Are you looking for Android Emulators for Windows & Mac? In this guide, I am going to discuss some of the best Android Emulators for PC & Mac. Macintosh OS or popularly known as Mac OS used by Apple on its Mac PC’s and Macbook’s is an awesome OS, with its awesome user-interface, and great features, wouldn’t it be more awesome if we are. Android Emulators are one of the most amazing things for Windows PC and Mac users. Your computer becomes a dynamic device which can run other apps and software which are only compatible with. Aug 06, 2021 15. Remix OS Player. Well, Remix OS Player is one of the best Android emulators for PC, despite being one of the newer ones on the market. The Emulator is primarily aimed at the gaming niche, as evidenced by its extremely simple user interface. The installation is straightforward, and it runs Android Marshmallow.
This topic will be interesting for game lovers and users who are continuously in search of tech-savvy updates. An emulator is a computer program that emulates another computer program. Hence, emulators make it possible to run macOS on Windows and vice-versa.
What is an Emulator?
The concept of computer emulation is majorly used in the context of computer gaming. It was initially conceived by IBM to run programs designed for their older devices on newer models.
However, instead of designing new applications for the new computers, IBM built compatible software and hardware, which clicked instantly as it gave enormous flexibility.
Emulation, and emulator, has become a common word in the gaming world. Emulators enable gamers to play old video games on new desktop computers. With the latest technology of smartphones and Android, these are in good demand.
Examples of Emulators
Coming to the emulators, there are many open-source and commercial emulators for all operating systems. Listed here are a few examples:
- Appetize.io is an example of a browser-based emulator that supports iOS apps on any PC.
- Console emulators like the SNES Classic are emulators that help gamers play old video games on modern HD televisions, which is a fantastic flexible attribute.
- Emulators for the PlayStation Portable allows users to play games for other consoles on the PSP.
- PPSSPP is a popular PSP emulator that allows users to play PlayStation Portable games on PC and Android devices.
8 Best Android Emulators for Windows and macOS
Let us see the best android emulators for PC and macOS:
1. BlueStacks
BlueStacksis an American company that was introduced to push mobile gaming to the next level. It is the de-facto Android emulator for gamers. In fact, BlueStacks is the one who spearheaded the Android emulation on PCs.
It allows running android apps and games on a desktop. This is the de-facto emulator when it comes to emulating Android. BlueStacks is accountable for almost $30 million in funds from Samsung, Qualcomm, Andreessen-Horowitz, Intel, and others.
The emulator is great for gaming and is significantly easy to install and set up. You can either download it from the official website or various online software portals.
BlueStacks 4 offers excellent gaming performance, thanks to its low CPU and memory usage. Moreover, it claims to be 6x faster than the latest Samsung Galaxy S9+.
Features:
- Customizable gaming controls. Provides support for custom key mapping, which helps users to play mobile games with a keyboard.
- Does not occupy a lot of space in RAM and supports a range of Android games.
- Has experience-enhancing options.
- Offers great graphics.
- Requires no technical knowledge.
- Runs multiple applications and games, simultaneously.
- Supports multiple accounts.
Price: It is an open-source app. The premium version, however, is available for $24 per month.
2. NoxPlayer
NoxPlayer is another leading emulator for Android gamers. It gives the best results for massive games like PUBG and Justice League. Users can experience a whole new level of gaming with the NoxPlayer.
It is free-to-use and free from sponsored ads. The best part of NoxPlayer is that it allows the users to map keys of the mouse, keyboard, and gamepad. Moreover, users can enhance the features by assigning the keyboard for gestures which makes the experience more interesting.
Also, advanced users can adjust the CPU and RAM usage in the settings options. If users are particular about rooting the Android, NoxPlayer facilitates the same.
However, NoxPlayer does not allow you to use a lot of apps simultaneously as it puts too much load on the system.
Price: Free
Features:
- Enables mapping shortcuts on controllers.
- Makes rooting Android easier.
- Powerful operation since it is written in C.
- Users can use open multiple Android windows on a single device.
3. Genymotion
Genymotion is the most versatile and powerful Android emulator. All gaming enthusiasts love this. However, Genymotion is designed for enabling application developers to enhance testing in a safe and secure virtual environment.
Being a versatile Android emulator that Genymotion is, it provides a lot many custom features, such as Disk IO throttling for emulating devices with slow internal storage and Sms & Call that lets you test out how an app reacts to interruptions.
With Genymotion, you can emulate more than 3000 Android configurations. You can easily test run an app on multiple Android versions and screen sizes.
