Emulator is any software that lets one machine to behave like another machine. When you use an emulator on your Windows, your Windows basically behave like another software. That software can be anything from another Windows version to Android. When using an emulator, one of the machines is host and one of them is the guest. Let’s say that you run an Android Emulator on your Windows. This means that your Windows is the host (Since it is hosting the behavior of Android) and Android is the guest.
So, an Android Emulator is simply an emulator that lets you emulate an Android machine on your Windows.
Why use an Android Emulator?
You can use Android Emulator for many things. The first and the simplest reason is to play a game or run an app. You can do it pretty easily on your Windows by emulating an Android device and you can just play an android game on your Windows. Another reason that people use Android Emulator for is the development of apps and games. Developers use Android Emulators to run and check their apps. Since developers don’t have all of the Android devices with them, they can use Android Emulators to run different versions of android devices to check their app. This way they can check whether their app runs on multiple devices or not simply from their Desktops.
There are, of course, many more usages of Android Emulators but these are the most common ones.
What makes an Android Emulator a good Emulator?
There are a couple of things that comes into play when considering an Android Emulator.
Bugs: Since an emulator is simply a piece of software, there are bound to be bugs in it. Also, since the makers of emulators are trying to emulate the whole android operating system, it’s really hard to replicate everything. So, when considering an Android Emulator, it’s wise to check the feedback for the bugs.
Speed: Speed of the emulator also plays a big role. Although emulators require a lot of resources and its speed is dependent on your system as well. But if the emulator is designed in a way that makes it slow, you won’t be able to do anything even with a powerful host. So, keep an eye for that too.
Resources: The resources required to run an emulator varies from emulator to emulator. If you don’t have the resources required for an emulator then there’s no point in getting it. Because it won’t work or even if it does, it will be really slow.
Features: The features that the emulator offers is a huge factor as well. Just like any other product, you should be interested in the list of features that the emulator can provide. Since you are getting an Android Emulator, you should consider the features that you will need and whether or not the emulator offers those features. For example, if you are looking to test an app in the landscape mode but the emulator doesn’t support landscape mode then there’s no point in getting that specific emulator.
Cost: The price of the emulator, of course, plays a vital role as well. While browsing through our list of emulators, don’t forget to check the price tag especially if you are tight on the budget.
Which Android Emulator to choose?
When picking an Android Emulator for Windows, you might get confused especially if you are new and aren’t so tech savvy. Although there are plenty of options to choose from, we have picked a few top Android Emulators that are definitely the best ones in the market.
Although there isn’t an official list of top Android Emulators, the emulators given below are always in the top lists no matter where you look. So, it’s safe to say that these are on the top of their game right now. Also, keep in mind that the order in which they are presented is not an indicator of their quality.
Best Android Emulators for Windows in 2017
- BlueStacks
- Andy Android Emulator
- BigNox
- Genymotion
- AMIDuOS
- MEmu
- Droid4x
BlueStacks
BlueStacks was started in 2011 and is undoubtedly one of the most famous and widely-recognized Android Emulator. It is mainly designed to provide the best android gaming experience to your computer but it also supports other apps as well.
BlueStacks Editions
Free: The free edition is available for everyone and gives you access to their android emulator to play games. However, the emulator will stay free for only a limited amount of time after which you will have to download their sponsored apps on daily basis if you want to keep it free. Otherwise, it is priced at $2/month.
Enterprise: The other edition is the Enterprise Edition which is suitable for business owners or developers. The Enterprise Edition of BlueStacks offers a lot more features when compared to the free version. You can run your own apps on the emulator to test your latest app or you can embed the emulator on the website as well.
Features
BlueStacks come loaded with a lot of features some of which are listed below
- 5 Million games available on BlueStacks Emulator
- 500,000 HTML5/Flash games are available
- Twitch Stream Capabilities
- Non-game apps are also compatible
- Tab Mechanisms are implemented to ease the Multitasking
- Resizable screen
- Embeddable Emulator
Supported Platforms
- Windows 10, 8.1, 8 and 7
- Mac OS X 10.8 or later
Pros
- Easy setup and installation
- Free version available
- Good performance
- Perfect for gaming. In fact, it is designed for gaming
- Suitable for non-gaming apps
- Streaming capabilities
- Can be embedded to your website for users to play android games on your website (Enterprise Edition)
- Can run multiple Android apps simultaneously
Cons
- Isn’t available for Linux
- Isn’t good for development testing. Mainly designed to download and run apps.
- High resource demand
- Launcher isn’t customizable
- Is free for as long as you keep downloading heir sponsored apps
System Requirements
You can install the BlueStacks App Player on Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7 as long as the following requirements are fulfilled:
- Your PC must have 2GB of RAM/main memory.
- Your PC must have 4GB of disk space available for storing Android apps / games and their data.
- Direct X 9.0 or higher
- .NET framework 3.5 or higher
- Admin privileges
Main Page
If you want to go to their website and download the BlueStacks Emulator then click here.
Andy Android Emulator
Andy is an Android Emulator known for its extensive list of features that comes packed with the product. Andy Android Emulator was founded in 2011 and early 2012, and it has been growing its audience since then. With its huge list of features and availability of free version, it is definitely worthy of your consideration.
