Emulators are a good way to test the Android OS on your computer. With an Android emulator, you can test apps, features and tweaks without the worry of messing up your smartphone’s software.
- Jun 18, 2018 Mac compatibility: Sounds obvious, but not all emulators run on macOS. If you'd like a little more information about using these emulators, take a look at How to run Android apps on Mac.
- Looking for the best android emulators for gaming? Here are the Top 7 android emulators for gaming.ranked according to performance and usability.
- 13 Best Free Android Emulators for Windows PC and Mac Download, If you are wondering how to run your preferred Android apps and games, but you Do not possess an Android tablet or smartphone handy.
Developers use Android emulators on both Mac and Windows to ensure that their apps do not have bugs or glitches before sending them to the Google Play Store. There are the best Android emulators for both Mac & Windows.
Amiduos is an Android emulator for Windows that lets. Most of its features are for productivity rather than gaming, making it a good option for office. Best android emulators for Windows 10/7/8/Mac PC/Laptop Free Download: Now a days picking a perfect best/top free android emulator for windows 10 is a.
Best Android Emulators For PC/Windows
Android Studio Emulator
Google recommends Android Studio Emulator as one of the best emulators for app development. That is, if you want to run Android apps on your PC, this is a good start.
- Choose from multiple APIs.
- Easy setup and low learning curve.
- The emulator is free.
- Google officially supports it.
But, if you’re not a developer, then there are other Android emulators for Windows that caters to the regular folk like you and I.
Bluestacks 3
Bluestacks 3 let’s you run Android on your PC and it one the oldest and most reliable emulators available.
- Simple interface.
- Easy to use.
- Bluestacks 3 supports most apps on Google Play Store or otherwise.
- Run multiple instances of apps.
- Adjust keys to suit your needs.
It’s user friendly. Hence, even if you are not tech savvy, you can get by. There is a free version and a paid version.
I use Bluestacks mostly for playing games. I can access all the games on the Play Store and play them on my Windows 10 PC. There’s even a nice selection of games that don t need WiFi.
Andy
Andy is an emulator for Windows that can run any and all Android apps. Moreover, it has support for root access. So, for apps that need it, it’s as simple as a click.
Remix OS Player
As one of the first Android simulators for Windows that ran Android Marshmallow, Remix OS Player is great for both testing apps and for casual gaming.
But, the only drawback is that it does not support AMD Chipsets. It works with Windows 7 (64-bit) and above.
AMIDuOS
AMIDuOS claims to be the fastest Android emulator to run Android on Windows.
There claim isn’t far off. AMIDuOS really is fast. For now, it runs Lollipop or JellyBean (both paid). But, there is a free trial.
- Test your apps for bugs (developers).
- Unlimited installation of Android applications.
- Light on system resources.
As of writing, AMIDuOS has been discontinued. As, I had already purchased the software, I still have access. However, for new users, please use an alternative.
Virtual Box
If you ever wanted to build your very own emulator from scratch, then Virtual Box lets you do just that.
The learning curve is high. And, if you are not already accustomed to building your own OS, then, this software is not for you.
However, there are lots of guides online and if you’re determined to learn to code and build your own OS on the emulator, then you can give it a try.
MEmu
This emulator allows you to play Android games on PC with ease. It’s easy to install. Easy to set up. And, best of all, it’s free.
Genymotion
This emulator emulates the Android OS from 4.1 to 6.0. For most common fold, this may seem trivial. But, for a developer, it’s always good to know how your apps work on different versions of Android.
Xamarin
Xamarin now belongs to Microsoft. And it is a cross-platform emulator that can emulate the Android OS. It’s good for developers and gamers alike and is free for personal use.
Nox Player
This is another free emulator that prioritize games. It even goes a step forward and lets you use a gaming controller to play your favorite Android games.
Windroy
Windroy is an emulator that works just as well on older PCs as well as new PCs. It’s not so good for gaming. Better to use an alternative on the list for that.
But, for productivity, it checks out. It can run most of the office apps without an issue.
