Mac Emulator For Android

Many of us love to play Android games on our computers. In recent times, heavy Android games like PUBG and Call of Duty have gained a lot of popularity.The easiest way to run Android games or apps on a PC is an android emulator. You can easily download an emulator if you want the best Android Emulator For Games, but if your needs are game-centric, you have to keep in mind a few things. We have reviewed the best Android emulator for games.

• Mac Emulator For Android Emulator
• Install Free Android Emulator
• Mac Emulator For Android

1. Android Studio's emulator. Price: Free Android Studio is the default development console for Android. It comes with a bunch of tools to help developers make apps and games specifically for Android.
2. An Android emulator is a software application that allows your mobile to imitate Android OS features into your PC. It allows you to install Android Apps on your computer or laptop and use them natively. It is mainly used for debugging purposes. Following is a handpicked list of Top Android Emulator, with their popular features and website links.
3. While there are tons of worthy Android emulators out there, such solutions for running iOS apps on Windows and Mac aren't common. To help you out, I've curated a list of the best iOS emulators for.
4. By definition, an Android Emulator Mac is a type of Android Emulator that allows users to run Android devices on their PC or Mac. By downloading Android Emulator online, you can easily connect your device to your Mac and get all the Android Applications running on your PC with the same speed, high-end UI, and 100% the same Android UX for easy.

Along these lines, this article enrolls a portion of the 5 best Android emulators accessible in the market for a Mac OS: NOX. 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.

We highlighted all the emulator's important features and ratings here. Let's take a look at the whole article without delay. Airplay for mac server.

BlueStacks

The BlueStacks emulator is a versatile multifunctional solution. You get access to the Android OS interface and an unlimited number of applications, games, specially adapted for the virtual machine. The developers did their best – they created a good base.

Also BlueStacks App Player

runs any programs from Google Play, app downloaded from third-party sources without any problems. An application installer is provided especially for them. It is doubly pleasant that the Android emulator creates shortcuts for games in the PC user folder (see screenshots). You can transfer icons of Instagram and other frequently used services/games to your desktop and launch them like a regular Windows program in less than 10 seconds! BlueStacks tray consumes a minimum of resources.

Features of working in the BlueStacks program on a PC:

• The ability to fine-tune all the parameters of the emulator;
• Simple, not overloaded interface;
• Installing Android programs from different sources in 2 clicks;
• High speed of launching Android applications;
• Launch in separate tabs – easy switching;
• Free operation of the Android Emulator software.
• Location replacement functions are available;
• Integration into the Windows Explorer menu Finder;
• It has its own application center, incl. PUBG Mobile;
• Imitation of shaking, tilting and movements of joysticks, gestures on the touch screen using the keyboard and mouse;
• You can synchronize the data of passing games for real devices and emulate on a stationary computer;
• Sometimes for the full-fledged operation of gaming applications, you need to go to bios and activate the virtualization engine – the emulator will inform you about this and give a link to instructions if necessary.

Emulator Nox App Player

Functional Knox is distinguished by a minimalistic interface, the presence of a multi-mode (several devices), and just a huge number of various options that, in fact, are not very necessary for an ordinary user, but they will definitely come in handy someday. Ease of use, performance, and other parameters are at their best!

Also, the Nox App Player emulator has one very useful property – it connects to all PC equipment in order to implement the standard functions of a mobile device. For example, if your laptop has a camera. But the virtual tablet computer will perceive it as its own. No driver is needed. The program uses the system ones. Video recording from the screen also works well – owners of powerful PCs will be able to make plays directly in the emulator.

Features of NoxPlayer:

• Refined design and clear English-language utility menu;
• One-click software porting;
• Ability to create multiple virtual machines with Android 4.4.2 KitKat or Android 5.1.1 Lollipop – 7.0 Nougat;
• Configuring the consumption of RAM and CPU resources, video chip;
• Keyboard, gamepad control, script recording, multiple instances;
• Full functionality of the Android operating system without restrictions;
• Getting Root access with one click of the mouse, which will delight any user – gamer;
• Install apk by dragging and dropping onto the emulator screen;
• The ability to use shared folders for files with a computer;
• Good optimization for applications and games + large PC display instead of a small phone screen;
• Integration with the notification bar Windows 10 x64 (Mac OS, Linux, and any x86 platforms are not yet supported).

MEmu App Player Emulator

The MEmu emulator is a cross between the two programs described above. It helps you to launch games and applications very quickly and conveniently without the unnecessary installation hassle. 'Having penetrated into the system', MEmu exposes associations with installation files without asking. This means that a double click on any downloaded apk starts the installation procedure – this is very convenient and saves time.

MEmu is positioned as software for gamers, fully justifying its purpose. The program even has a built-in catalog of Android games (angry birds and others like them), but due to the origin and lack of localization (made in China), we do not recommend using it. You can always find tested apk on Softcatalog. Otherwise, the product is quite high-quality, although not without flaws that you can put up with.

