91mobiles Central Testing Team (CTT): How We Test Smartphones

At 91mobiles, we understand that buying a smartphone is a significant decision. That’s why every device we review undergoes a rigorous, standardised testing process in our in-house lab. Each phone is evaluated under identical conditions to ensure results are accurate, consistent, and directly comparable across brands and price segments.

Pre-Test Calibration

Our testing begins with strict environmental control. Every device is calibrated to:

  • A standard brightness level (typically 50%)
  • Uniform audio output levels (typically 50%)
  • A controlled ambient temperature of 22–25°C
  • A controlled temperature of under 30°C

We also maintain a consistent battery range and monitor device temperature using thermal sensors. Between tests, devices undergo a mandatory cooldown period of 10 minutes and system restarts to eliminate thermal carry-over. This ensures that every result reflects true performance, not residual heat or background load.

Performance and Battery Testing

To evaluate performance, we run a comprehensive suite of industry-standard benchmarks, including:

  • AnTuTu
  • Geekbench 6
  • PCMark
  • Memory and storage tests
  • CPU throttling tests
  • Geekbench AI for on-device AI capabilities

Each benchmark is performed as per our standard protocols, and if results deviate significantly (typically beyond 15% of expected chipset performance), we retest up to three times to ensure consistency and reliability.

Battery performance is assessed through a mix of controlled and real-world scenarios, including:

  • One-hour video playback tests
  • Intensive endurance benchmarks
  • Standardised charging speed tests

This helps us evaluate not just longevity, but also day-to-day usability.

Gaming and Thermal Performance

Gaming is a key use case for many users, so we simulate sustained, high-intensity workloads rather than short bursts. Each device undergoes the following:

  • A 30-minute stress test at maximum graphics settings
  • A follow-up session at the highest supported frame rate

We test across popular titles such as BGMI and Call of Duty to reflect real-world usage. Using monitoring tools, we track:

  • Frame rate stability
  • Battery drain
  • Surface temperature

This allows us to report not just performance numbers, but how a phone actually feels during extended gameplay.

The 91mobiles TestLab is built on consistency, transparency, and real-world relevance. By combining controlled lab testing with practical usage scenarios, we deliver insights you can trust.

We don't just review smartphones—we put them through rigorous stress tests so you can make your next purchase with confidence.

Camera Performance

Alongside performance benchmarks, camera evaluation is a critical part of our testing process. At 91mobiles, we follow a standardised photography protocol to ensure that every camera sample is captured under consistent conditions, enabling fair and reliable comparisons across devices. Each smartphone undergoes a structured camera test involving 19 images, comprising:

  • 11 daylight shots
  • 8 indoor and low-light shots

All images are captured using the default camera settings in a 4:3 aspect ratio, ensuring consistency with how most users typically shoot.

Controlled Shooting Conditions

To maintain uniformity:

  • Subjects, composition, and framing remain consistent across all devices
  • Lighting conditions are carefully controlled and scheduled

For outdoor shots, we follow fixed time windows to ensure consistent natural lighting:

  • Summer (April–October): after 4:30 PM
  • Winter (November–March): between 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM

This approach helps minimise harsh lighting variations and ensures comparable results across devices.

Test Scenarios Covered

Our camera testing covers a wide range of real-world scenarios, including:

Daylight & Detail

  • HDR performance
  • Ultra-wide shots
  • Long shots at multiple zoom levels (1x, 3x, 5x, 10x and maximum zoom)
  • High-resolution mode
  • Outdoor portraits

Low-light & Night

  • Night mode (on/off comparisons)
  • Indoor low-light shots
  • Indoor shots with flash

Specialised Tests

  • Close-up/macro shots
  • Colour accuracy chart

Why This Matters

The 91mobiles TestLab is built on consistency, transparency, and real-world relevance. We don’t just review smartphones—we put them through rigorous stress tests so you can make your next purchase with confidence.

By combining controlled lab testing with practical usage scenarios, we ensure that every camera sample reflects the device’s true capabilities—not external variables.

Whether it's performance benchmarks or camera comparisons, our standardised approach lets readers make direct, apples-to-apples comparisons and better understand how a smartphone performs in everyday situations.

Mobiles› Testing Methodology