The best diagnostic apps for your Android hardware

Android Guides » Android Apps » The best diagnostic apps for your Android hardware

Android phones can last for years, but it's also true that over time, strange issues with the battery, screen, sensors, or connections start to appear , and these aren't always immediately noticeable. If the phone has also been through several hands, relying solely on feel is a bit of a gamble.

To avoid surprises, the wisest course of action is to use diagnostic apps and hardware verification tools . With these, you can perform everything from a quick check before buying or selling a used phone to advanced performance and component health tests. This guide, including a step-by-step diagnostic test , provides everything you need: exactly what they check, how to access hidden system diagnostics, and the best free and professional apps for Android.

What are diagnostic tests used for on an Android device?

The diagnostic tests work like a complete MOT test for your smartphone's hardware . Through various tests, the app checks if the screen is responding properly, if the speakers sound as they should, if the battery holds a charge, if the sensors are reporting consistent values, and if there are any connectivity issues.

This type of inspection is key when you're buying or selling a used phone on Wallapop, Milanuncios, or similar sites , because it allows you to demonstrate the device's condition with data. It's also very useful when you notice strange things like random restarts, audio cutouts, touch glitches, or a GPS that doesn't quite work properly, and you want to know if the problem is hardware or software-related.

A good diagnostic can check everything from where the battery is actually draining and how much usable capacity it has left (and how to calibrate the battery ), to whether there are dead pixels on the panel, disconnected proximity sensors, problems with WiFi or Bluetooth, memory errors, or even replaced components that are not original from the manufacturer (non-OEM).

In addition to detecting faults, many of these programs allow you to monitor the performance and health of the phone on a daily basis , which is very interesting if you use your phone a lot for work or play and want to anticipate possible serious failures.

Diagnostics without apps: secret codes and built-in tools

Before you drive yourself crazy searching for apps on Google Play, it's worth trying the diagnostic options provided by the system or the manufacturer . Many phones include hidden menus and pre-installed utilities that allow you to perform fairly comprehensive tests without installing anything.

One of the best-known methods is to use secret codes from the phone's dialer . For example, combinations like *#*#4636#*#* or the popular *#0*# (very common on Samsung phones) open internal panels with tests for the screen, sensors, connectivity, and battery.

In brands like Xiaomi, there are specific codes such as *#*#6484#*#* or *#*#64663#*#* that activate a factory test mode with a lot of guided tests for buttons, cameras, vibration, sensors, and other physical components.

Other manufacturers integrate their own apps. Motorola, for example, includes the Device Help app , which provides access to diagnostics for battery, audio, cameras, connections, and touchscreen. Huawei hides the HwMMITest utility , launched from Settings, which displays all system applications and allows you to run a guided hardware test when the battery level is within a specific range.

Google Pixel phones don't have a clear diagnostic app, and the secret codes don't always work the same way on all models. In these cases, users usually turn to official support and the Pixel help forums, where they can find self-help workflows and guided steps depending on the phone's problem.

These internal systems are perfect for a quick initial screening of potential major failures , but they have their drawbacks: the menus can be somewhat technical, some operators disable the codes, and in general, they don't generate easily shareable reports or provide as much detailed information as specialized solutions.

The best hardware diagnostic apps for Android

If you want to go a step further and have clear reports, guided tests, and highly detailed data , it's recommended to install dedicated apps. Below you'll find a selection of the most comprehensive and popular tools for checking the hardware status and performance of your Android device.

TestM: fast and comprehensive diagnostics

TestM has earned its place as one of the most accessible apps for any user. It offers quick or comprehensive tests grouped into six categories: screen, connectivity, sensors, hardware, sound, and camera . In a matter of minutes, you can run up to 19 different tests for the screen, colors, and detecting dead pixels , speakers, microphones, physical buttons, vibration, or sensors.

The best part is its practical approach: instead of just throwing out numbers and technical data, the app indicates which components pass the test and which fail , offering simple recommendations. Finally, it generates a report that you can save or share via messaging or email—ideal for a used item sale.

Phone Doctor Plus: Over 40 hardware and system tests

Phone Doctor Plus is a solution designed for those who want a near-professional mobile phone checkup without needing to be a technician . The app includes more than 40 types of diagnostic tests, ranging from the screen and camera to memory, RAM, storage, sensors, and connectivity.

In addition to spot tests, it allows continuous monitoring of hardware, battery, memory, and storage space . It keeps a daily record of the battery's actual capacity and charge cycles, which helps track its degradation over time and determine when it needs replacing.

You can also monitor your network data usage to avoid surprises with your bill, which is especially useful if you tend to use mobile data to the max and don't want to exceed your limit.

Thanks to these controls, the app becomes especially interesting if you suspect that your battery no longer performs as well as before or that you have intermittent hardware problems that are not easily detected with other simpler tools.

Dr.Fone (Phone Check)

Dr.Fone is a suite known primarily for its ability to manage, transfer, and recover mobile data, but it includes a very powerful phone verification module that acts as a hardware diagnostic and assesses the overall health of the device.