Also, in Windroy, you won’t find Google Play, the Android’s app store. To run applications, you have to download the APK file, and put it
Best Android Emulator For Macos Big Sur
Droid4X
Droid4X focuses mainly on Android games. Hence, it’s not the best option for other purposes. On the bright side, the emulator is free to use. There are a few glitches here and there so don’t expect a smooth ride.
Best Android Emulators For Mac
ARChon
ARChon is a web-based emulator and thus works on Mac and other platforms. It comes in the form of a Google Chrome extension.
It’s free to use and has instructions on how to use it readily available. All you need is the APK file for your app or game.
Droid4X
Droid4X is also a good Android emulator for Mac. However, as mentioned, it’s more for people wanting to play Android games on their MacBooks.
Conclusion
These are some of the best Android emulators for both Windows PC and Mac. Feel free to try them out or try out the free trials for the paid ones.
Most work great. And, some are better at gaming than others. There are also emulators that work best for developers. There’s one for every need.
Android emulators use for a variety of reasons. An app developer may want to test their application, gamers want to play on large screens, and some users desire to experience Android OS on a Windows PC, complimented with a mouse and keyboard. For this purpose, some iOS and Mac emulators are already available, but Android emulators are the best among all. If you are switching from iPhone to Android or want to check out a custom ROM, the options with an Android emulator are unlimited.
The Three Basic Uses of Android Emulators
- Gaming is the most common use of android emulators. These emulators make games easier to play.
- The second common use is development. Android app and game developers want to test games and apps before launch.
- The final type is productivity. Somehow, it is not considered common because any gaming emulator can be used as a productivity emulator.
Boom 2. Best Android Emulators for PC & macOS
· Android Studio’s emulator· MEmu· BlueStacks· GameLoop· Nox Player· Ko Player· Genymotion· ARChon· Bliss OS· Remix OS Player· PrimeOS· Droid4X· LDPlayer· Andy· Xamarin· LeapDroid· Pheonix OS· YouWave· Windroy· AMIDuOS |
- Android Studio’s emulator
Andriod studio comes with a bundle of tools to aids the developers in making games and apps. Andriod studio owns a built-in emulator that is useful to test your app or game. This setup is unquestionably complicated for general usage, but it’s highly recommended for developers.
- MEmu
MEmu is another new app player launched in 2015; this emulator again focused on gaming. It’s biggest feature is to support both Intel and AMD chipsets. When we talk about the speed, this emulator gives you similar results as BlueStacks and NOX. Additionally, it supports other versions of Android like Android Jelly Bean, Lollipop, and Kit Kat. MEmu is also usable as a productivity tool.
Best Free Android Emulator For Macbook Pro
BlueStacks is the most known Android emulator among all due to several reasons. First, this emulator also targets mobile gamers with easy setup. For beginners, it’s compatible with Mac and Windows. Although it supports keyboard mapping, it gets sluggish with gestures. Bluestacks also launched the MSI App Player, which is another good emulator.
It is also known as Tencent Gaming Buddy; GameLoop is another Android emulator for gamers. Moreover, Tencent announces the official Android emulator for its games, including PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile. However, it’s not suitable for developmental and product testing, but it has good performance and keyboard controls.
Best Android Emulator For Mac Os
- Nox Player
Nox Player works perfectly fine for Android apps and complete Android experience, but it is best for playing heavy games like Justice League or PUBG. The best thing about this Emulator is that it’s free from all sponsored ads. Nox Player Emulator allows you to map keys of mouse, keyboard, and gamepad. Besides, you can assign keyboard keys to gestures controls.
This emulator is usually for developers as it helps you test apps on multiple devices with different Android versions. Genymotion is compatible with Android Studio Android SDK. It’s not good for general usage, but this emulator offers its services free of cost for personal use. Also, its most powerful feature is its availability on both your desktop and the cloud both.
- ARChon
Android Emulator For Pc
ARChon has not a huge fan following, as it’s useful for fix and run Android apps. ARChon emulator is not good for hard-core gaming, but it is outstanding for using a productivity app. Moreover, It is compatible with the Mac and PC well.