Direct answer
Choose desktop ADB for scripts, emulators, wireless debugging, CI, or arbitrary shell commands. Choose a browser WebUSB workflow to connect one physical device quickly and keep mirroring, logs, screenshots, video, and the bug report together. They generally cannot hold the same phone's ADB USB interface at once.
Capability comparison
| Scenario | Desktop ADB | Browser WebUSB / TabQA |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Platform Tools or Android Studio | Browser extension |
| Commands and scripts | Full adb shell, push, pull, and automation | Controlled test features without arbitrary commands |
| Emulators and wireless targets | Supported | Not currently supported |
| Mirroring and bug evidence | Combine additional commands or tools | Mirroring, logs, attachments, and reporting together |
| Team delivery | Assemble output files manually | Export Markdown, attachments, and sanitized HAR |
Recommendation
- Android development and automation teams should keep Platform Tools.
- QA teams actively reproducing and delivering bugs can use the browser workspace.
- A team can use both workflows, but one client should own a device's USB debugging interface at a time.