Choosing an Android phone for app testing

Question

Android

Need help choosing an Android phone. In life, I don’t use phones at all, so I don’t have natural selection criteria.

What is important for testing?
I want to save money and buy not the last top model, but the penultimate one. How important is it?
Is it possible to update the OS version on older models? Is it difficult?

How hardware dependent is Android development? Can you be sure that an app tested on HTC will work fine on Samsung (and vice versa)?

Feedback on the use of specific models for testing is also welcome.

Roughly speaking, the choice comes down to the following set of options:
– HTC Nexus One (Desire, Incredible S)
– Samsung Galaxy S
– LG Optimus One
– Chinese

This picture ( original ) shows that you need to choose a device with WVGA for testing:



Here are some more interesting statistics .

Answer 1

As for HTC, I can give my own experience. Wrote a small application, tested it on LG Optimus. It seems everything works. People with EVO etc. In the market they complain that nothing works for them. I asked a friend with Nexus One (it seems like it should be) to check. Works as it should. So I still don't understand what the problem is. To be honest, I just scored.
In general, I got the feeling that for reliable testing you need to have HTC and something else.
And if you just make sure that the application works, then even the simplest optimus type device is enough.

Answer 2

IMHO should be taken from 2.2, tk. on 2.1 it will work exactly the same, but on 2.2 it will be possible to test such features as, for example, copying the application to SD, which is very much appreciated by users with a small amount of ROM.
As for the brand, I would advise any HTC, because. they are popular, and it will be possible to test them taking into account their features (different LED indication from others, own crutches for multitouch in WebView). Practice shows that everything that works on HTC will most likely work on other devices.

Answer 3

I would take the latest model from Google (Nexus S), because I think that it will be supported the longest. On the example of Hero, we can draw conclusions about the support of old HTC devices at the current pace of development.
Regarding hardware independence, in my practice of testing for android, the application behaved normally on HTC and abnormally on Samsung. So it will be difficult to manage with one device.

Answer 4

I think it's worth taking not the top-end phone for testing. Due to the fact that if your application will "fly" on a top model, then on a mid-range communicator it can slow down. As a result, in my opinion, the percentage should be 600-700 MHz, without a serious graphics accelerator (unless, of course, this is a game that is focused on top models.) Orange San Francisco may suit you , there is an average percentage and a WVGA screen.
It's clear that you can't arrange testing with one phone, so you can contact test offices ( type ). Or, which in my opinion is preferable, ask Habr's audience (here in Q&A).

Answer 5

I think the Nexus One has the best price / performance ratio.
Recently, 2.3.4 arrived, which no android-smart of last year can boast of.

Answer 6

I have this device for this case.
market.yandex.ru/model.xml?hid=91491&modelid=6147872&show-uid=763328413049329961
As they say, there is everything at a budget price with standard stuffing.

Answer 7

Get optimus one. Good, in general, everything, including the price. The hardware part is very common. The software is varied. There is already 2.3.4, although at the beta stage, although not official. However, the official one is also expected by the end of May. The resolution is one of the most common, judging by your diagram. Supports dual touch.

Answer 8

Samsung Galaxy S2 and you will be pleased and according to statistics it is the most popular. Screens check on the emulator. Ask your friends for weak phones.

Answer 9

Samsung only. Because these are the most buggy devices. If it starts up on Samsung, it will work everywhere. For example , and believe me, this happens very often.

Answer 10

We bought htc wildfire for testing.
Chose because it is inexpensive, not the greatest performance.
Caught a few glitches that would not have appeared on a more powerful device.

Answer 11

I think that almost a year since the creation of the question, the author has already been able to decide)