Android emulators are used for two main reasons: (1) for developers to test an app, and (2) for gamers to use a keyboard, mouse, or game controller. Since the past couple of years, they’ve become so popular that more and more emulators are popping up from here and there. A raft of Android emulators for Windows and Mac is out on the market, whether it’s freeware, freemium, or paid-for. But not all of them are cut out to give you the excellent performance you’ve been looking for. I’ve put together a list of the best Android emulators for PC so you can wrap your head around each of them and choose which one fits the bill. Of course, there are a lot of variables that come into play when looking for the right Android emulator.
Just because one is most hyped doesn’t mean it will suit your needs. Just because one has most stars doesn’t mean it will get the job done. I tested many emulators and looked at some key factors for you to chew on. Sure thing, no Android emulator for PC or any emulator for that matter, is perfect.
Most items on this list share the same flaws, while others have unique issues. At the end of the day, what matters the most are the stability, performance, and compatibility of an emulator. Let’s dive right into it.
CONS. Too many bloatware.
List of Best Nintendo 3DS Emulators For PC, Android, Mac & Linux 2018: 1. Citra Emulator (Windows/MAC): Citra emulator is one of the oldest and most popular Nintendo 3DS emulator for PC. You can use this emulator on your PC to play some commercial games as well as all homebrew games without any third-party software.
Installs unnecessary apps Based on performance and stability alone, NoxPlayer could go down as the best Android emulator for PC. It’s one of the most popular emulators among gamers due to its outstanding support for gaming-specific features like smart casting, keyboard mapping, gamepad, and high frame rates. Some of its basic functions include the microphone, screencasting, keyboard typing, multiple instances, and more.
It’s compatible with X86/AMD and Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, making it fast and stable. No matter which Windows version you have, NoxPlayer works well with all of them. In terms of device-specific customization, this emulator goes above and beyond, allowing you to add/modify features like IMEI, phone number, and device model.
You can even control the performance settings through custom cores and memory assignments according to the capacity of your PC. For a standard user, 2 CPUs and 1.5GB of RAM should do the job. In terms of design, NoxPlayer is simple yet elegant, plus you get a few exclusive skins to transform its interface. Finally, root access is a hiccup in many emulators but NoxPlayer comes rooted right out of the box with Superuser.
NoxPlayer developers didn’t want to spread the app too thin and so it zeroed in on the gaming aspect of an emulator. Devs claim that the emulator has more than 150 million users worldwide. I’m not even surprised because I for one uses this emulator. CONS. Too many bloatware. Minor glitches MEmu originated from China and started to gain popularity worldwide because of the level of compatibility, customization, and organization that’s deemed better than other Android emulators out there.
It shares a raft of features with NoxPlayer, such as the ability to customize CPU and memory allocation, device information, GPS location, and an easy way to share files between a PC and the app. While most free Android emulators are still stuck with Jelly Bean or KitKat, MEmu is a step ahead with Android 5.1 Lollipop.
For purposes other than games, users will be delighted to experience the convenience of using the keyboard on messenger apps. MEmu, however, was known to have a few minor glitches such as fetching of messages in the message box.
But the good news is, in the latest update, devs were able to fix these issues. They even improved the CPU utilization in low-end computers and the re-connection speed of Wi-Fi. If you’re using it for the first time, you might experience longer boot time. Like Nox, the app comes with bloatware right after installation, including the ES Explorer file manager and an integrated app downloads service.
The control system allows you to use the mouse or keyboard alone when simulating touches on the screen. Any game compatible with a gamepad or joystick can be played with the external controllers without hitch. Use the keyboard mapping function to assign different controls to different functions.
MEmu devs go beyond the basic when it comes to compatibility. In instances where you play 3D games with heavy polygonal graphics, you’ll notice how MEmu adapts very well to the graphics, resulting in a better fluidity as compared to the physical device. Don’t be scared to use the emulator as your regular virtual Android device other than a gaming machine.
MEmu is well-acquainted with other functionalities that require typing as it turns your physical keyboard into a virtual one. Also, MEmu supports multiple instances so you can run several apps at the same time. It’s starting to gain traction because of its features.
Props to the devs for supporting both AMD and Intel chipsets on this emulator. It supports Android 4.1-4.3 (Jelly Bean), Android 4.1 (KitKat), and Android 5.0-5.1.1 (Lollipop).
