Benchmark Tests for Android Devices: Quadrant, Linpack, Nenamark

Of late, you would have been hearing about benchmark tests like ‘Quadrant’, ‘Nenamark’, ‘Linpack’, ‘Browsermark’ etc. being performed on smartphones and tablets and avid tech enthusiasts eagerly comparing how all these latest devices are competing against each other. We’ll explore what these benchmark tests are, the reason for them becoming popular and the various benchmark tests in this article.

1. What are benchmark tests?
• In computing, a benchmark is the act of running a set of computer programs for the purpose of assessing the relative performance of an object. So, benchmarking in smartphones and tablets is usually associated with assessing the performance characteristics of the smartphones' and tablets' hardware. But, that doesn't mean there aren't any software benchmark tests. So, please understand that these tests are being performed only to compare the relative performance of the devices and in no way can be used to conclude how smooth or how fast the actual user experience will be.
2. Why have these benchmark tests become popular for smartphones and tablets?
• Each and every smartphone and tablet that is being released into the market today has almost the same components: a CPU (Central Processing Unit / Microprocessor / Core), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an Instruction Set, RAM (Random Access Memory), Display containing a particular amount of resolution, Internal Flash Memory etc. Almost all the benchmark tests can run successfully on these devices and gauge the performance of these in-built components. The relevance of some of these tests significantly gains weight when we factor in the ‘Operating System’ that is run on the devices.
3. What are the various benchmark tests that are relevant to the smartphones and tablets?
•  The following list of tests are relevant
•  Quadrant
• Linpack
• Nenamark 1
• Nenamark 2
•  Javascript
• Browsermark
• GL 2.1
• Neocore
• AnTuTu
• Vellamo

We’ll explore in detail what these tests are and how each of them conveys more information about the inner characteristics of the device in future posts.