You want Android to work on your computer? An Android Emulator is required. As Android continues to grow in popularity, emulators are becoming more and more popular. Emulators can be a great tool to quickly test and QA apps, as many quality engineers are well aware.
I also indicated, where appropriate, which Android emulators are compatible (Mac, Linux, etc.
Comparison Criteria
- What should I look for in an Android emulator software? Here is a summary of my evaluation criteria.
- User Interface (UI). I am looking for software that is clean and makes it easy to use all its key features, regardless of whether they are gaming stores or development tools.
- Usability: I prefer Android emulators that are simple to use and boot up, and preferably not too taxing on my machine.
- Value for money: Many Android emulators come free with ads, so any cost should be a return on investment.
Android Emulator Key Features
- Low RAM usage: I am looking for tools that won’t drain your computer’s resources completely.
- Google Play Store Access: Quick access to all apps and the Google Play Store.
Emulates various Android OSs: The tool can emulate both the most recent Android O and older Android Os, such as Android Nougat and Android Marshmellow.
Access to apps and games: It is important that there are a lot of Android apps and games. - Android development: Tools for Android developers who want to test their products
- Android phone screen adjustment. The app does not look sloppy when it converts from phone-sized to PC-sized screens.
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LambdaTest
Live and automated testing of over 3000+ browsers and operating system
LambdaTest image – 10 Best Android Emulators for PCs In 2022
Your Selenium automation scripts can be run online using the Selenium Grid for desktop, Android and iOS browsers.
LambdaTest allows you to test both mobile and web apps on Android devices and browsers. Lambatest works with Windows, Linux and macOS.
LambdaTest offers Native App Testing capabilities that allow you to conduct live interactive native mobile app test online anywhere in the world. Simply upload your.apk file. You can perform cross-browser testing and automate your tests at scale.
LambdaTest allows you to run automated mobile testing using appium. This allows you to find bugs faster as it tests your native apps and mobile sites on real devices.
LambdaTest also includes geolocation testing. This allows you to target, block and localise certain countries’ tests.
LambdaTest is available at a cost of $15 per Parallel Test. You can try it for free.
Why LambdaTest?
- Not just for PC, but Mac OS and Linux are compatible
- Integrations with more than 120 tools
- Geolocation testing
2. KoPlayer
KoPlayer screenshot – The 10 Best Android Emulators for PCs in 2022
KoPlayer has an integrated Google Play Store, and is compatible with both Windows OS and MacOS.
KoPlayer is just like other Android gaming emulators. It focuses on providing lag-free gaming experiences with lightweight software.
KoPlayer is completely free, but you may see a few ads. It is simple to install the app player and navigate through all of the apps. It supports keyboard mapping, and gamepad emulator.
This Android emulator has a downside: it freezes sometimes out of the blue. The player can be a bit buggy, making it difficult to uninstall the Android O Emulator.
KoPlayer can be used for free.
KoPlayer: Why?
- Compatible with Windows and Mac OS
- Simple UI
- Install any Android device
- It is easy to set up
3. Bliss OS
Bliss OS screenshot: 10 Best Android Emulators for PCs In 2022
Bliss OS, a downloadable OS, IS Android–use either a Virtual Box (or bootable USB drive) to get it started.
Bliss OS differs from the other emulators. Bliss OS is Android’s own OS and must be installed separately from the ‘Android Emulators.
You have two options for installing it: either use a Virtual Box, or create a bootable USB flash drive and then install the Bliss OSROM from that storage.
If you want to experience the exact Android experience on your computer, then installing Bliss OS and other Android x86-based programs is better. Bliss OS doesn’t include ads and any Android emulator clutter.
Bliss OS can be used for free.
Why should you use Bliss OS
- Open-source and ad free
- Android 9 Pie Beta Version
- Supports Substratum theme engine
4. Nox Player
Nox Player screenshot – Top 10 Android Emulators for PCs in 2022
Nox App Player is compatible with keyboard, gamepad, script record, and multiple instances
Nox Player, also known as Nox App Player, is a targeted emulator for Android gamers. While the emulator can be used to run other Android apps, and enjoy the full Android experience, it’s best suited to playing large games such as PUBG and Justice League. Nox Emulator’s best feature is its freeness. It doesn’t have any sponsored ads.
You can map the keys of Keyboard and Mouse with Nox Player. You can also assign keyboard keys to gestures such as mapping shortcuts for swiping left or right.
To get the best gaming experience, you can also specify CPU and RAM usage via the settings option. Nox Player is a tool that makes rooting Android easy in less than a minute.
Nox has one problem. It puts a lot on the system. You can’t run tons of other apps. It is also based on Android 5 Lollipop, which could be a problem for some.
Nox Player can be used for free.
Nox Player: Why?
- Multiple windows in one device
- Shortcuts for controllers
- It is easy to root
- Can be used to get Android O or Android Nougat
5. BlueStacks
BlueStacks screenshot – The 10 Best Android Emulators for PCs In 2022
BlueStacks is a preferred gaming platform. It is simple to set up and use, and has common functionality such as screen recording and debugging.