Features:
- Allows sharing of live demos and monitoring app performance.
- Compatible with test automation tools via ADB.
- Emulate devices with low internal storage.
- Supports high-definition media playback.
- Offers Android as a Service.
Other Supported Platforms: Linux.
Price: Ranges betweenUS $136/year – US $412/year.
4. AMIDuOS
AMIDuOS is a leading American android emulator that offers seamless integration between Android and the user system. It also supports full screen and the user can run any Android game or app.
Features:
- Allows high performance without any limitations.
- Delivers a smooth operation.
- Easy switching between Android and Windows environments.
- Leverages Windows device drivers.
- Straightforward setup.
- Supports 3D acceleration.
Other Supported Platforms: Linux.
Price: Free and open-source.
5. KoPlayer
KoPlayer delivers an excellent user experience by providing a quality Android emulation environment on any desktop running Windows or macOS. With the primary aim of “providing a lag-free gaming experience,” KoPlayer is designed with gaming in mind.
The Android emulator lets you test a custom ROM you built for an Android device or test an Android app that you’ve been working on for quite some time now. Regardless of that, the best apps that you will experience on your system with KoPlayer are gaming apps.
KoPlayer supports a drag-and-drop operation that lets you easily move apps inside the emulated Android device.
Features:
- Comes with a built-in video recording feature.
- Supports all peripheral devices, like keyboard, mouse, gamepad, microphone, and camera.
- Prevents most compatibility issues.
- Provides quick access to screen capturing, volume adjustment, resolution.
- Simple to use.
Price: It is an open-source application.
Best Emulators For Pc
6. ARChon
This one is a special Android emulator in the way that it isn’t an application but instead a runtime environment for Google Chrome. That means you can simply emulate and use Android inside your web browser on Windows, macOS, or even Linux.
ARChon android emulator is well known for its flexibility. As it runs inside Google Chrome, you can also enjoy it on Chromebooks.
Features:
- Enables users to run many Android apps simultaneously.
- Features a quick setup.
- Runs in Google Chrome.
Other Supported Platforms: Linux.
Price: It is free and open-source.
7. AndY
AndY is another reputed Android emulator preferred by both gamers and app testers. It provides support for PlayStation and Xbox controllers, which means that you can play your favorite Android games on your desktop with your PS or Xbox controller. Don’t have a controller? Worry not as AndY allows you to use your own smartphone as a joystick.
With AndY, you can run all your communication apps from the desktop, whether it be WhatsApp or Viber, or some other. The Android emulator for desktop also updates the users to the latest Android versions.
Features:
- App sync to mobile available.
- Get developer support and keyboard mapper with the Enterprise – paid – license.
- Offers full-fledged Android UI.
Price: It is an open-source application.
8. PrimeOS
PrimeOS is very different from a typical Android emulator for PC. It is not just an Android emulator but an entire operating system for desktops. Based on Remix OS, PrimeOS lists among the most feature-rich Android emulators.
The Android emulator provides support for keyboard shortcuts and the option to disable multi-window. Being utilized as an operating system, its performance levels are unmatchable by other Android emulators.
Features:
- Comes with the usual Android emulation features, like choosing from multiple Android devices, running multiple apps, and downloading apps from the Play Store.
- High performance.
- Provides dual boot facility with a single click.
Price: It is open-source.
Tips Before Using an Android Emulator
- #01 – Always check whether the Android emulator supports the latest version of Android, if not, it may impact user performance.
- #02 – Check if the Android emulator has a customization facility to modify the controls, screen layout, et cetera, as per the requirements.
- #03 – No matter what, it should support a few external devices like a keyboard, mouse, or even IPad for a better gaming experience.
- #04 – Make sure it does have customer care support for resolving queries and/or to resolve technical glitches.
- #05 – Thumb rule for Emulators, always check for the reviews before buying one to avoid any compatible issues later.
Conclusion
Although Android emulation on PC started as a better way to enjoy mobile games, it has now become an essential practice for testing out Android apps with the many Android configurations – such as different Android versions, screen sizes, RAM, and internal storage – easily on a desktop.
What is your favorite Android emulator? Think we might have missed on your favorite Android emulator? Let us know via the comments.
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In case you’re searching for Android emulators for Mac, odds are the one you’ve utilized and most likely abhorred, is the one that comes packaged with Android Studio. You badly wish to run Android applications on your Mac, or possibly you’re a designer and are searching for an Android emulator to investigate your applications on. Alright, so you can utilize HAXM to make it somewhat quicker, yet it is still running at a moderate speed.
