Sensor test
A bubble level shows the tilt sensors, a needle shows the compass and a counter catches shakes. Screen rotation, maps and games all depend on these sensors.
Open this page on the phone you want to test. Press Back or the close button to stop at any time.
How to do it
- Tap Start. On an iPhone, allow motion access.
- Tilt the phone slowly: the dot should follow smoothly.
- Turn around once, then shake the phone twice.
What the result means
- Everything responds smoothly: the motion sensors work.
- The dot jumps or freezes: a failing accelerometer or gyroscope.
- The needle never moves: no compass, or the browser does not share it. Check a maps app.
What a browser cannot see: whether the phone is really the model it claims (copies run on a different processor), how worn the battery is, whether the storage is as big as it says, and whether the system was modified. The free Knowfone app for Android checks all of that and every part above in about 7 minutes, then answers: good to buy, buy only at a lower price, or don't buy.
Questions
Why does the compass not move?
Some phones have no compass, and some browsers do not share it with web pages. Open a maps app and see if the arrow turns with you.
Which sensors can a browser not test?
The proximity sensor, the light sensor and the fingerprint reader. The Knowfone app tests the proximity and light sensors.
More phone tests
Buying a used phone? Read the 14-step checklist or look up the real specs of popular models.