BlueStacks Android emulator has been around for a long time and is still the most widely used Android emulator on the mobile gaming market. It is easy to install, use, and then play your favorite games. BlueStacks includes a large library of Android apps and games, fast boot times, great features like keymapping, game controls and Multi-Instance Sync. There are also enhancements that can be made with little to no lag. The emulator is also updated frequently to fix any issues gamers may encounter, which makes it a popular choice among the community.
BlueStacks 5 is the lightest and fastest version of the app player. The new BlueStacks 5 claims it uses up to half the RAM and has some new features such as performance modes and trim memory to further reduce memory usage. It supports Android 9 Pie.
BlueStacks 10, a mobile cloud for Android games, was recently added to the emulator. Android apps can now be streamed to your computer directly, without the need for costly hardware.
BlueStacks can be used for free. Paid plans start at $24 per month.
BlueStacks: Why should you use it?
- It is easy to set up and requires no technical knowledge
- Support for multiple accounts
- Latest Android version
- Can be used to get Android O or Android Nougat
6. Remix OS Player
Remix OS Player screenshot – 10 Best Android Emulators for PCs In 2022
Remix OS Player isn’t completely capable of taking over Windows, so users can simultaneously run Android and Windows programs.
Remix OS Player allows you to play Android games and test apps on your Windows device. It is one of the few emulators that can be used with almost all Google Play Store apps and games. The platform also provides a desktop version Android that functions like an ordinary operating system. The emulator features familiar Windows elements such as a taskbar, start menu, system tray and system tray. This makes it very intuitive. Remix OS Player is available for Windows users free of charge. Remix OS Player is compatible with almost all Android applications and games.
7. Genymotion
There are many sensors and widgets that can be used to create realistic simulations of real-life situations.
Genymotion has a large selection of virtual Android devices that can be run simultaneously.
Genymotion is not an Android emulator for casual use; it is intended only for developers. You can test your apps on various virtual devices running different versions of Android with the Android simulator. It is compatible with Android SDK, Android Studio. It also works with Linux and macOS.
Genymotion is geared towards developers and has many developer-friendly features. It might not be the best choice for those looking for an Android gaming experience.
Genymotion works with all ADB-based testing frameworks: Appium Espresso Robotium Robotium, Espresso Robotium, etc. It’s also compatible with most popular Continuous Integration solutions, such as Terraform, Bitrise, CircleCI, Terraform, Terraform, etc.
Genymotion: Why?
- It runs on Linux, Mac OS, and PC
- Supports Android Studio
- Versions from Android 4.1 through 8.0 are available
8. LDPlayer
LDPlayer screen shot – The 10 Best Android Emulators for PCs In 2022
LDPlayer allows users to easily run Android APPS and Games on their computers.
LDPlayer is the 2nd most used emulator in the world. It is South East Asia’s fastest and most popular android emulator. LDPlayer lets players run their mobile apps and games on a PC free of charge. Multiple android apps and games are available in the LDStore, which is an integrated store.
Its flexibility is one of its most important features, even for low-end devices. It doesn’t take up much storage. LDPlayer can be used to play heavier games. It is also easy to use on any type of computer.
Advanced features such as keyboard macros and keyboard mapping make controlling easier. Multi-instance sync features allow players to create multiple instances of the same game, which can be a great way to enhance your gaming experience.
This emulator supports multiple languages, so it doesn’t matter from where you are coming from. LDPlayer will provide you with the easiest instructions.
LDPlayer can be used for free.
LDPlayer: Why?
- Emulator that is fast and lightweight with multi-language support
- For any device that uses it, there are adjustable settings and advanced settings.
- Multiple instances of the same game can be created on the same device
9. MEmu
MEmu screenshot – Top 10 Android Emulators for PCs in 2022
MEmu is lightweight, quick to boot up, and has constantly updated smart keys.
MEmu, sometimes called MEmu Player, is a relatively new app player in comparison with the rest. The MeMu Play was launched in 2015. It is a gaming-focused app. This Android emulator is fast, similar to BlueStacks and Nox.
MeMu Android emulator supports both AMD and Nvidia chips. This is one of its most important features. It supports various Android versions, including Kit Kat, Android Jelly Bean and Lollipop. MeMu is a proponent of high-performance gaming but the graphics performance is poor. In comparison to other apps, I noticed textures and smoothness lacking.
MEmu currently runs on Android Lollipop. It works well with productivity apps. This is the best choice if you want to play games like Ingress and Pokemon Go.
Memu can be used for free.
Why MEmu?
- Key Mapping
- Google Maps allows you to create a virtual location
- Both AMD and NVidia Support
- Can be used to get Android O or Android Nougat
10. ARChonn
ARChon screenshot – 10 Best Android Emulators for PCs In 2022
ARChon allows you to run basic Android in Chrome on OS X, Linux, and Windows.
ARChon isn’t a popular Android emulator. It doesn’t have a large fan following. Instead, it’s a way to run Android apps on Chrome OS.
It began when Google added support for two to three Android apps in Google Chrome Web Browser. ARChon was released by a GitHub developer to run all Android apps in Chrome.
Although the ARChon Android O emulator may not be suitable for hardcore gaming it is great for productivity apps due to its ease of use.
ARChon can be used for free.
Why should you use ARChons
- Compatible with OS X and Linux, as well as Windows
- Integrated into Chrome
- Installation is easy
