How to test app update on Google Play?

You don't need the Play Store for testing database upgrade.
You can just use an emulator. Drag&Drop version 1.0 (this will install the app), open the app, and Drag&Drop version 1.1.

There isn't any real "upgrade" feature. It's just an install of the new version.

By the way, you can add the news columns in onUpgrade of SQLiteOpenHelper.

As I understand the main question was not related to database but for general possibility "How to check that update from version 1 to version 2 will gone fine for end user?"

I found the way to do it with Internal app sharing. This is a place where you can put your APK versions, setup emails for test users who can access your APKs.

Go to

Google Play Console > Development Tools > Internal app sharing > Upload link

You can Drag & Drop needed APKs and then provide the Link for test users to download specific APK.

It works for me exactly how I expected.

Now I can check on the Android device that next updates will be successful for my users.

0.0.9 to 0.0.11

0.0.10 to 0.0.11