Introduction

The following post updates our recommendations for platforms, operating systems and browsers to use when testing commercial web sites targeting consumers in Europe.

Our recommendations are based on usage figures widely available on the Internet, our experience and our analysis of client needs. Since browser versions change frequently, we review and update these recommendations regularly.

Assumptions

• The majority of users receive new versions of Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Edge and Safari automatically.
• New versions cannibalise the market share of old versions within three to six months.
• Significant differences in web page display between versions are few and far between.

List of latest stable releases

Desktop browsers

• Windows 7: Microsoft Internet Explorer (MS-IE) 11
• Windows 8.1: Microsoft Internet Explorer (MS-IE) 11
• Windows 10: Microsoft Edge 44 / EdgeHTML 18
• Chrome 78
• Firefox (FF) 70
• Safari 13

Mobile and tablet browsers

• Android 10 Q
• iOS 13

Recommendations

General

• Invest in the future, not the past. Focus project time and effort on optimising web sites for the next 6-9 months while making sure that popular older combinations are still viewable.
• Use a range of mainstream devices to ensure coverage of most regular users’ everyday experience.
• Avoid testing with specific minor releases unless there are compelling reasons to do so. Here’s an example of a compelling reason: a third-party augmented reality (AR) component is known to work with Safari 12.0.1 but not with Safari 12.0.2.
• Do not invest in an operating system / browser combination if support is discontinued by the manufacturer. E.g. Google Chrome on Windows XP.
• Do not support beta-release operating systems and browsers. Allow new versions time to stabilise, be released and become mainstream first, especially Android.
• New versions on the horizon currently include Microsoft Edge Chromium, expected January 2020.
• We define ‘mainstream’ as above 5% market share.

PC operating system recommendations

• Test with Windows 7.
• Test with Windows 8.1.
• Test with Windows 10.

PC browser recommendations

• Low priority: Test with MS-IE 11 on Windows 7.
• Low priority: Test with MS-IE 11 on Windows 8.1.
• Test with MS-Edge on Windows 10.
• Test with Chrome latest release only.
• Test with Firefox (FF) latest release only.
• Do not test with Opera. Market penetration is too low.

Mac desktop operating system recommendations

• Low priority: Test with macOS 10.13 High Sierra.
• Test with macOS 10.14 Mojave.
• Test with macOS 10.15 Catalina.

Mac desktop browser recommendations

• Low priority: Test with Safari 12.
• Test with Safari 13.
• Test with Chrome latest release only.
• Do not test with Firefox. Market penetration is too low.

General mobile and tablet platform recommendations

• Always test with the native browser.
• Test in both landscape & portrait modes.

Apple mobile and tablet platform recommendations

• Low priority: Test with iOS 12 using the Safari browser and Chrome browser (latest release).
• Test with iOS 13 using the Safari browser and Chrome browser (latest release).

Android mobile and tablet platform recommendations

• Do not test with Android 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3 Jelly Bean. Market penetration is low and falling.
• Test with Android 4.4 KitKat using the native browser only.
• Do not test with Android 5.0 Lollipop. Market penetration is low and falling.
• Test with Android 5.1 Lollipop using the native browser only.
• Test with Android 6.0 Marshmallow using the native browser only.
• Test with Android 7.0 Nougat using the native browser only.
• Test with Android 7.1 Nougat using the native browser only.
• Test with Android 8.0 Oreo using the native browser only.
• Test with Android 8.1 Oreo using the native browser only.
• Test with Android 9.0 Pie using the native browser only.
• Test with Android 10 Q using the native browser only.

Other mobile and tablet platform recommendations

• Strongly consider testing with Chrome browser (latest release) if not native.
• Consider testing on all platforms with Yandex Browser if targeting Russia.
• Do not test with Firefox, Opera or any other non-native third-party mobile browser variants on any mobile or tablet platform. Market penetration is not significant. Exception: Consider testing with UC Browser and Opera Mini/Mobile browsers if targeting Asia.
• Consider testing with Windows 10 Mobile only if penetration is significant in your target market. Note: Support ends on December 10, 2019 (Source: Wikipedia: Windows 10 Mobile)

Thanks for reading. Got comments? Got questions? Got opinions on the above? Then let us know!

Sources

• Android Developer Distribution Dashboard
• Apple Developer – App Store – Support
• gs.statcounter.com
• Browser News by Chuck Upsdell
• www.netmarketshare.com
• www.w3schools.com “Famous Month-by-Month Browser Statistics Since 2002”
• spriteCloud staff