There’s one important step you must take before sending your newly developed app to the masses. This final step in app development is mobile app performance testing.
Performance testing checks the functionality of your app against a variety of mobile devices, software, and internet connections. It’s a critical step for catching bugs and performance issues that could ruin the user experience.
Despite its importance, many businesses and individuals don’t perform proper testing or forget it altogether. You're more likely to release an app filled with performance issues.
Do you want your app to be as successful as possible? Here’s the perfect startup guide to mobile app performance testing and how it can benefit you!
The Importance Of Mobile App Performance Testing
The app industry is booming, growing exponentially year after year. People all over the globe use smartphone apps to manage their finances, find places to eat, make reservations, and much more. The demand for fast user-friendly apps isn’t slowing down.
People are constantly using and downloading mobile apps. As they do this, they’re quickly getting rid of the apps that don’t function as described.
With so many startup companies creating similar mobile apps, it’s more important than ever to ensure your app performs its best. This is where mobile app performance testing comes into play.
Mobile app performance is a process of testing an app in one or more simulated environments. It includes everything from device performance, connectivity, latency to its ability to handle increased traffic loads.
There are three main items to test when learning how to improve mobile app performance. These include device performance, network performance, and server or API (application programming interface) performance.
Failing to follow an app performance test can potentially lead to three negative outcomes:
• Lose customers
• Lose money or damage your company’s finances
• Lose your company’s good reputation
Why take these risks when you can avoid them with mobile app testing? Good app performance testing will lead to an opposite effect, allowing you to enjoy more customers, boost your ROI, and improve your brand and reputation.
How do you measure and improve your mobile app performance through testing?
What To Test In An App
As mentioned above, there are three main items to test when testing your app’s performance. If you want your app to be successful, you must include all three in your app testing strategy. Here are the mobile application performance testing criteria:
1. Device Performance
How often have you experienced a slow-loading app or an app that drains your battery? These are frustrating experiences that lead many users to ditch the app and look for a better option in the Apple app store or Google Play.
Device performance focuses on how the app performs on different devices. It measures:
• App start-up time
• Battery life and use percentage while using the app
• How much device memory the app uses
• How the app runs with other running apps
• How the app performs on different software and hardware
• Ensures the app doesn’t lose data while running in the background
If you have a large target audience, you should want your app to work smoothly on a variety of different mobile devices and device software. If your mobile application doesn’t, you could be missing out on a large group of potential customers.
2. Network Performance
Not all networks are the same for mobile applications. Some people will be using the app over WiFi while others may be using their mobile data. Network performance checks for:
• Packet loss and the app’s ability to resend information or notify the user
• Jitters and delays in receiving information over a network with proper notifications
• Network speeds including WiFi, mobile 2.5G, 3G, 4G, and 5G
• Data required to download and use the app
The ideal app should seamlessly work when switching network service and clearly notify the user if there’s an issue. There should also be a call-to-action allowing the user to restart or reload the app if needed.
3. Server And API Performance
Most apps retrieve data from a central server or API which can make or break the ideal response time. Testing the server and API of an app ensures:
• Efficient handling of data as it transfers between app and server or API
• Saving data in native bases in case of server downtime
• Fewer API calls from the app to improve response time
Smooth transfers of data between the app, the server, and the API will shorten response times making the app more enjoyable to use.
How To Test Mobile App Performance
Before you begin testing your app’s performance, you need to create an app performance test environment. This allows you to create a simulation of the real-world use of your app and how the user will use it. To do this, you will need:
• A clear understanding of the app’s primary goals and purpose
• Knowledge of what operating systems (OS) your app will run on
• A test set up such as a simulator, emulator, or prototype of the app
• The appropriate device to test the app
Your goal should be to create a real-time user scenario along with creating realistic network conditions and real-time device conditions. Once you have a realistic test environment, you can test each main component of the app’s performance.
Who To Hire To Test Your Mobile App Performance
The next big question is do you want to test your app yourself or hire someone else to test it for you? Conducting proper testing in-house requires a deep understanding and additional resources to ensure rigorous testing.
Are you new to performance testing or don’t have the confidence to test your app yourself? Consider hiring a mobile application testing company, like quality logic.
An app testing company has a deep understanding of app testing including user, performance, compatibility, interface, and other types of testing. They’ll rigorously test your app to identify any issues or bugs that may cause user problems. Some companies will offer solutions and tips on how to fix these bugs while others might only provide you with basic feedback.
Create Your Best Mobile App Today
You’ve spent countless hours and a substantial budget to create your app. You want your mobile application to succeed right?
Mobile app performance testing is a crucial step in ensuring your app performs at its absolute best. Identifying and fixing potential issues with mobile applications will lead to a better app your target audience will love.
Do you want your business and its assets to succeed? Check out our latest Tech and Web Design articles to learn more great ways to make your business and products a success!