Aglet

How to diagnose mobile latency across device and network

Mobile latency is a combination of device, network, server, and payload conditions. This triage guide captures one mobile workflow on a known device and network, compares it with desktop or a stronger connection, and identifies the first interval where the experiences diverge.

Establish what is happening

  1. Record device, network, and workflow

    Write down device class, operating system version, viewport, battery or power state when relevant, connection type, signal conditions, route, account shape, and exact actions. Measure tap or navigation start, request boundaries, first useful content, and completion. Keep privacy-sensitive identifiers out of the trace.

  2. Compare mobile and desktop timelines

    Align client timing, request waterfall, server duration, response bytes, parsing, image decode, and interactive readiness for the same workflow. Mark intervals present only on mobile. A slower device and a slower network can compound, so preserve each measured boundary instead of calling the total device latency.

  3. Repeat on a weaker and stronger connection

    Use a controlled slower profile and a normal mobile profile with the same device and input. Compare request count, connection reuse where observable, payload size, retries, and rendering. If the delay changes sharply with connection quality, keep server and client work separate from transfer evidence.

What to carry forward

Return a mobile scope statement naming the device and network conditions, blocked action, first divergent interval, and comparison case. Route the next work to server, transfer, client computation, or an unresolved combination. Stop when the evidence says what must be measured next without generalizing from one phone.

Keep the decision with the work.

Use a Work Item in Aglet to record the problem, the evidence you have, and the next decision. Add an owner and priority, then keep updates in the discussion so the next person can follow the reasoning.

Create an account See the product workflow