Features:

• Availability of all functions necessary for gamers;
• Outdated Android 4.2.2 system on board;
• The ability to install applications from the Play Market, alternative store and apk;
• Getting root administrator rights automatically in one click;
• Thin control settings and hotkeys;
• Overloaded but intuitive interface with a lot of features;
• Adjustment for the extreme screen resolution in the game;

Andy Android emulator

Andy is not much different from the same MEmu. It is aimed at fans of mobile games but does not pull titles with high graphics performance (slows down) while having a convenient control function via a gamepad or a smartphone connected via a network. Also 'virtual' constantly recommends that you download some applications from sponsors. Actually, 'obsession' in attempts to make money on advertising, and prompted us to rate Andy a little lower than peers. Although a decent thing.

Distinctive features of Andy emulator:

• Ability to connect a gamepad and fine-tune the keyboard;
• A beautiful installation process – this cannot be taken away;
• Instability – the program often freezes and crashes;
• All the necessary functions of an Android PC emulator;
• No problems with development for novice users;
• Drag and drop apk to the desktop for quick installation;
• Compatible with all newer versions of the Windows platform.

Genymotion

Genymotion is a Virtual Box based emulator. Its functions are limited to creating a virtual machine image. It is positioned as the best tool for professional application testing. If you look at the list of models, the operating system of which it can duplicate on your laptop, it is difficult to disagree with this.

Features:

• Lack of support for AMD processors (Intel only);
• Huge list of device models;
• Ability to create several virtual machines with different settings using Virtual Box;
• To download an Android emulator on a PC, you will need to go through the registration procedure;
• The free version has reduced functionality;
• The user interface of the program is in English.

Droid4X

Another software product for gamers, designed to add a little entertainment from the Android world to a personal computer, laptop with the Windows operating system (7-10). The program has a bright, but accessible and straightforward interface in English, it is finely tuned for games: you can even bind certain points on the virtual display to the keyboard buttons, the connection of a gamepad (smartphones and tablets, including) is supported.

Like most analogs, the Droid4X emulator is based on 'Andryusha' 4.2.2. But it is distinguished by its high speed of work and good performance in games. For example, according to our colleagues, the virtual machine 'pulls' even such demanding Android games with multiplayer. Also, for example, the latest Asphalt – and this is not on the most powerful PC.

Features:

• English-language client menu;
• A clean rooted system with no changes;
• Setting up the management of the desktop client for games;
• Support for 'heavy' applications (they need a powerful video card);
• Connecting a gamepad with a multitouch.

GameLoop (ex Tencent Gaming Buddy)

The relatively new GameLoop emulator is an entire gaming platform with the function of running handheld Android games on a PC. Previously, the program was called Tencent Gaming Buddy. But it was positioned as the official emulator for playing PUBG Mobile on a computer. So it is perfectly optimized for running this game on weak PCs. This according to the developers, it copes with PUBG better than other Android game emulators.

Among the advantages of the program. But it is worth noting the flexible setting of configurations and keyboard layouts. Then, the convenience of searching for content and new games, simple and regular updates to the latest versions. And a small amount of space on your PC. However, the program also has its drawbacks. The developers have provided the application with an old version of Android. But it is suitable for running not all Android applications on a PC. Other popular emulators on Windows and macOS run on newer builds of Android.

Another significant drawback is that this is not a full-featured game store like Steam. Also, uPlay, and an emulator that is not familiar to users. The product is quite specific and we would recommend trying it only for ardent PUBG fans. However, after the renaming of Tencent Game Buddy to GameLoop. And the developers promised to develop the product and almost turn it into the best Android emulator on the PC. So stay tuned. Perhaps the next update of the shell will make the program better. So, bring such important functions as a file manager. Also, creating macros, plugins, support for USB sticks. So, combining memory with a PC hard drive.

GameLoop Features:

• The emulator supports portrait and full-screen picture modes;
• The program synchronizes the progress of games from portable devices and on the emulator;
• Antiviruses of Chinese and Ukrainian developers may perceive the utility as malicious;
• The creators provided the application with the functionality of taking screenshots and recording screencasts;
• Great for Tencent Game studio games. But it is considered the official emulator of PUBG Mobile. So, the studio's other mobile products, it integrates into Chrome. Also, making it even easier to find and download the games you want.

Windroy

Fast emulator developed by a team from China. Its main advantage is its low system requirements. Surprisingly, the virtual machine thoroughly repeats the interface of the Android 4.4.2 KitKat device. But is based on the core of the Windows system!

As in other applications from our review. Moreover, there is a Play Market, a file manager. And other necessary additions. Its audience is ordinary application users and fans of not. So, particularly demanding games.

Features:

• Windows 7 kernel at the core;
• High speed of startup and operation;
• Support for most modern programs, games;
• The minimum base of functions even if settings (everything works well);
• So, orientation to ordinary 'users;
• Difficulty downloading – Windroy's official even if website is often unavailable.

