Did you know that you can run all your Android apps on your computer? Android emulators now have become very trendy because they offer the perfect way for benefiting from your Android apps on your computer. emulating Android games is the most common reason for using emulators, however, these tools can be used to emulate any app that can be found on Google Play. For example, you can use an Android emulator to run Instagram app on your computer. Doing so, you can upload photos to your Instagram on your computer which is not possible to do so without an emulator. In this article, I will provide you with a list of 5 best Android emulators you can use on your computer.
Best Android emulators
There are plenty of great Android emulators out there, all for free. But of course, there are differences between these tools which distinguishes an good or bad emulator. The first important factor about an Android emulator is its stability. The best Android emulator does not lag or freeze while you are using it.
The next factor you need to consider is the app features. Some of Android emulators offer a few number of features, while some other are more feature-packed. But what you need to remember is that you do not need to use a large Android emulator if you are not going to use all its features.
Another point you need to remember is that an Android emulator functionality largely depends on your PC hardware. Also, faster emulators usually cut back from features. So make sure to view the features list before you download the emulator.
Here I have gathered a list of some of the best Android emulators you can choose from.
BlueStacks
The most used and one of the best Android emulators for Windows 10 is BlueStacks. This software is designed with simplicity in mind and feels like you are using Android apps on a tablet. Simply install BlueStacks on your computer to have the Android environment on your computer. Also, BlueStacks is the most stable Android emulator in terms of reliability.
BlueStacks is completely free, however, there are ads in this app which can be rather intrusive from time to time. You can buy the paid version of this tool to have an ad-free experience without interruptions. This software targets Android gamers more than developers, however, you can use this emulator to enjoy Android environment on your computer for any app.
If you want to add apps and games from other sources, you have the option of using standalone APK files.
Nox
Much like BlueStacks, Nox is a fast and slick and one of the best Android emulators. If you want to use Nox for gaming, you’ll be pleased to learn that you can use your favorite gamepad, and the option of mapping keys or buttons to perform various Android gestures on your computer.
Nox is designed with gaming in mind, however, you can use it to run any other types of apps on your PC. Currently, Nox App Player has a significant advantage over BlueStacks: it’s free. In addition to being free, there’s also no advertising. So if you are in favour of perfect user experience, Nox can be a great option for you.
If you have a touch screen, you can simulate the touch feature. You can also do screenshots, volume control, installation of an APK file, restarting and multiple sessions.
AndY
The primary idea behind AndY emulator is to bring Android gaming to desktop. AndY packs a number of great features into its application frame. First of all, you can use your own smartphone as a remote control for AndY. Don’t have a smartphone? Use your Xbox or PS controller instead. Also, you can access local files — files stored on your PC — through AndY as well.
It can be said that AndY is one of the fastest and best Android emulators. AndY is available for both Windows and Mac. You can also use it to root your virtual Android phone to run more apps.
Andyroid offers some unique features which cannot find in any other Android emulator.
- Using your phone as remote control while playing games
- Support for ARM – You can directly install Android apps through your host’s desktop
- It is based on Virtualbox, which means you do not need a dedicated graphic card for it to run smoothly.
KOPlayer
KOPlayer is an older Android emulator, however, it is a great and in fact, one of the best Android emulators. KOPlayer offers two modes which are: Speed and Compatibility. If you want to use KOPlayer for gaming, it is recommended that you first use the Speed mode. Later, if you face loading problems, you can switch to the Compatibility mode.
KOPlayer also has a rather neat Multi Manager tool that lets you run two or more instances of the emulator at once. Features that KOPlayer offer include,
- Keyboard for Touch Mapping
- HD Resolution offers better quality on bigger displays
- Directly record your Android emulation screen & save it as a video
- run multiple accounts simultaneously
MEmu
MEmu might be one of the newer Android emulators, but it has managed to make a name for itself. Considering that its full name is MEmu Play, there is no surprise that this emulator also focuses on gaming. To get the best performance, it is recommended that you enable virtualization for your CPU.
Not only the installation process is simple, it also offers features not seen on any other Android emulator. The most compelling feature of NEmu Android emulator is keyboard mapping. Click an area on the screen and input a key for your game’s controls. It also supports one-click APK installation. This means that you can install any APK file available on your local files through MEmu.
You can also use MEmu to play games up to 4k resolution which is definitely a marvelous feature. This software is also free to download and free to use and all these features make it one of the best Android emulaters available.
