The evolution of mobile devices has emerged as one of the most significant innovations ever made. While the most dynamic shift happened when we were passing through the age of the Internet and IT revolution, the past few years have called for a gigantic transformation.
Going back in time, Kyocera released the first-ever dual-touchscreen Android smartphone called Echo, featuring a pair of 3.5-inch touchscreens. However, the concept captured more hype with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Fold, announced in February 2019.
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Foldable devices are usually mobile phones with a display that folds in half or uses a hinge to separate two different portions to deliver an immersive experience to the user.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into the intricacies of mobile automation testing for foldable and dual-screen devices, highlighting the importance of compatibility testing and the role of automation testing in ensuring seamless user experiences.
The Rise of Foldable and Dual-screen Devices
Foldable and dual-screen devices represent a significant leap forward in mobile technology. According to a report shared by Future Market Insights, “the global foldable phone market is likely to cross $101,351.7 million by 2033, rising from $10,306.2 million in 2023.
Also, the adoption rate for foldable phones will probably advance at a CAGR of 25.7% during the forecast period. With larger displays and innovative form factors, foldable devices promise enhanced multitasking capabilities and a more immersive user experience.
From Samsung’s Galaxy Fold to Microsoft’s Surface Duo, foldable devices are becoming increasingly popular, making it necessary for QAs and developers to adapt their apps to cater to the emerging market segment.
Understanding Compatibility Testing & Its Challenges
Ensuring that mobile applications perform optimally on foldable and dual-screen devices is a critical concern for developers. Thus, mobile automation testing services providers must ensure revising the traditional testing methodologies to guarantee a seamless user experience on modern and innovative factors. This is where compatibility testing comes into play.
Compatibility Testing
Compatibility testing is a subset of software testing that evaluates how well an application performs across different devices, operating systems, browsers, and network environments. For foldable and dual-screen devices, compatibility testing involves assessing how the app adapts to the unique screen configurations and interactions.
Key Aspects of Compatibility Testing
- Screen Configuration: Foldable and dual-screen devices can be used in various configurations – folded, unfolded, or in different orientations. Compatibility testing ensures that the app’s layout and functionality adjust seamlessly to the user preferences or mode of use.
- Multi-Window Mode: Due to the big screen area, foldable devices often allow users to run multiple apps side by side. Compatibility testing should verify that the app behaves correctly in multi-window mode, with no conflicting or overlapping elements.
- Touch and Gesture Interactions: Foldable devices often introduce new touch and gesture interactions. Compatibility testing confirms that any gestures the users make are recognized and interpreted accurately by the app.
- Resolution and Aspect Ratio: With larger, flexible screens, apps must dynamically adapt to different resolutions and aspect ratios. Compatibility testing ensures that the app’s UI elements scale appropriately.
- Hardware Integration: Foldable devices may have specialized hardware features, such as stylus support or advanced camera capabilities. Thus, working on compatibility testing verifies that all the elements are seamlessly integrated into the app’s functionality.
Embracing Mobile Automation Testing
Given the complexity and variety of foldable and dual-screen devices, manual testing alone may not cover all possible scenarios. Here, mobile automation testing emerges as a crucial tool in streamlining and improving the whole testing task for mobile applications.
Advantages of Automation Testing
- Efficiency and Speed: Automation allows for rapid testing across different device configurations, saving time and resources compared to manual testing.
- Consistency: Automated tests execute the same way every time, reducing the likelihood of human error and ensuring reliable results.
- Reusability: Automated test scripts can be reused across projects and easily adapted to accommodate new features or devices.
- Regression Testing: As apps evolve, regression testing becomes essential to ensure that new updates do not introduce compatibility issues. Therefore, agencies working on app development could outsource mobile test automation services to meet their automation objectives. The approach could help fasten continuous regression testing and can even aid with better turnaround time.
7 Best Practices For Mobile Application Testing For Foldable Devices
Testing mobile applications for foldable devices requires a specialized approach due to their unique form factors and functionalities. Besides, mobile application testing for foldable devices needs test teams and developers to be extremely sensitive with their strategy and approach.
Here are some key considerations or best practices that could help complement the process:
1. Verify Foldable-Specific Functionality
Test for features like app continuity, where the application seamlessly transitions between screens as the device is folded or unfolded. Also, you must verify if the app adapts well to the different screen orientations.
2. Test Various Screen Configurations
Foldable devices can have different screen configurations (e.g., single screen, dual screen, or more). It is necessary to ensure that your app is optimized for each configuration and provides a consistent and visually appealing experience.
3. Evaluate Multitasking Scenarios
Foldable devices often support multitasking, allowing users to run multiple apps side by side. Therefore, you must work to craft or foster some test automation solution that can test your app’s behavior in split-screen mode and ensure it works well alongside other applications.
4. Check for Aspect Ratio Compatibility
Verify that your app’s UI elements and layouts are designed to adapt to various aspect ratios, which is vital for providing a seamless experience across different foldable devices.
5. Handle App State Changes Gracefully
Test how your app handles state changes when the device is folded or unfolded. Moreover, testers must ensure the app resumes correctly without data loss or unexpected behavior.
6. Verify Edge Screen Functionality
Foldable devices often have edge screens or additional UI elements on the folded edges. Testers must ensure that your app’s UI elements do not interfere with or get cut off by these edges.
7. Performance And Load Testing
Testing performance is essential to ensure that the app runs smoothly on foldable devices. Therefore, testers assigned to manage QA services must work at test scenarios with a high load to ensure the app doesn’t become sluggish or unresponsive.
The Crux
The surge for foldable and dual-screen devices marks a transformative era. As we witness a paradigm shift, developers and QA must grasp the nuances of compatibility testing, ensuring apps seamlessly adapt to the innovative form factors.
As the statistics speak volumes, with the foldable phone market projected to skyrocket to over $101 billion by 2033, the race to deliver enhanced app user experience demands a tailored testing approach.
Besides, when it comes to meeting the QA goals, compatibility testing using dedicated test automation solution must involve focusing on screen configurations, multi-window mode, touch interactions, and other significant app components could deliver great value.
Also, embracing automation testing is imperative, given the complexity of the application and the diversity of the devices. However, an efficient approach to automation could deliver unmatched efficiency, consistency, reusability, and robust regression.
Remember, real devices are invaluable for accurate testing. Still, complementing your test strategy with the active use of emulators and simulators could help you get comprehensive coverage. As we navigate into a new frontier of foldable devices, adapting to dedicated test practices and methodologies is not just a necessity but a strategic imperative.
Stay Agile! Keep Innovating!