Remix OS

Remix OS Player is a good emulator from Chinese programmers for testing their Android games and applications on a computer. Excellent for running 3D games in the built-in memory of a virtual phone. And therefore it is popular among gamer.

Despite the fact that Remix is ​​based on Android. It has a modified standard interface, reminiscent of Windows or Mac OS. The main window of the emulator looks like a regular PC desktop. The controls are optimized for use with a mouse and keyboard.

Free software gives the necessary 'chips' to all categories of users. Avid gamers will be able to play their favorite Clash of Clans. Then, Subway Surfers on their computer. But with convenient controls. Developers will enjoy an intuitive interface and normal. So, unlike android SDK studio, working conditions with open applications.

Remix OS PC Features:

• The ability to emulate the Android operating system of different versions;
• Root rights, without which some mobile applications even if do not function;
• Built-in application store play market with official versions of programs;
• Synchronization with mobile devices (physical) via even if the Internet using a Google account;
• The program works quickly even if the PC has a small amount of RAM;
• Then, Support for Adobe Air Mobile technologies server, convenient device manager;
• No version for Windows XP even if older versions of the operating system.

If you are looking for Android Emulators for PC & Mac, you want to do at least one of the following – develop apps for Android or, you want to enjoy Android games on a big screen. There may be other reasons as well like testing out a new ROM or perhaps you are just planning on making a switch from iOS to Android and want to get a taste of Android before you end up making the actual switch.

In this article, I will sum up the best Android emulators for PC & Mac that I have personally used and tested to find out their strengths and weaknesses. I will rank them in the order of my preference but albeit, you may have a different order altogether.

1.BlueStacks

BlueStacks is one of THE MOST POPULAR emulators available today. It has been in the market for quite some time. One of the primary reasons why I used BlueStacks was gaming.

Why not productivity? That's simply because I have access to every productivity tool I need on my desktop. I don't need an Android device for productivity and as far as mobility is concerned, I will definitely not carry around my desktop to work with BlueStacks!

While on the move, I will be invariably stuck with a tiny device (running Android) that will anyway cripple my productivity. So, I find whining about BlueStacks performing sluggishly while dealing with productivity tools senseless.

Pros of BlueStacks

• BlueStacks has a super easy setup. Just download, install, put in your Gmail login credentials, and you are good to go!
• Not only did BlueStacks allow me to access Play Store, but it also gave me access to its very own app store that has apps optimized for BlueStacks!
• It has a clean and intuitive interface that makes navigating around quite simple!
• It allows keyboard mapping. It found it quite beneficial while playing games.
• It supports multiple accounts!
• It is a freemium software, which means that you can test it for free before you decide to make a purchase.

Cons of BlueStacks

• It doesn't perform well with touch gestures. So, before you go ahead and install it on a touchscreen-enabled laptop, think twice. I will instead suggest sticking around with your keyboard.
• Because BlueStacks' free version is meant to remain free forever, you will occasionally see advertisements popping up. That's quite frustrating.
• On computers with low-end hardware, BlueStacks gave significant lags while playing games. So, if you don't like delays (which no one does), don't bother putting it on laptops or desktops that do not have powerful hardware.

Minimum System Requirements for BlueStacks

I installed and used BlueStacks 4. This version has the following minimum system requirements:

• OS – Windows 7 or higher.
• AMD or Intel Processor.
• At least 2 GB RAM.
• At least 5 GB of free space on your hard disk.
• Administrator rights to your PC.
• Up-to-date graphics driver from chipset vendor or Microsoft.

The minimum system requirements for running BlueStacks 4 on Mac are:

• OS – macOS Sierra (10.12), High Sierra (10.13), or Mojave (10.14).
• Minimum 4 GB RAM.
• Minimum 4 GB of free space on the hard disk.
• Up-to-date graphics drivers from the manufacturer of the graphics card.
• Latest App Store updates applied on Mac.

This is the minimum requirement, but BlueStacks has what is called recommended system requirements for best performance. Do check that out.

Pycharm for mac. click F12 ('go to definition'). from the new location (the function's body), how do I return to the function call?I've tried these, but they didn't do anything:. Edit: my system had global key map which had overridden pycharm.Here's the original question:I've tried these answers, but nothing happened:For example:. put the cursor on a function call,. I'm navigating to a function body,.

2.GameLoop

Honestly, I have a mixed feeling for this one in particular, and I don't know whether to hate it or love it. It was previously known as Tencent Gaming Buddy. It has exclusive support for CODM or Call of Duty: Mobile, but it does support other games as well. What made me say that I don't know whether to hate it or love it? Read the pros and cons to find out!

Pros of GameLoop

• It is highly optimized for CODM, and the experience is surprisingly smooth, with no lags or stuttering! That was a pleasant surprise.
• It has support for PUBG Mobile.
• Completely free.
• Excellent integration of keyboard and mouse!
• Shallow system requirements. Mostly it can run on a gaming PC that was built back in 2005!
• It is a minimal app and doesn't eat up much space on my computer's hard disk. So, I don't mind keeping it installed forever!

