How we test
It’s all in the testing
If you’re like the members of the Android Authority team, you’re probably asked often: Which phone is the best? It’s a deceptively simple question, but we’re going to help you answer it and we’re going to do it in the most objective way possible. Introducing the new Android Authority testing methodology!
Going forward, all smartphones that we review will be put through over 40 standardized tests, with the aim of establishing which is the best of them all. Here’s an inside look at our all-new testing methods, including what we’re looking for in each test, the companies we partner with for testing equipment, and what this means for smartphone reviews on Android Authority going forward.
Category testing
Camera Testing
Because smartphones use digital cameras, there are literally hundreds of ways you can rate digital images objectively, pixel by pixel. To that end companies like our partners at Imatest offer off-the-shelf solutions to objectively assess image quality. We use their flagship software along with standard charts to collect and analyze the shots taken by the smartphones we review. However, sometimes the image processing is just as important as the raw capabilities of the camera. In this light, we send a professional photographer out into the world to compare shots to a real camera, and rate ten common scenes.
Display Testing
The most visible part of your smartphone is the display, and like the camera: it's completely possible to rate it objectively. Our partners at Portrait Displays (SpectraCal) have provided us with the same top-of-the-line display testing solution—CalMAN—to measure the performance of each smartphone screen. We can tell you everything you want to know about how the latest phones look in any situation.
Audio Testing
Everyone wants to rock out with their smartphones, but nobody likes a weak speaker or noisy calls. Our sister site SoundGuys puts every phone through the wringer with objective data collection and in-house analysis. When you want to know exactly how good an audio product is, audiophiles trust SoundGuys, and so do we.
Battery Testing
Probably the most important feature of smartphones, the battery is tough to properly test. However, we can tell you how long it takes to charge, how long you can watch videos, or browse the web with our proprietary app. It may not have every use case, but we offer apples-to-apples comparisons of battery results — every time.
Performance Testing
New apps and games mean your phone needs to be able to power through any processing load thrown at it. We use industry-standard benchmarks to see how your phone stacks up against the rest of the pack. We only report verified scores, so no cheating shenanigans will stain our results. Reading Android Authority reviews will give you an exact picture of how well a smartphone performs.
