Before you release your Android app to the market, it is important that you first get the best testing coverage, but where do you test it?
Some people believe that the only way to adequately test an app for the highest reliability is to use real devices. In other words, mobile devices specifically designed to run Android. However, other people feel that a good virtual device, like TestObject, can also be highly reliable and is far less expensive than taking the real device route.
That being said, on a side note, don’t forget that in addition to knowing what device is best to test your Android app, it’s also important to make sure you have the best advertising and monetization in place. You may find that a great way to boost your monetization and app distribution is through a platform like appnext.com.
So, which is better: a virtual device or a real one? Real is always better, unfortunately, not all real devices can offer you the reliability you’re looking for. The reason is that your app may turn out to be popular on only some devices and not all. Furthermore, if you’re going to test your app on more than one device, this can get quite costly. After all, there are several Android mobile devices from Samsung, Google, Motorola, HTC, Amazon, etc.
Therefore, a good idea is to put Google Play Developer Console to good use. It enables developers to easily publish and distribute their apps directly to users of Android-compatible phones. Using Google Play Developer Console, you can view your apps daily uninstalls and daily installs by device. This will give you an idea of what devices you should be testing your app on or if you need to test it on more.
That said, it’s always best to first focus your testing on the devices that your target group will use for your app.