This section lets you check the battery capacity and temperature, RAM status, internal storage, charge cycles, and other key system indicators in detail. From this data, Dr.Fone generates a comprehensive report that's perfect for evaluating a phone before selling it or trading it in.

This check also helps you detect performance bottlenecks , such as lack of available memory, overheating, or advanced battery degradation that is affecting your day-to-day operations.

Device Info HW: Ultra-detailed technical specifications

Device Info HW is geared towards those who want to know exactly what components their Android device uses and how they function . The app attempts to identify each piece of hardware: LCD, touch panel, cameras, sensors, memory chip, internal flash memory, audio, NFC, charger, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and battery.

On many devices, it can display the specific model of the panel, touchscreen, and sensors , which is very useful for technicians, ROM developers, or kernel developers. It even offers an online database to compare your phone with other models and see which drivers and chips they share.

It includes tests for multitouch, screen color, download speed, sensors , and more. If your device is rooted, the app can read even more information, such as flash memory details or certain drivers that are restricted on newer devices.

The PRO version adds features such as shareable HTML or PDF reports, permanent dark themes , and an advanced list of internal devices (I2C, SPI, PMIC voltage regulators, partitions, codecs, USB OTG , etc.). It is a particularly valuable tool for detecting non-original parts or hardware changes after repairs.

Device Info: Simple diagnostics with status information

Another very interesting alternative is Device Info (not to be confused with Device Info HW), an app that combines a large amount of data about the phone's components with simple functional tests to run.

From a single interface, you can check the speaker, microphone, flashlight, display, light sensor, accelerometer, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, fingerprint reader, volume, temperature, camera, and other key components. It also displays information about memory, processor, installed sensors, screen size and resolution, IMEI, and other system parameters.

One of its most interesting features is that it helps visualize the battery health level and other wear data , which helps decide whether it's worth repairing or changing your phone when battery life problems start.

Test Your Android / Test your Android

Test Your Android (often translated as "Test Your Android") is a very user-friendly app designed for quick checks to ensure all hardware is functioning correctly . It allows you to run tests on the camera, speakers, fingerprint reader, multitouch screen, panel colors, and more.

It also includes specific tests for sensors such as compass, pressure, temperature, ambient light , and many more. The idea is that in just a few steps you can confirm if any component is malfunctioning or underperforming.

Its main strength is its ease of use, even for those with no technical knowledge . However, some versions display quite a few ads, and the pixel detection feature can be somewhat slow, plus it doesn't always generate exportable reports.

Android Hardware Info

Droid Hardware Info focuses on providing a clear overview of device specifications . It organizes data into tabs such as Device, System, Memory, Camera, Battery, and Sensors, with specific information on SoC, resolution, screen size, storage, temperatures, and more.

A major advantage is that it lets you export all the information to have a saved report , which is very convenient if you repair mobile phones, compare models, or want to send the technician all your phone's data at once.

CPU-Z for Android

CPU-Z is a classic PC tool that also has an Android version. Its main function is to provide very precise data about the device's processor, memory, operating system, battery, and sensors .

You'll be able to see the CPU model, number of cores, frequencies, architecture, total RAM, device manufacturer, screen resolution, as well as battery status, level, temperature, and voltage . It doesn't provide user-friendly indicators of whether "something is good or bad," but rather presents raw data, making it more useful for users with a basic understanding of technology.

If you know how to interpret it, it's a fantastic tool for checking if the specifications you were sold are real and for analyzing the actual performance of the processor against other similar devices.

AIDA64: Complete hardware and system information

AIDA64 is another legendary app, originally from the Windows world and adapted for Android. It specializes in displaying highly detailed diagnostic information about hardware and software : CPU and GPU detection, memory, system version, mobile and Wi-Fi network, system directories, installed apps, and much more.

Although it doesn't perform active testing as such (it's not a typical "screen test"), its strength lies in helping you verify that all the listed components are actually present in the phone . Many users employ it to uncover counterfeit or tampered phones.

It also offers real-time measurements of CPU and GPU frequencies, temperatures, battery status , and support for technologies such as Vulkan, OpenCL, CUDA, PCI and USB listings, and sensor polling, making it highly valued by advanced users and developers.

DevCheck: real-time monitoring

DevCheck focuses on showing you how your phone's hardware is performing at any given moment . It clearly displays CPU, GPU, memory, battery, network, and other usage with real-time graphs and statistics.

It lets you see how many resources each app is consuming, component temperatures, and technical details about the operating system, sensors, cameras, and connections . For rooted users, it unlocks even more internal metrics.

If you're interested in monitoring peak power consumption, overheating, or potential bottlenecks while playing games or using demanding apps, this is one of the most highly recommended tools.

Benchmark apps: 3DMark, PCMark and others

In addition to purely diagnostic apps, there are the famous benchmark applications , designed to objectively measure CPU and GPU power and, in some cases, battery life and storage speed.

Tools like 3DMark, PCMark, Geekbench, GFXBench, CPU-Z (in its benchmark form), CPU X or AI Benchmark run intensive tests and then assign a score that you can compare with other devices.

