Virtual Mobile Devices

Let’s start by addressing the obvious question: What is a Virtual Device?

Simply put, it is a virtual or emulated instance that replicates a physical mobile device, whether iOS or Android.

For Android, the correct term is an Emulator.

For iOS, the correct term is a Simulator.

Virtual devices can be a valuable addition to your testing strategy. They are typically faster to provision and can handle the common scenarios you’d encounter on a real mobile device, such as Manual Testing, Automated testing (With frameworks like Appium, Espresso & XCUITest) and running Automated Tests at scale to get faster feedback, sometimes challenging with physical devices due to the number of devices available to you.

However, while virtual devices can streamline certain processes, they come with limitations. They cannot fully replicate real-world conditions, including how users interact with applications downloaded from the App Store or Play Store, or how the applications downloaded behave and impact the CPU, Memory and Battery of a mobile device.

For instructions on how to access a virtual device session, refer to the Getting Started with Virtual Devices section.

Once you're familiar with accessing virtual devices, the following sections will guide you through:

• Virtual Devices Page & Functionality - An overview of the Virtual Devices page, its features, and tips for managing sessions effectively.

• Limitations on Virtual Devices - Insights into known limitations and scenarios where physical devices may be more suitable.