Cons of GameLoop

• It can play a limited number of games and supports a very limited number of apps. It was designed and developed specifically to be compatible with Call of Duty: Mobile.
• It is not available for Mac users. Bad luck!
• Because it has minimal support for apps, it is useless for app developers.

Minimum System Requirements for GameLoop

This thing can run literally on a dinosaur. Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to test it on a system with low-end hardware because my desktops are quite powerful and can run almost every resource-intensive game or application I throw at them. But if you don't have a high-end computer, here is a quick list of the primary system requirements:

• A dual-core CPU either from Intel or AMD clocked at 1.8 GHz.
• Minimum 2 GB RAM.
• Minimum 1 GB of free space on your hard disk.
• OS – Windows 7 and above.
• GPU – ATI/AMD Radeon HD2600/3600 or Nvidia GeForce 8600/9600GT.

Mac Emulator For Android Emulator

3.MEmu

MEmu Play is a relatively new player in the market. It was launched back in the year 2015 and it is based on Android Lollipop. It is quite decent for gaming but does exceptionally well in dealing with productivity apps. Here are the pros and cons that I found while using MEmu:

Pros of MEmu

• To start with, MEmu Play is very fast.
• Though it is based on Android Lollipop, it can actually support other versions like Jelly Bean and Kit Kat.
• It comes with support for both Nvidia and AMD chips.
• The key mapping feature is terrific.
• You can even set virtual locations on Google Maps.
• It supports a lot of Windows operating systems, including XP, Windows 7, 8, and 10.
• It allows you to launch multiple instances and play games separately in each situation. Alternately, it also allows running multiple accounts on a single instance for the same game.
• Best of all, it is free.

Cons of MEmu

• Though MEmu touts of high performance in gaming, it is not true! I will like to see better performance in graphics.
• It has no support for Mac.

Minimum System Requirements for MEmu

• You need to have Intel or AMD CPU with either 32-bit support or 64-bit support.
• OS- Windows XP (SP3), Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10.
• You will need at least 2 GB of RAM.
• You will need at least 2 GB of space on the hard disk.
• Your BIOS should have Hardware Virtualization Technology enabled.

While these are the basic requirements, it works best with recommended system requirements. Do check out the recommended requirements.

4.Android Studio

In my experience, use this emulator only and only if you are trying to develop an Android app or if you want to play fundamental games. Android Studio is not a proper emulator. It is a development IDE. IDE stands for Integrated Development Environment.

There is an integrated emulator that you can always use, but even it is best used for testing different apps. Playing games just don't work well.

Pros of Android Studio

• When it comes to Android app development, this is almost always a standard choice.
• It has been developed by Google and receives regular updates.
• It allows for faster deployment of fresh builds.
• Developers can enjoy accurate programming.
• It allows developers to create only a single build and then test it on multiple devices using the feature called Cloud Test Lab Integration. This will enable developers to ditch the prospect of creating numerous builds.
• It comes with a lot of built-in plugins and tools that allow developers to test their apps with ease.

Cons of Android Studio

• I found Android Studio to be pretty slow on Windows. It performed comparatively better on Mac. It was, however, flawless on Ubuntu. On Ubuntu, it was fast, and even the emulator launched pretty quickly as compared to the time taken on Windows.
• It is designed for the development of apps. It cannot work if you want to play games like Call of Duty: Mobile or PUBG or, as a matter of fact, any resource-intensive game.

Minimum System Requirements for Android Studio

For Windows:

• Windows 7/8/10 – Only 64-bit OS.
• Minimum 4 GB RAM.
• Minimum 2 GB of available space on the hard disk.
• Minimum screen resolution of 1280 x 800.

For Mac:

• Mac OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) to macOS Mojave 10.14.
• Minimum 4 GB of RAM.
• Minimum 2 GB of available space on the hard disk.
• Minimum screen resolution of 1280 x 800.

For Linux:

• Debian-based KDE or Gnome desktops.
• 64-bit system with support for running 32-bit applications.
• glibc (GNU C Library) 2.19 or higher.
• Minimum 4 GB of RAM.
• Minimum 2 GB of space on the hard disk.
• Minimum screen resolution of 1280 x 800.

5.Nox App Player

Just like BlueStacks, Nox App Player is hands down, one of the best Android emulators you can find. In my opinion, it is also an all-round emulator if you want to play Android games or use productivity apps or get an overall hang of Android.

During my stint with Nox App Player, I found something exciting and yet useless. It allows you to root your virtual Android device in a jiffy. I found it pointless because a real Android device with root access is far more beneficial than a virtual machine. If you can find any practical utility of a rooted virtual Android device, feel free to let me know.

