile Testing?

Cloud mobile testing means leveraging cloud services to create a highly-scalable test infrastructure. It is liable to host mobile devices (iOS, Android) or emulators. These devices and emulators are available 24*7 for individuals and teams worldwide for web testing and mobile apps on defined platforms, browsers, and handsets. 

Cloud-Based Mobile App Testing

Cloud-based device firms optimize mobile application testing by executing test cases in virtual software environments. Mobile conditions are reflected by leveraging emulators, simulators, or real devices hosted on cloud-based mobile app testing. 

Compared to physical on-premise device companies, cloud-based devices are easy to manage and enable multiple project teams to test apps on various devices in several real-user conditions without setting up a testing lab. 

With thousands of applications released daily worldwide, competition is also escalating. Testing functionality and application performance are crucial to protect errors from entering production.

If any error is missed, it will destroy the user experience, causing costly delays and losing customers. 

Advantages of Cloud-Based Mobile App Testing

One significant advantage of the device cloud for mobile app testing is; it is easier to manage, but it’s not the end here; there are some more benefits of it, so let’s learn about them in detail:

1. Easy Availability

Many OS, platforms, and devices are available via emulators and simulators when your testing surroundings are hosted under the cloud. Actual devices are also available to control the latest features and models for the execution of accurate testing. 

2. Increased Productivity

Leveraging a device farm in the cloud permits parallel testing of several devices compared to testing one after the other. It will dramatically gear up the test cycles. 

Testing is generally an alley to software development, so being capable of performing different test scenarios uniquely to your customers escalates production deployments. 

3. Cost-Effective

Executing thousands of test scenarios differently across several devices, models and OS is more costly when managing and acquiring physical hardware. 

Cloud-hosted testing platforms, like pCloudy, Saucelabs, provide monthly charges for a wide range of new and old devices. Thus, you need not update your device when new models are launched. 

4. Enhance Collaboration

Cloud-based device farms are integrated using test management tools to escalate software delivery and feedback loops. Multiple people are indulged in the software development process, so best communication is always tough to examine if they’re any glitchy with a launch to avert and debug those glitchy as early as possible. 

5. Easily accessible 

Testing experts and Quality Assurance teams can handle a device farm and execute the test, which is beneficial for teams because it favors collaboration. 

By handling mobile device farms from multiple geo locations in the cloud-based mobile app testing, it can facilitate you 24*7.

Top Device Clouds for Mobile App Testing

1. pCloudy Mobile Device Lab

pCloudy is the most popular cloud-based mobile app that helps to run manual/automated tests on real mobile devices and browsers over cloud. It is a mobile testing lab that provides benefits to large, small and medium enterprises and individuals. 

Service Description: It’s a testing platform that allows you to test native/ web applications on different devices. You will get unlimited time to use your device. It offers flexible plans to its customers stating; pay only for what you see. 

2. AWS Device Farm

AWS is the leading cloud computing platform from Amazon Web Services Inc. (AWS). 

Service Description: It is a testing service that enables you to interact and test with your web, iOS, and Android apps on numerous devices at once or regenerate glitches on a device in real-time. View logs, screenshots, performance data, and video to show and debug errors before launching an application. 

3. Firebase Test Lab for Android

It was previously popular with the name: Google Cloud Test Lab and has been integrated into the development of the Firebase platform that provides a vast range of backend services to support mobile application development. 

Service Description: Firebase Test Lab for Android offers a cloud-based infrastructure for Android application testing. With one operation, you can start application testing across a vast range of devices & device configurations.

Test results like screenshots, videos, and logs are available in your project. Firebase Test Lab can automatically exercise your application by looking for crashes even if you have not written any test code for your application. 

4. Xamarin Test Cloud

Xamarin facilitates you with cross-platform app development with the help of the programming language; C#.

Service Description: Determine errors before you proceed with automated test pacing on customer devices. You can test everything from swiping and pitching to scrolling and double-tapping. Find performance-related problems on any Operating System with step-by-step performance and memory tracking. 

When to Choose Cloud-Based Mobile App testing?

There’s always a suitable time for everything when you’re planning to adopt device clouds for mobile app testing due to its cost-effective and time-savvy nature or solution. 

However, a mobile testing cloud is ideally suited for software teams that look to test websites or apps on a large scale of actual mobile devices but can’t bear to manage an on-premise device lab. 

Final Words

Cloud-based mobile app testing has introduced many mobile devices, offers essential benefits, and removes complexities. It also offers online storage with huge transparency and flexibility. 

It would be best if you had robust internet connectivity to download, upload and access the cloud data. Moreover, it also benefits you with seamless and undisturbed mobile cloud testing to get device coverage.