CONS. Invasive ads.
Buggy at some point As the new emulator on the block, KOPlayer has proven so much that it’s now one of the best Android emulators for Windows PC. KOPlayer supports keyboard mapping, screen recording, installation of APK files by drag-and-drop, and customization of device information like IMEI, phone number, and device model. You can also change the CPU and memory allocation for the emulator so it can adjust to your PC’s computing power. Additionally, the own App Center gives you direct access to a ton of games and apps. KOPlayer has Shared Folder that makes it easy to share files between your PC and the emulator. Just point KOPlayer at the right folder on your PC and its files will immediately be available in the CyanogenMod folder of the emulator. Upon installation, KOPlayer will give you two options — Speed mode and Compatible mode — to optimize the emulator according to your PC’s capacity.
I recommend choosing the Speed mode for a faster and smoother performance at lower CPU and memory usage. If it won’t work for you, you can always change to the Compatible mode via settings at any time. One major downside of KOPlayer was the package size. With its recent update, however, KOPlayer devs had reduced the size making it lighter and more friendly to your computer. Another drawback is the constant freezes and some known bugs. While it claims to have a superb performance, stability, and compatibility, you have to take it with a pinch of salt as it can be patchy at some point. Although ads are understandable for a freeware, KOPlayer has been slammed due to its invasive ad displays, starting right after launching the app.
KOPlayer still has lots of features to improve, nonetheless a pretty decent emulator to start with. CONS. Buggy sometimes. Large file size. Slow performance. High PC requirements Andy has been around for quite some time.
It’s free to download and use with the option to pay for its premium features. Even without subscribing to it, the free Andy version has everything you need for an Android emulator for PC.
In terms of features, Andy will give Nox users a run for their money (though Nox is free). You can opt to pay $12 per month or $99 per year to get all of Andy’s premium features. It was updated to Android 7.0 Nougat, a massive advantage for an emulator. It’s built for Android gamers, but there are enough apps supported so you can have a full Android experience without needing to get off the app. If you’re a big Instagram, Snapchat, and WhatsApp user, Andy is your best bet. Andy supports controllers like Xbox and PlayStation and your Android phone as a gamepad. With a full multitouch support and sensor integration, Andy works best with touchscreen PCs.
This will allow you to use your screen to swipe, tap, and tilt your screen just like you would with your Android phone. Andy has improved so much since its early days, including the navigation mechanism that is now more responsive with a mouse. Back then, deploying troops on Clash of Clans was such a bear as long press wouldn’t do it.
The package is rather huge at 3GB so be sure to keep an eye on that. After installing the package, you have the option to untick extras to reduce the size of the emulator. Andy has been bombarded with complaints on installation errors. If you’re looking at Andy for a PC that’s older than 2 years old, you might want to think twice. Andy is so demanding that it’ll require your PC to have an AMD or Intel dual-core processor that supports visualization technology, has at least 3GB of RAM and up to 20GB of free disk space, and an OpenGL ES 2.0-capable video card.
This emulator supports a customized ADW launcher and Google Now; unfortunately, you can’t use both at once. Google Now works pretty bad on Andy so I suggest choosing the ADW launcher instead. Using the 1ClickSync to sync Andy’s and your Google account’s settings doesn’t work as promised.
Most of all, the graphics is the biggest flaw of Andy as it can’t keep up with faster or higher frame rates. CONS. Can’t simulate GPS location. Too many bloatware. Static home screen apps. Buggy and frequently lags. Invasive ads Bluestacks is ideal for game enthusiasts.
It has a variety of devices that you can use to test apps and games on different models and Android versions. Like Nox and MEmu, it has the ability to open multiple windows at once so you can play games at the same time. Bluestacks has some extra features that you see on other emulators, including the ability to sync apps and move files between your Android phone and the Windows app, as well as sideloading of apps right an APK file right from your desktop. Unfortunately, syncing apps between platforms doesn’t work at all times. While we understand that freeware survives on ads, Bluestacks is pushing it over the top.
The endless pop-up of ads forcing you to download something and the constant interference of sponsored apps are rather annoying. In Bluestacks 3, this has been toned down quite a bit. However, the emulator remains bloated with apps that are of no value to you if you just want to play games. If you don’t want ads, you can subscribe for a premium account starting at $24 per annum. Like Nox, Bluestacks has apps (mostly games) displayed on your home screen but they aren’t actually installed. Clicking on them will redirect you to the apps’ download page.