Anyway, here is my impression of Nox App Player:

Pros of Nox App Player

• Amazing performance with games. No glitches and no lags at all.
• Allows quick mapping of gamepads, mouse, and keyboards.
• You can literally specify just how much amount of RAM and CPU should the emulator use.
• Very much capable of playing very resource-intensive games like PUGB, Call of Duty: Mobile, Justice League, etc.
• Perfectly capable of dealing with all apps on Google Play Store.
• It comes with its own optimized app store.
• The UI is really stunning.
• You can open and use multiple windows at a time.
• It has support for Mac users, which is great.

Cons of Nox App Player

• It has a lot of unwanted software bundled with the installer. If you accidentally install any of them, you may have a really hard time deleting them. So, be careful.
• Your antivirus may flag Nox App Player files as suspicious.

Minimum System Requirements for Nox App Player

For Windows:

• OS – Windows XP (SP3)/Vista/7/8/10.
• Needs DirectX 9.0c.
• Dual-core processor from AMD or Intel.
• Support for Open GL 2.0.
• Minimum of 1.5 GB of RAM.
• Minimum 1 GB of hard disk space.
• Broadband connection.

For Mac:

I installed and used BlueStacks 4. This version has the following minimum system requirements:

• OS – Windows 7 or higher.
• AMD or Intel Processor.
• At least 2 GB RAM.
• At least 5 GB of free space on your hard disk.
• Administrator rights to your PC.
• Up-to-date graphics driver from chipset vendor or Microsoft.

The minimum system requirements for running BlueStacks 4 on Mac are:

• OS – macOS Sierra (10.12), High Sierra (10.13), or Mojave (10.14).
• Minimum 4 GB RAM.
• Minimum 4 GB of free space on the hard disk.
• Up-to-date graphics drivers from the manufacturer of the graphics card.
• Latest App Store updates applied on Mac.

This is the minimum requirement, but BlueStacks has what is called recommended system requirements for best performance. Do check that out.

Pycharm for mac. click F12 ('go to definition'). from the new location (the function's body), how do I return to the function call?I've tried these, but they didn't do anything:. Edit: my system had global key map which had overridden pycharm.Here's the original question:I've tried these answers, but nothing happened:For example:. put the cursor on a function call,. I'm navigating to a function body,.

2.GameLoop

Honestly, I have a mixed feeling for this one in particular, and I don't know whether to hate it or love it. It was previously known as Tencent Gaming Buddy. It has exclusive support for CODM or Call of Duty: Mobile, but it does support other games as well. What made me say that I don't know whether to hate it or love it? Read the pros and cons to find out!

Pros of GameLoop

• It is highly optimized for CODM, and the experience is surprisingly smooth, with no lags or stuttering! That was a pleasant surprise.
• It has support for PUBG Mobile.
• Completely free.
• Excellent integration of keyboard and mouse!
• Shallow system requirements. Mostly it can run on a gaming PC that was built back in 2005!
• It is a minimal app and doesn't eat up much space on my computer's hard disk. So, I don't mind keeping it installed forever!

Cons of GameLoop

• It can play a limited number of games and supports a very limited number of apps. It was designed and developed specifically to be compatible with Call of Duty: Mobile.
• It is not available for Mac users. Bad luck!
• Because it has minimal support for apps, it is useless for app developers.

Minimum System Requirements for GameLoop

This thing can run literally on a dinosaur. Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to test it on a system with low-end hardware because my desktops are quite powerful and can run almost every resource-intensive game or application I throw at them. But if you don't have a high-end computer, here is a quick list of the primary system requirements:

• A dual-core CPU either from Intel or AMD clocked at 1.8 GHz.
• Minimum 2 GB RAM.
• Minimum 1 GB of free space on your hard disk.
• OS – Windows 7 and above.
• GPU – ATI/AMD Radeon HD2600/3600 or Nvidia GeForce 8600/9600GT.

Mac Emulator For Android Emulator

3.MEmu

MEmu Play is a relatively new player in the market. It was launched back in the year 2015 and it is based on Android Lollipop. It is quite decent for gaming but does exceptionally well in dealing with productivity apps. Here are the pros and cons that I found while using MEmu:

Pros of MEmu

• To start with, MEmu Play is very fast.
• Though it is based on Android Lollipop, it can actually support other versions like Jelly Bean and Kit Kat.
• It comes with support for both Nvidia and AMD chips.
• The key mapping feature is terrific.
• You can even set virtual locations on Google Maps.
• It supports a lot of Windows operating systems, including XP, Windows 7, 8, and 10.
• It allows you to launch multiple instances and play games separately in each situation. Alternately, it also allows running multiple accounts on a single instance for the same game.
• Best of all, it is free.

Cons of MEmu

• Though MEmu touts of high performance in gaming, it is not true! I will like to see better performance in graphics.
• It has no support for Mac.

