Virtual mobile devices

For manual mobile testing, testing with Scriptless Mobile, and mobile automation testing, in addition to real mobile devices, Perfecto supports testing on virtual devices to enhance testing capabilities. Real devices are considered best practice because they represent real-world conditions. However, virtual devices are a valid addition for some of the tests and when larger-scale testing is needed. Some tests, such as logic tests, are less sensitive to the real device environment, thus offering themselves for testing on virtual devices. Other tests, such as UI look & feel and flow, require running on real devices.

Looking at virtual vs. real devices from the perspective of the software development life cycle (SDLC), testing on virtual devices has its place in the early stages of development, during unit testing, due to easy setup, fast feedback, and cost-effectiveness. The next development cycles should involve a combination of testing on virtual and real mobile devices, both because mobile platforms are limited on virtual devices (no app store, different hardware) and because real user experience is required to guide advanced development. The closer the release date, the more important testing on real devices becomes. UI and user acceptance testing (UAT) phases rely on the exclusive use of real devices.

For information about actions supported on virtual, real, and desktop web devices during manual testing, see the following:

• Supported actions on open devices (manual testing)

• Supported actions on open devices (Scriptless Mobile)

Any functionality that does not explicitly state virtual device support is not supported for virtual devices.

Virtual devices are alive for a single session only.

In this section:

Additional information on virtual mobile devices:

• Supported capabilities for virtual mobile devices

• Espresso tests for virtual devices

• XCUITest tests for virtual devices