What is mobile usability testing?

Why mobile usability testing is necessary for building mobile experiences

Consumers spend more than 5 hours daily on mobile devices. The smartphone has become the go-to device for shopping, banking, job search, and many other activities. As mobile use continues to rise, your mobile experiences must offer consumers convenience, easy access, and near non-stop delight.

So with reliance on mobile devices growing and only expected to rise, it’s critical that you ensure your digital experiences are up to snuff for the more than 2.7 billion smartphone users across the globe. Whether you’re building a responsive website, performing a redesign, or developing the next best app, mobile usability testing will be the ace in your pocket—ensuring all of your products and experiences deliver the best results.

The different types of mobile usability testing 

Identify your research goals to discern which method is the best for your company.

Moderated and unmoderated testing

There are both in-person and remote moderated and unmoderated usability testing options. In moderated usability testing, moderators are with test participants, guiding them through the tasks, answering their questions, and replying to their feedback in real-time. When you moderate a test, you're interacting with the people who use your product

Unmoderated usability testing is just like it sounds. It’s not monitored or guided, so there’s no one else present during the study except the contributor. The contributor completes tasks and answers questions at their own pace, on their own time, at a time and location of their choosing. 

To help you get started, learn more about the pros and cons of moderated and unmoderated usability testing and check out some mobile UX examples from a variety of industries.

When should organizations conduct mobile usability testing?

Do user tests throughout the development process, so you're able to fix problems before they get too deeply embedded in your site. You can start testing as soon as you have anything to show to users, even if it’s just conceptual sketches.

It’s best to run frequent tests of a few testers each than to save up your tests and do them all at once at the end of development.