Minimum System Requirements for MEmu

• You need to have Intel or AMD CPU with either 32-bit support or 64-bit support.
• OS- Windows XP (SP3), Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10.
• You will need at least 2 GB of RAM.
• You will need at least 2 GB of space on the hard disk.
• Your BIOS should have Hardware Virtualization Technology enabled.

While these are the basic requirements, it works best with recommended system requirements. Do check out the recommended requirements.

4.Android Studio

In my experience, use this emulator only and only if you are trying to develop an Android app or if you want to play fundamental games. Android Studio is not a proper emulator. It is a development IDE. IDE stands for Integrated Development Environment.

There is an integrated emulator that you can always use, but even it is best used for testing different apps. Playing games just don't work well.

Pros of Android Studio

• When it comes to Android app development, this is almost always a standard choice.
• It has been developed by Google and receives regular updates.
• It allows for faster deployment of fresh builds.
• Developers can enjoy accurate programming.
• It allows developers to create only a single build and then test it on multiple devices using the feature called Cloud Test Lab Integration. This will enable developers to ditch the prospect of creating numerous builds.
• It comes with a lot of built-in plugins and tools that allow developers to test their apps with ease.

Cons of Android Studio

• I found Android Studio to be pretty slow on Windows. It performed comparatively better on Mac. It was, however, flawless on Ubuntu. On Ubuntu, it was fast, and even the emulator launched pretty quickly as compared to the time taken on Windows.
• It is designed for the development of apps. It cannot work if you want to play games like Call of Duty: Mobile or PUBG or, as a matter of fact, any resource-intensive game.

Minimum System Requirements for Android Studio

For Windows:

• Windows 7/8/10 – Only 64-bit OS.
• Minimum 4 GB RAM.
• Minimum 2 GB of available space on the hard disk.
• Minimum screen resolution of 1280 x 800.

For Mac:

• Mac OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) to macOS Mojave 10.14.
• Minimum 4 GB of RAM.
• Minimum 2 GB of available space on the hard disk.
• Minimum screen resolution of 1280 x 800.

For Linux:

• Debian-based KDE or Gnome desktops.
• 64-bit system with support for running 32-bit applications.
• glibc (GNU C Library) 2.19 or higher.
• Minimum 4 GB of RAM.
• Minimum 2 GB of space on the hard disk.
• Minimum screen resolution of 1280 x 800.

5.Nox App Player

Just like BlueStacks, Nox App Player is hands down, one of the best Android emulators you can find. In my opinion, it is also an all-round emulator if you want to play Android games or use productivity apps or get an overall hang of Android.

During my stint with Nox App Player, I found something exciting and yet useless. It allows you to root your virtual Android device in a jiffy. I found it pointless because a real Android device with root access is far more beneficial than a virtual machine. If you can find any practical utility of a rooted virtual Android device, feel free to let me know.

Anyway, here is my impression of Nox App Player:

Pros of Nox App Player

• Amazing performance with games. No glitches and no lags at all.
• Allows quick mapping of gamepads, mouse, and keyboards.
• You can literally specify just how much amount of RAM and CPU should the emulator use.
• Very much capable of playing very resource-intensive games like PUGB, Call of Duty: Mobile, Justice League, etc.
• Perfectly capable of dealing with all apps on Google Play Store.
• It comes with its own optimized app store.
• The UI is really stunning.
• You can open and use multiple windows at a time.
• It has support for Mac users, which is great.

Cons of Nox App Player

• It has a lot of unwanted software bundled with the installer. If you accidentally install any of them, you may have a really hard time deleting them. So, be careful.
• Your antivirus may flag Nox App Player files as suspicious.

Minimum System Requirements for Nox App Player

For Windows:

• OS – Windows XP (SP3)/Vista/7/8/10.
• Needs DirectX 9.0c.
• Dual-core processor from AMD or Intel.
• Support for Open GL 2.0.
• Minimum of 1.5 GB of RAM.
• Minimum 1 GB of hard disk space.
• Broadband connection.

For Mac:

• OS – Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or higher.
• Minimum 1.5 GB of RAM.
• Minimum 1 GB of hard disk space.
• Internet connection.

6.GenyMotion

In case you are looking for an Android emulator for casual usage, or simply for playing games, GenyMotion is going to disappoint you big time! It is a premium emulator, and it is not cheap. This emulator is targeted for serious Android app developers.

GenyMotion is meant for serious business and comes with different pricing plans, customer support depending on the purchased plan, and it even comes with a whole cloud version. Basically, you can skip installing GenyMotion on your desktop and use it directly on the cloud.

In case you are interested, here are the pros and cons of this Android emulator are:

Pros of GenyMotion

• Extremely powerful and extremely versatile.
• It has support for 3000+ Android configurations, allowing developers to test their applications over a wide range of devices.
• It is entirely compatible with Android Studio and Android SDK tools.
• It allows testing websites in different Android browsers.
• It is compatible with multiple platforms.
• It is even available on the cloud!

