LittleSprings Design points out the basic approaches to handling devices when testing mobile applications or mobile web sites:
- Choose a common phone and have everybody use it during the test.
- Make everybody a novice. Require that participants have NOT used the device being tested.
- Use the user’s own device. Have them download and run the application or web site.
- Match devices. Select three or so devices that represent a large portion of your user population. See what other devices in your user population have a user interface largely identical to one of the selected three. Select participants who use any of the above devices. Test the application on a device that matches the participant’s device.
One more thing, with the increasing popularity of add-on browsers like Opera Mini, be sure your test devices also have the other browser for a mobile web usability test. Let the user choose. ”
Source: Little Springs Design
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