[Solved] What’s the difference between real device and simulator/emulator? [closed]

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Recently in QCon, Gerard Meszaros said that we should run automation tests only on simulators to improve efficiency.

This was odd advice, if that is really what Mr. Meszaros said. Running tests on the emulator is fine, but “only” is an excessive recommendation. There is no harm in running automated tests on devices, and you can learn a lot from doing so.

But I’m not sure if there will be some issues that can only found in a real device?

Of course.

  • Many devices have multi-core CPUs, whereas the emulator only emulates a single core at this time
  • Device storage tends to run a lot slower than does storage on the emulator
  • Device manufacturers tinker with Android in ways that will not appear on an emulator running stock Android
  • The emulator only loosely emulates hardware related to power, Internet (e.g., no mobile data, no WiFi), GPS, sensors, camera, etc.
  • The emulator does not support some device capabilities, like the new V2 version of Maps, the Play Store, multiple accounts on Android 4.2, etc.

And so on.

Or some components like camera, gravity sensors could not be tested in a simulator/emulator?

Those ones are difficult to test in an automated fashion, period.

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solved What’s the difference between real device and simulator/emulator? [closed]