Airmobi

Mobile Testing in 2025: What It Is, Tools to Use, and Best Practices for Quality Apps

17/07/2025

Learn everything about mobile testing in 2025—definition, benefits, types, tools like Airmobi and Appium, plus best practices to ensure your app delivers quality.

1. What Is Mobile Testing?

Mobile testing refers to the process of validating mobile apps for functionality, usability, performance, and compatibility across a range of real devices and operating systems. Unlike desktop or web apps, mobile apps need to be tested on varying:

  • Screen sizes (phones, tablets, foldables)
  • Operating systems (iOS, Android, versions like iOS 17 or Android 14)
  • Brands (Samsung, Xiaomi, iPhone, Oppo)
  • Mobile testing ensures your app delivers a consistent experience no matter where or how it’s accessed.

Why It Matters in 2025:

  • Rapid device releases with different specs
  • User expectations for performance and UX
  • App store requirements (Play Store, App Store)
  • Competitive app landscape with shorter release cycles

2. Manual Testing vs Automated Testing

There are two main types of mobile testing: manual and automated.

Manual Testing

Done by testers who explore the app as an end-user.

Best for:

  • UI/UX testing
  • Exploratory and ad-hoc testing
  • Compatibility testing

Automated Testing

Scripts are written to simulate user behavior and validate app behavior across builds.

Best for:

  • Regression testing
  • Performance/load testing
  • Running tests at scale and speed

💡 Pro Tip: Use manual testing in the early stages or with free-tier tools like Airmobi to validate critical flows, and layer automation later using frameworks like Appium.

3. Types of Mobile Testing

Different test types address different aspects of app quality:

Functional Testing

  • Verifies features like login, search, checkout
  • Confirms business logic

UI/UX Testing

  • Ensures visual elements render correctly
  • Checks layout responsiveness

Performance Testing

  • Measures load time, resource usage
  • Identifies bottlenecks

Security Testing

  • Detects vulnerabilities in login, data access
  • Essential for fintech, health apps

4. Key Mobile Testing Tools in 2025

There are many tools to support your testing stack, but these three lead the market in 2025:

1. Airmobi

A cloud-based platform giving access to 800+ real devices in Vietnam and across Asia.
Key features:

  • Manual testing via browser
  • Real Android & iOS devices (no emulator)
  • CI/CD compatibility (Jenkins, GitHub Actions)
  • Free plan available

🔗 Start free with Airmobi

2. Appium

Open-source automation framework for iOS and Android.

Best for:

  • Writing tests in multiple languages
  • Parallel test execution
  • Large community support

🔗 Learn more at Appium.io

3. Firebase Test Lab

Google’s platform to run tests on Android apps in the cloud.

Strengths:

  • Emulator + real devices
  • Native integration with Android Studio

🔗 See Firebase Test Lab

5. Why Mobile Testing Is Critical in 2025

In today’s mobile-first economy:

  • 1-star reviews from bugs = lost downloads
  • Fragmented device landscape means greater risk
  • App updates are weekly, so testing needs to be continuous
  • Retention depends on performance, not just design

Integrating mobile testing early (“shift left”) saves time, boosts app quality, and increases confidence in deployments.

📊 Internal link: 7 Types of Devices You Should Always Test Your App On

6. Mobile Testing Checklist (2025)

✅ Test on at least 7 types of devices (low-end to premium)
✅ Prioritize critical flows: login, signup, payment
✅ Use real devices, not just emulators
✅ Combine manual + automation
✅ Store logs, video, and screenshots for QA review
✅ Integrate with CI/CD tools for speed
✅ Run nightly regression if releasing frequently
✅ Use cloud platforms like Airmobi for flexibility
✅ Track issues, create test reports, and involve dev & product teams

Conclusion: Testing Smarter, Not Harder

Mobile testing in 2025 is no longer a separate QA activity—it’s a core part of building great apps. With the rise of cloud testing platforms like Airmobi, teams can test on real devices from anywhere, at any time.

Whether you’re validating UX on foldables, testing load on older Android devices, or running nightly CI builds, the right mobile testing strategy is what makes great apps stand out.

🧪 Ready to scale your testing?
👉 Explore Airmobi Free Plan