So, if you are an Apple lover yet have a longing to get your hands on some Android games or run an application solely designed for android, at that point you’re going to require an emulator. They’re likewise extremely helpful for testing purposes in case you’re building up your very own Android application.
Google Android is the most well-known working framework on the planet. By far most Android clients are on smartphones, with the vast majority of the rest of tablets, yet a small specialty has chosen for some explanation that they need to run this flexible OS on their computer, and this calls for mimicking software.
Also Read:-Apple iOS 13 Latest Features
What is basically an emulating software
It is essentially a program, for example, a procedure that runs on your computer’s working framework. It works by copying the visitor gadget’s design. It mirrors visitor gadget equipment and hardware. At that point, it interprets the Application Binary Interface (ABI) of the visitor gadget to coordinate that with the host gadget. You outfit this with an OS and run it like a program on your PC.
Along these lines, this article enrolls a portion of the 5 best Android emulators accessible in the market for a Mac OS:
NOX
Nox Player
Nox is a basic Android emulator to set up, works amazingly on Mac, doesn’t cost anything and has a scope of cutting edge apparatuses that let you allot apparently mobile-only activities -, for example, tilting left or right to ‘lean’ in Temple Run – to console easy routes.
Other than allotting controls to applications, you can alter the presentation settings of the emulator and relegate the greatest measure of RAM or number of CPU centers you need it to use while running Android applications on your Mac. The UI is straightforward and natural for fledglings, with access to the Google Play store included. You can likewise record your screen on the off chance that you need to share your gaming misuses on the web.
Nox is additionally lightweight on assets, which means you can keep a few applications running without lulls. In case you’re hoping to play Android games on your Mac, you can’t go that amiss with Nox.
BlueStacks
Download Android Emulator For Pc
BlueStacks is one of the most mainstream Android emulators for Windows and the macOS adaptation doesn’t disappoint you. It’s another emulator constructed fundamentally for gaming enthusiasts. You can utilize it for development purposes, however, it’s not so much helpful for that reason.
It is simple to introduce an emulator. You simply download the emulator on your Mac and then install it and that’s all you have to do! BlueStacks consequently utilize the system that your Mac is associated with, and it accompanies the Play Store worked in, so you can straightforwardly begin downloading applications. Likewise, on the off chance that you have the APK document for an application, you can basically double tap on it, in your Mac, and it naturally introduces in BlueStacks. Thus, you don’t have to stress over moving the APK document from your Mac to your emulator.
It permits clients to live stream to Twitch, making it simpler for hardcore gamers to live stream their games to their Twitch followers. The emulator additionally bolsters performing multi-tasks, in the exact manner in which the Android underpins it, so you can get a genuine Android-like atmosphere on the emulator.
GenY motion
In the event that you need Android mimicking for advancement and creation purposes, at that point GenY motion merits a look. It’s focused on programming designers, permitting you to test your applications on a scope of virtual gadgets.
One of the key highlights for designers is the capacity to utilize GenY motion Cloud, their cloud-based virtual imitating administration. It implies anybody can associate with your virtual gadget through an internet browser, making it ideal for sharing your venture without the beneficiary expecting to have GenY motion introduced themselves. These highlights aren’t provided for free – the computer version says something a $136 every year for a solitary client. For GenY motion Cloud, SaaS costs around $200 every month.
Andy
Andy is a basic and simple to-control Android emulator that is helpful for testing and running light Android applications. The route bar rests at the base of the interface close by the screen rotation tab, microphone tab, console controls, and the hamburger menu. Notwithstanding, if your use is constrained to fundamental applications like those for texting purposes, Andy will be a valuable Android emulator for Mac.
This emulator accompanies bloatware and doesn’t have a lot of choices to redo your experience. Further, it runs on an antiquated variant of Android for example 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, which implies that you can just run fundamental applications. Be that as it may, you can utilize the console to explore through the interface, something which isn’t bolstered by any of the above emulators, so this element can be extremely helpful.
Android Studio
Android Studio is Google’s own instrument for application designers. It’s not solely an emulator – it has all the apparatuses you require to plan and assemble your own applications. The imitating permits you to test your manifestations on virtual gadgets.
With such huge numbers of highlights, this is certainly not a decision for somebody simply hoping to run a couple of Android applications or games on macOS. In case you’re an Android application designer, it’s one of the most significant apparatuses you’ll require. You can likewise reproduce approaching calls and SMS messages, set the gadget area, and even model movement sensors.
The establishment is quite long, and its UI isn’t the easiest to use for learners. That is for the most part because of the number of highlights that Android Studio provides you with.