Cons of GenyMotion

• It is not at all designed for casual users and gamers.
• It is very pricey compared to other emulators, and the minimum price starts at USD 136 per year per user. Genymotion is the price for the desktop version. Cloud versions have different pricing.

Minimum System Requirements for GenyMotion

Hardware requirement

• At least 8 GB RAM is required. The more, the better!
• Minimum 1.5 GB of free space on your hard disk.
• Your desktop or laptop should have a screen resolution higher than 1024 x 768 pixels.
• You will need a 64-bit CPU with AMD-V, or VT-x capability enabled right from the BIOS.
• You will need a video card with support for OpenGL 2.0. Some of the compatible video cards are ATI Radeon HD 6000 series, Nvidia GeForce 500 series, and Intel HD Graphics 4000.

Operating System requirement

• 64-bit Windows 7/8/8.1/10.
• macOS High Sierra (minimum).
• 64-bit Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (Code Name – Bionic Beaver) or higher version.
• 64-bit Debian 9.
• 64-bit Fedora 30 or higher version.

7.PrimeOS

Okay, let me be clear. PrimeOS not just an emulator. It is a full-blown operating system! You can install it on your desktop or laptop as a standalone operating system or you can use dual boot! It is restricted to Windows users only. Mac users cannot enjoy this incredible OS!

Honestly, I did not find a reason that can make me install PrimeOS as a standalone operating system and ditch Windows completely. I use various software like Adobe Suite, Audacity, GIMP, InkSpace, Blender, video editors like Movavi, DaVinci Resolve, etc.

These cannot run on PrimeOS because they are not meant to! PrimeOS is based on Android! Yes, the whole thing is Android that is designed to give you a desktop experience similar to Mac or Windows.

On the flip side, however, if you have a spare desktop or laptop that you can dedicate to Android only, that's fine. I did like PrimeOS a lot! Needless to say, I have PrimeOS on a dual boot and I intend to keep it that way.

Pros of PrimeOS

• Gives a complete desktop experience while running on Android.
• Gives full access to millions of Android apps from Google Play Store.
• It comes with a regular taskbar as found on Windows or other traditional operating systems.
• It has an app launcher similar to the start menu in Windows.
• It allows multiple app windows and even has a resizing option for app windows.
• Setting and notification panel retains the look of Android Nougat.
• It allows installing any app and game.
• For gamers, the PrimeOS makes use of all the computer hardware natively, giving an excellent gaming experience, which is far better than any emulator I have seen.
• Gamers can also enjoy the features of keyboard and mouse mapping.
• Any and every game including the resource-intensive games like PUBG, CODM, etc. can run smoothly without a glitch.
• It can be installed as the only OS on a computer or as a dual boot option.
• Just like Linux, PrimeOS allows testing the OS before committing to an installation. You can run the live OS from a bootable USB disk and navigate around to see how it works and how it feels before installing.

Cons of PrimeOS

There isn't enough to actually complain about it! Whatever I think is not really a con as such. Here is what I feel:

• It is not good for designers who use creative software like Adobe Suite, Corel Draw, or 3D Rendering software like Rhinoceros or Maya. After all, such software is not designed to work on Android. So, complaining about them doesn't really count.
• In case of productivity, one cannot really utilize certain well-known office productivity suites like SoftMaker or LibreOffice but Android does have its own share of such productivity apps that work smoothly even on PrimeOS and are easily comparable to traditional office suites.
• It cannot play Windows games.
• It is not available for Mac users.

If you ask me, you can definitely go ahead and replace your Windows OS with PrimeOS if your computing needs are restricted to social activities, emailing, and usage of office suites. You can even open websites and get into website backend (if you own one)! It is pretty good!

Minimum System Requirements for PrimeOS

This is where things can get a bit complicated. PrimeOS comes in three variants with different system requirements. The three variants are:

• PrimeOS Classic
• PrimeOS Standard
• PrimeOS Mainline

The basic system requirements for each variant are:

PrimeOS Classic:

• Designed for older (before 2011) 32-bit systems.
• CPU: Intel Core i series 1st generation processors and below or Intel Pentium Dual-Core or Intel Pentium G620 or AMD Phenom II X6 1100T, etc.
• GPU: Works perfectly well with Old Nvidia GPU, Old AMD GPU, and Old Intel GPU.

PrimeOS Standard:

• Designed for newer (2011 on-wards) 64-bit systems.
• CPU: Intel Core i series 2nd generation processors and above or Intel Celeron N3350 or AMD A8 5550M, etc.
• GPU: Works with older Intel, Nvidia, and AMD GPUs.

PrimeOS Mainline:

• Designed for newer (2014 on-wards) 64-bit systems.
• CPU: Intel Core i series 5th generation processors and above or Intel Celeron N4000 or AMD A8 7410, etc.
• GPU: Works with both Intel and AMD GPU but desktops with Nvidia GPU can lead to freezes and lockups. Switch to Standard variant of the OS in case of graphics glitches.

