Cross-device & cross-browser testing

"The website should look right on every device and browser" quickly turns into an unrealistic, open-ended promise if the testing scope isn't defined at the start of a project. After handover, one small display bug on a client's outdated device is enough to cause a misunderstanding nobody wanted.

To put the effort where it counts, Perxel agrees the testing scope up front, based on real data and current technology.

Browser scope

Perxel tests and optimises for the latest versions of the common browsers at the time of development: Google Chrome, Safari and Microsoft Edge.

Focusing on the latest versions lets the site use modern web technology, perform better and avoid known security holes.

To keep this grounded, Perxel uses market-share data from StatCounter for the project's target market and picks the three most common versions of each browser for extended testing. For a Vietnam audience, for example, Chrome leads and Safari comes second.

Device and screen-size scope

A website can't look identical on every device on the market. Perxel's testing covers the most common screen sizes for each project's audience.

• On desktop for a Vietnam audience, usage is spread fairly evenly across 1920x1080, 1366x768 and 1280x800.
• On mobile, the most common size is around 414x896.

If your project already has real user data from Google Analytics 4, Perxel encourages you to share it. The Tech Overview report in GA4 shows exactly which browsers and screen resolutions your visitors use most, which makes the testing as useful as it can be.

The reviewer's own devices

Market data can't predict one very important group of devices: the ones used by the people who review and approve the project.

Inside a company, the marketing team may use recent devices while the leadership signing off may use a machine that is several years old, or review the site on a large screen in a meeting room. A small bug that shows up only on the approver's own device on sign-off day can colour their whole impression of the work.

That's why Perxel asks agencies to help collect the devices the client's reviewers will actually use.

All you need is for the reviewer to open whatismybrowser.com on their device and send a screenshot of the browser details. With the exact browser version and operating system, Perxel can set up a matching test environment and fix compatibility issues before the review meeting.

In short

Perxel's cross-device testing doesn't promise a flawless site on every device ever made.

Instead, Perxel agrees a sensible testing scope with the agency, based on real user data and current technology. The designer then knows the limits of how the site will display, the developer puts the most effort into the environments that matter, and the delivered site looks its best in your client's hands.

Footnotes

1. StatCounter Global Stats
2. whatismybrowser.com