3DMark, for example, is designed to measure graphics and CPU performance in 3D games and heavy workloads , displaying rankings and comparisons with a wide range of mobile phones and tablets, including iPhones and iPads. PCMark focuses more on everyday tasks (browsing, editing documents, videos, and photos) and allows you to profile battery life with real-world usage scenarios.

Geekbench 5 offers CPU and GPU benchmarks that measure both single-core and multi-core tasks, as well as machine learning and augmented reality tests . AI Benchmark focuses specifically on artificial intelligence performance (neural networks, image recognition, bokeh effect, etc.) , with support for NPUs and dedicated accelerators in modern chips.

These apps are ideal for determining if your Android device is still performing as expected or if upgrading to a different model would be worthwhile in terms of raw power. However, it's important not to rely solely on benchmarks when buying a phone: you should combine them with hardware health diagnostics and real-world usage tests.

Professional diagnostic and certification software for businesses

When it comes to second-hand shops, refurbishers, and large mobile phone wholesalers, free apps fall short. In these cases, professional certification and diagnostic software like Phonecheck is used , designed to process large batches of devices quickly and with traceability.

This type of solution is designed to automate diagnostics across dozens of checkpoints on each device. Phonecheck, for example, boasts the ability to test up to 80 aspects of the phone: WiFi connectivity, Bluetooth, GPS, sensors, screen, battery, cameras, physical buttons, vibration, and more.

One of its key features is the certification and generation of detailed reports for each device. These reports include brand, model, IMEI number, production and sales dates, warranty status, whether the phone is reported as lost or stolen, or if it has outstanding debts or carrier blocks.

They also verify the authenticity of key components (screen, cameras, battery, motherboard, fingerprint button) , noting any previous repairs or non-original (non-OEM) parts. Since generic replacement parts are increasingly common in used phones, having this information is essential for adjusting the price and avoiding claims.

Finally, these platforms incorporate secure data erasure functions, audited and certified by standards such as ADISA , to ensure that phones are delivered completely clean of personal information before resale.

Hardware problems that these tests often uncover

When running comprehensive diagnostics, it's very common to find errors that the user hadn't noticed or attributed to the software . Several patterns stand out among the most frequent problems.

One common problem is a degraded or miscalibrated battery , with a real capacity far below the original. This causes the phone to run out of power even when it still shows seemingly high percentages, or to suddenly shut down before reaching 0%.

Defects in the audio system (microphones, speakers, earpiece) or the vibration motor are also common , sometimes due to impacts or very heavy use. Dedicated tests allow us to verify whether each component responds with the appropriate volume, clarity, and pattern.

Dead pixels, areas without touch response, or panel miscalibration are quite common on touchscreens and can go unnoticed if the entire surface is not tested with a specific test; and, if necessary, knowing how to fix a mobile phone screen.

Finally, it is not uncommon to find proximity sensors, gyroscopes, accelerometers or ambient light sensors that fail or report strange readings , as well as problems with WiFi, Bluetooth or GPS that affect the experience in online games, navigation or hands-free.

How to choose the best diagnostic app for your case

With so many tools available, the important thing is to choose one that suits your skill level and the goal you're trying to achieve . It's not the same to want a report to sell a mobile phone as it is to analyze graphics performance for games or design custom kernels.

At a minimum, make sure the app covers all the key hardware areas : battery, screen, audio, cameras, sensors, memory, storage, wireless connectivity, and physical buttons. The best ones combine technical information with easy-to-use interactive tests.

The app's reliability and reputation also matter. Check ratings, update frequency, and developer support, especially in an Android environment where system versions change constantly and access to certain data is blocked for security reasons.

If you're going to use the results for sales, repairs, or appraisals, you'll appreciate that the tool allows you to export or share reports in PDF, HTML, or other formats . And if you manage many devices, test automation and batch execution will save you a lot of time.

Regarding the interface, it's important that the app has clear instructions, organized menus, and guided tests . If you get lost among tabs full of incomprehensible numbers, you'll end up not really taking advantage of what it offers.

Who should use these diagnostic tools

The great thing about the Android ecosystem is that nowadays there are options for everyone: from the user who just wants to know if their battery is damaged to the store that refurbishes hundreds of mobile phones a month.

If you're buying a used phone, it's best to ask the seller to run a test with one of the apps mentioned and share the report . This will allow you to objectively assess the device's condition before meeting in person or making a payment.

If you're selling your own phone, including a recent diagnostic report in the ad increases trust and helps you better justify the price, reducing the likelihood of returns or subsequent disputes.

For technicians, shops, and refurbishment businesses, the use of professional certification software has almost become mandatory because it streamlines quality control, standardizes processes, and provides customer-facing documentation and warranties.

And, of course, they are also very useful for curious users or technology enthusiasts who want to get the most out of their mobile phone, compare performance, monitor temperatures, or simply know in detail what parts their device contains.

Having good diagnostic tools at hand and knowing how to interpret them makes the difference between going in blind when something goes wrong and being able to make decisions with data in hand: from detecting a hardware problem in time to better negotiating the purchase or sale of a used Android, to checking if your mobile phone is still performing like the first day or is already asking for retirement.