mobile-testing

name	mobile-testing
description	Comprehensive mobile testing for iOS and Android platforms including gestures, sensors, permissions, device fragmentation, and performance. Use when testing native apps, hybrid apps, or mobile web, ensuring quality across 1000+ device variants.
category	specialized-testing
priority	high
tokenEstimate	1000
agents	["qe-test-executor","qe-performance-tester","qe-visual-tester"]
implementation_status	optimized
optimization_version	1
last_optimized	"2025-12-02T00:00:00.000Z"
dependencies	[]
quick_reference_card	true
tags	["mobile","ios","android","appium","gestures","device-fragmentation","sensors"]
trust_tier	3
validation	{"schema_path":"schemas/output.json","validator_path":"scripts/validate-config.json","eval_path":"evals/mobile-testing.yaml"}

Mobile Testing

<default_to_action> When testing mobile applications:

1. DEFINE device coverage matrix (Tier 1: 60%, Tier 2: 30%, Tier 3: 10%)
2. TEST platform differences (iOS ≠ Android: back button, permissions, UI)
3. VALIDATE touch gestures (tap, swipe, pinch, long-press)
4. TEST mobile-specific scenarios (offline, low battery, interruptions)
5. 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 metrics

Fleet 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.