8.Bliss OS

Bliss OS is not an emulator. Android emulators emulate Android on either PC or Mac. Bliss OS, just like PrimeOS, is Android itself. You need to install it separately as an operating system that runs natively on your computer hardware using all the processing power, memory, and storage.

Unfortunately, Bliss OS is not really as polished as PrimeOS and comes with some serious problems. Here is what I found:

Pros of Bliss OS

• It can be installed as a sole operating system on a desktop or laptop.
• It can also be used as a dual boot OS. This means that you can keep your existing Windows or Linux operating system. No, you cannot dual-boot it with Mac systems.
• Once installed, the OS will show a nice taskbar and a start menu.
• It comes bundled with certain pre-installed applications like Chrome, YouTube, Wallpapers, etc.
• You can install it one a virtual box or on external storage if you want.
• It allows keymapping – a great feature for gamers.
• You can run it as live OS from a bootable USB stick without directly installing it. This helps to get a better understanding of the OS.

Cons of Bliss OS

• The applications always launch in the unmaximized state but there is a button to maximize the app window. Unfortunately, there is no minimize button, which I feel should be there when you are porting Android to desktop.
• Installing apps from Google Play Store can be a headache depending on your system hardware. Some won't install and some may install but remain buggy.
• Those installing Bliss OS as dual-boot on a Linux system will not find Bliss OS listed on the boot-loader list after they execute the grub-update or grub2-update command. They need to find a different workaround, which I feel is not worth the time and effort.

Minimum System Requirements for Bliss OS

The minimum requirement for installing Bliss OS (on a system running Windows) are:

• 1 GB RAM.
• CPU: Intel Pentium 4 (2.00 GHz).
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce 6100.
• OS – Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10.

If you are unsure about your system specs, you can download and run a small utility that will tell you whether it can run Bliss OS or not. You can find the utility here.

9.ARChon

ARChon is far from being a popular Android emulator. It was never meant to be a standalone emulator in the first place. The whole idea behind ARChon development was to allow users to run apps from the Android ecosystem on Chrome OS.

The idea of ARChon was conceived when Google gave support for a couple of Android apps on Chrome Web Browser. Someone independently worked on ARChon after Google's move to make other Android apps available on Chrome.

So, if you are looking for an emulator that you can use for hardcore gaming, ARChon is not up to the task.

Steps to Install ARChon Runtime

First, download and extract the ARChon runtime from the download link below. Once you have obtained the download link, go to chrome://extensions on your browser URL bar and follow the steps below:

1. Step 1: Turn on Developer Mode.
2. Step 2: Click on the Load Unpacked button.
3. Step 3: In the popup, select the extracted folder.
4. Step 4: Click on the Select Folder button.
5. Now you can see the ARChon Runtime on that page.

Install Free Android Emulator

Pros of ARChon

• No fancy installation requirement. It is integrated directly into Chrome.
• Pretty good if you want to access productivity apps from Google Play Store on your Chrome OS or Chrome browser.
• Works on Chrome in Windows, Linux, OS X.

Cons of ARChon

• They are not designed for gaming.
• Slightly complicated when it comes to usage.

Minimum System Requirements for ARChon

• You must have an ARM-based Chromebook.
• For architecture-independent usage, make sure you are using 32-bit Chrome or 32-bit Chrome OS.
• For systems with Intel x86 architecture, you will need 64-bit Chrome or 64-bit Chrome OS.

Conclusion

Okay, let me be honest with you. The list above is not a complete list of best Android emulators for PC & Mac. There are a few more. For instance, there is MuMu App Player that is developed in China and has both Windows and Mac versions available.

MuMu has English-translated versions available (initially available in Mandarin Chinese), but I did not list it on the grounds of concern over data-leak. You may, however, try it on your own risk. The MuMu emulator does come with a polished interface and a lot of features that put it at par with BlueStacks or Nox App Player.

Again, we have KOPlayer – a famous emulator, but I couldn't access its website. The website of KOPlayer simply keeps refusing connection irrespective of whether I use a proxy, or a VPN, or a direct connection.

If I can't access the official site, I don't see a reason why I should try to find an alternate source. I am not a big fan of Malwares and Spywares that can potentially infect my systems when I use an alternative source.

Last but not least, there is Remix OS. It was the original Android OS designed for desktops and laptops by a company formed by ex-employees of Google.

Something went wrong somewhere in that company, and they stopped supporting Remix OS. Alternates of Remix OS are PrimeOS and Bliss OS. Since Remix OS is no longer supported, I decided to exclude it from the list.

Mostly, this list of best Android emulators or PC & Mac contains only those that are under active development and received enthusiastic support.

Mac Emulator For Android

Contents of the Article

• 1.BlueStacks
• 2.GameLoop
• 3.MEmu
• 4.Android Studio
• 5.Nox App Player
• 6.GenyMotion
• 7.PrimeOS
• 8.Bliss OS
• 9.ARChon