DIY Mobile user-testing setup for product builders
…without installing any app.
For Product Managers and Designers, user testing on mobile devices can be tricky (or expensive) to do right. This article explains how to build an efficient setup — for almost nothing!
Previously I’ve showcased the basic user-testing setup and workflow I’m working with at Algolia. I strongly encourage you to read it first, but the tl;dr version is that for $129, you can build your own DIY setup, including:
- Hardware → Your laptop, your phone and a tripod
- Software → Screenflow, a recording and editing software (macOS only)
- Viewing → A channel on Youtube to upload and share all your tests
While this setup is great for desktop-based user-testing, mobile user-testing presents a number a unique requirements that our original setup just doesn’t handle.
Most recommendations I found during my initial research were relying on an external webcam — filming the hands & screen of the device. That works fine, but it can be hard to see exactly what happens on the screen.
I prefer letting our users test on their own device, so the solution I advocate for in this article is more efficient for in-context testing. It does not require our tester to install any (recording) app, and keep wires to a minimum.
Here’s how it works.
1. Mirror your phone on your laptop
With Reflector 2 ($14.99, available both for macOS and Windows), you can transform your laptop into a streaming receiver that works great with Google Cast, AirPlay and AirParrot 2.
- AirPlay is a native iOS feature as of version 4.2, so testers that are using iPhones are already good to go.
- On Android, you still have to install the Google Home application, but let’s face it — testers would rather install an app by Google, than a scary recording one.
One tiny detail: Reflector requires that the laptop and the phone are connected to the same Wi-Fi. If you’re not in an office, you can always create a Personal Hotspot with your phone and connect everything together — tested and approved ✓
Now that you cover 99%+ of the smartphone market, ask your tester to mirror their screen on your laptop and voilà:
Bonus: you can also connect an external display if you need researchers in another room.
Now that you can now follow what’s happening without any lag or delay, the next step is filming the user themselves — or at least their hands.
2. Film the hands with an external webcam
In order to get the most insight into your user’s mobile experience, you’ll need to record fingers, taps and attempted taps. This is probably Reflector’s biggest limitation as you can’t see taps or pinches, but there are several ways to handle it:
- Mount a GoPro on a helmet and make your tester wear it (uhm, okay).
- Use a turnkey solution like Mr. Tappy that can be mounted directly on the phone (Sounds good but $349 can be expensive if you’re a startup).
- Use a specific model of webcam (generally document cameras).
I chose the latter for conveniency, and bought the Ziggi HD-Plus Camera for $99 (also available on Amazon). Connect it to any USB port and it works like any external webcam — but you’ll want a model with a fixed focus so that the recording doesn’t get blurry when your tester moves their fingers around.
3. Record user’s face and voice
Recording voice is essential, but I would argue that recording the user’s face can be optional. If voice is all you need, you can either use your laptop’s microphone, or use the one available on the external webcam.
If you really need to see your users, I have found that part to be more tricky. You could be tempted to add a 3rd video feed and record it at the same time, but my 2015 MacBook Pro starts to lag like crazy if I do that, and my various video feeds end up being out of sync. Instead, just as I did for desktop interviews, I simply use my own phone on a tripod to film the whole interview, and record it independently — set it up, hit record, and forget.
4. Put everything together with Screenflow
OK, let’s take a break and summarize what we have so far.
Now you actually need to record it. Even though Quicktime is often used for user-testing, Screenflow is a better choice here for one easy reason: you can combine all your feeds together.
5. Now do your work!
Export the result to Youtube directly from Screenflow and 💥 you have something ready to share and watch over and over again with your team! You have all the tools to analyse these sessions, improve your product … and make the world a better place 👌
This setup has worked very well so far, and my workflow between desktop and mobile user-testing is now pretty similar. I’m efficient and I don’t worry about tools anymore — this just works and I can focus on the interview itself!
I hope this has been helpful for you. If you’re doing user-testing today, I’d love to hear about your setup, the constraints you have and the decisions you’ve made!