Also, the interface has not been the favorite of many players. If you’re using an emulator for productivity purposes, I recommend avoiding this one and look for leaner ones. Bluestacks requires 2GB of RAM and 9GB of disk space. Upon installation, it will ask you to enable Application Communications and App Store Access to optimize the performance of the app. You can leave these extensions unchecked.
For your sake, Application Communications means you allow the app to send you text messages, push notifications, and email messages. App Store Access, on the other hand, enables you to connect to Google Play Store or Amazon Appstore.
Although it has a keyboard mapping ability, it isn’t always in the best condition and this could be attributable to some bugs. You may have assigned certain keys for specific functions but they might not work all the time. Also, it doesn’t have a custom GPS emulator so it might be a real challenge to use location-based apps and games such as Pokemon GO, Ingress, Google Maps, and Google Earth. CONS. Runs on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean For hardcore gamers, the perfect Android emulator for PC means it’s packed with all features — basic or advanced — to pass as the perfect one.
But for those who are looking for one that has no frills, Droid4X is the way to go. From the design down to the functionalities, Droid4X is super simple and easy to use. It has almost everything you need for an emulator, including the GPS simulator, support for gaming controllers and touchscreen, and the ability to modify the display resolution and performance. It comes with an app that allows you to automatically root the emulator.
Droid4X depends on VirtualBox to emulate the ARM processor common in portable devices. And I recommend giving half of your CPU and memory storage for the emulator to perform well. It’s based on Android Jelly Bean so some apps might not be usable or downloadable. Droid4X isn’t the most attractive in this bunch but it surely is more reliable than Bluestacks. Android Studio’s Emulator.
CONS. Too big. Lacks functions for games. Too complex for non-developers The emulator is one of the many tools you can get from Android Studio, Google’s IDE (integrated development environment) for Android. It’s primarily designed for software developers for the Android platform. If you’re not into game development, Android Studio’s Emulator could be cumbersome as it’s “too complex” for non-developers.
But if you’re a developer, you can definitely take advantage of this free software to test your apps. Android Studio’s Emulator has all the basic functions of an emulator. It can simulate incoming phone calls and text messages, specify the location of the device, simulate rotation and other hardware sensors, access the Google Play Store, simulate various network speeds, and more. On top of that, it supports ARCore, Google’s kit for building augmented reality apps.
It also comes with preset configurations for different Android devices. It’s nearly 1GB in size so it would take a big chunk of your storage, not to mention the time to set it up. Also, it doesn’t have all the gaming-specific functionalities that you see in other Android emulators for PC. Overall, it’s an amazing tool guaranteed to be regularly updated.
CONS. No Google Play Store out of the box. Some basic features require premium. Signup required.
Too complex for non-developer Genymotion is a popular alternative to Android Emulator. While it’s designed for software development purposes, this emulator can be downloaded for personal use, too. But like Android Emulator, Genymotion isn’t consumer friendly, unless you’re a developer. It allows you to choose any Android phone to simulate. On top of that, you get to select the Android version that you want to try on — from Android 4.4 (KitKat) to Android 7.0 (Nougat). And more importantly, Genymotion gives you access to the app from your web browser through its cloud-based online emulator.
It doesn’t come easy, though, as you will need to contact the devs and request for a private access. While the free version offers a couple of nifty features like GPS coordinates, web camera support, and battery level indicator, the premium version gives you more functionalities that can be very helpful. These include the screen recorder tool and the ability to use your Android phone as a remote controller.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the Google Play Store right out of the box; you need to set it up along with other GApps services all by yourself. For developers, Genymotion comes with plugins for Android Studio, Eclipse, and IntelliJ IDEA so you can test out apps directly within the IDE. Note that it needs your PC’s “virtualization technology” enabled as well as the latest version of VirtualBox.
In addition, you need to sign up for an account before you can download Genymotion. In Summary Each Android emulator on this list has its own set of flaws.
It’s important to weigh the pros and cons first when choosing the right one. Setting aside the cons, it’s also necessary to define preferences and purpose. Which Android emulator for PC do you think is the best?
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.