diff --git a/pygmt/tests/test_grdsample.py b/pygmt/tests/test_grdsample.py
index 5222e7cf987..7ce187c39de 100644
--- a/pygmt/tests/test_grdsample.py
+++ b/pygmt/tests/test_grdsample.py
@@ -4,35 +4,85 @@
 import os
 
 import pytest
-from pygmt import grdinfo, grdsample
-from pygmt.datasets import load_earth_relief
+import xarray as xr
+from pygmt import grdsample, load_dataarray
 from pygmt.helpers import GMTTempFile
+from pygmt.helpers.testing import load_static_earth_relief
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="module", name="grid")
 def fixture_grid():
     """
-    Load the grid data from the sample earth_relief file.
+    Load the grid data from the static_earth_relief file.
     """
-    return load_earth_relief(
-        resolution="01d", region=[-5, 5, -5, 5], registration="pixel"
+    return load_static_earth_relief()
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="module", name="region")
+def fixture_region():
+    """
+    Return the region settings for the grdsample tests.
+    """
+    return [-53, -47, -20, -15]
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="module", name="spacing")
+def fixture_spacing():
+    """
+    Return the spacing settings for the grdsample tests.
+    """
+    return [2, 1]
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="module", name="expected_grid")
+def fixture_grid_result():
+    """
+    Load the expected grdsample grid result.
+    """
+    return xr.DataArray(
+        data=[
+            [460.84375, 482.78125, 891.09375],
+            [680.46875, 519.09375, 764.9375],
+            [867.75, 579.03125, 852.53125],
+            [551.75, 666.6875, 958.21875],
+            [411.3125, 518.4375, 931.28125],
+        ],
+        coords=dict(
+            lon=[-52, -50, -48],
+            lat=[-19.5, -18.5, -17.5, -16.5, -15.5],
+        ),
+        dims=["lat", "lon"],
     )
 
 
-def test_grdsample_file_out(grid):
+def test_grdsample_file_out(grid, expected_grid, region, spacing):
     """
-    grdsample with an outgrid set and the spacing is changed.
+    Test grdsample with an outgrid set and the spacing is changed.
     """
     with GMTTempFile(suffix=".nc") as tmpfile:
-        result = grdsample(grid=grid, outgrid=tmpfile.name, spacing=[1, 0.5])
+        result = grdsample(
+            grid=grid, outgrid=tmpfile.name, spacing=spacing, region=region
+        )
         assert result is None  # return value is None
         assert os.path.exists(path=tmpfile.name)  # check that outgrid exists
-        result = grdinfo(tmpfile.name, per_column=True).strip().split()
-        assert float(result[6]) == 1  # x-increment
-        assert float(result[7]) == 0.5  # y-increment
+        temp_grid = load_dataarray(tmpfile.name)
+        xr.testing.assert_allclose(a=temp_grid, b=expected_grid)
+
+
+def test_grdsample_dataarray_out(grid, expected_grid, region, spacing):
+    """
+    Test grdsample with no outgrid set and the spacing is changed.
+    """
+    result = grdsample(grid=grid, spacing=spacing, region=region)
+    # check information of the output grid
+    assert isinstance(result, xr.DataArray)
+    assert result.gmt.gtype == 1  # Geographic grid
+    assert result.gmt.registration == 1  # Pixel registration
+    # check information of the output grid
+    xr.testing.assert_allclose(a=result, b=expected_grid)
 
 
-def test_grdsample_no_outgrid(grid):
+def test_grdsample_registration_changes(grid):
     """
     Test grdsample with no set outgrid and applying registration changes.
     """