Andy Android Emulator Editions
Andy comes in 2 editions.
Free: The free edition is available for download from their official website. Almost 90% of their features are available from their free version which makes it great for personal use.
Enterprise: The other edition is the Enterprise Edition which is mainly targeted for developers and businessmen. Although the Enterprise Edition brings a lot of features but the main benefit of it is the Developers Support and Keyboard mapper. It is also compatible with Linux.
Features
Here is a list of salient features of Andy Android Emulator.
- Sync capabilities
- Phone can be used as a controller
- External controller support
- Multi-touch support
- ARM support
- Cloud save in Android
- Camera, Microphone and Sensor integrations
- Support for games as well as apps and launchers
- Push notification and storage
Supported Platforms
- Windows 10, 8, 8.1 and 7 SP1
- Mac OS X 10.8 or later
- Linux (Ubuntu 14.04 or later)
Pros
- Simple setup procedure
- Customizable Launcher
- Allows Smartphone to be used as a controller for touch based or accelerometer based applications
- Great customer support
- No Sign up required
- Sync capabilities
- Available on Linux
Cons
- Comes unrooted
- Somewhat unstable on Mac
- High resource demand
System Requirements
The Minimum System Requirements for Andy Android Emulator are:
- Dual core AMD or Intel CPU with Virtualization support
- 3Gb of RAM; Andy uses less than 1Gb while running apps
- At least 10Gb of free disk space
- GPU with OpenGL 2.1 support
Main Page
If you want to go to their website and download the Andy Android Emulator then click here.
BigNox
BigNox is a relatively new Android Emulator when compared to other Android Emulators but it has managed to make a place for itself. BigNox is known for its lightweight design which is the reason most of the people prefer it over other emulators. However, seeing that it is still a new emulator, it lacks the most advanced features like streaming. But those will be implemented in the near future.
BigNox Editions
BigNox comes in only one edition which is completely free to download and use.
Features
Although BigNox provides a wide range of features to its customers, but the features on Mac and Windows version are quite different. Normally, the version for the Mac will lack most of the major features. So, unless you are using Windows, you won’t be able to use all of BigNox’s features.
- Root
- Virtual Positioning and VT
- Support for Multiple Instances
- File sharing between PC and Nox
- Rendering Mode
- IMEI and Control Settings
- Shake feature
- Customization of CPU and memory
- Support for customizable screen
- Virtual sensor support
Supported Platforms
- Windows 10, 8.1, 8 and 7
- Mac OS X 10.9 or later
Pros
- Simple setup procedure
- Low resource demands
- Can run multiple instances of Android simultaneously
- Comes with preinstalled Superuser
- Customizable CPU/RAM/Resolution
Cons
- Isn’t available on Linux
- Limited Mac functionality
- No Streaming capabilities or other advanced features
Minimum System Requirements
These are the Minimum System Requirements for BigNox
- Windows 7,8,8.1,10 and Mac
- Dual core AMD or Intel CPU
- Direct X 9.0 or above
- 5Gb of RAM
- At least 1.5 GB of free disk space under installation path (for saving the data of the apps/games you may install) and 300MB under system disk
- OpenGL 2.0 support or above
Note: BigNox is incompatible with BitDefender if you have VT enabled in your BIOS.
Main Page
If you want to go to their website and download the BigNox then click here.
GenyMotion
Genymotion is, without a doubt, one of the most advanced and well equipped Android Emulator in this list. If you are looking for a completely professional Android Emulator designed for businesses and equipped with almost all the advanced features, then Genymotion is your best bet.
Genymotion Editions
Genymotion comes in a lot of versions.
Indie: This version costs around $136/year for a single user and includes all of their Desktop features
Business: This version costs $412/year per user and includes all the features of their Desktop program with their standard Customer Support for any problems or queries.
Enterprise: This is the edition that comes fully loaded with features that include their Premium Support, Cloud features, Cloud QA Automation and lots more.
Fun Edition: Genymotion offers a fun edition that is targeted for personal use only. You can use this version for playing games on your Desktop without any charges.
Features
The list of features that Genymotion offers is given below
- Supports both games and apps
- Highly customizable
- Compatible with development environments like Eclipse and Android Studio
- Automated Testing
- Command line control
- Continuous Integration Server compatibility
- Cloning and Reset Functions
- Multitouch, accelerometer and gyroscope
- Video and audio recording capabilities
Supported Platforms
- Windows 10, 8.1, 8 and 7 (32 and 64 bit)
- Mac OS X 10.9 or later
- Linux Ubuntu 16.04 (Xenial Xerus) (64 bit) or above, Debian 8 (Jessie) (64 bit), Fedora 25 (64 bit)
Pros
- A huge list of features
- Stable and fast
- Simple set up procedure
- Available on all platforms e.g. Windows, Mac and Linux
- Support for development and testing
- Cloud capabilities
- Lots of customization
Cons
- Very expensive
- Requires an account even for free version
- High resource demand
System Requirements
The System Requirements for Genymotion are given below
- OpenGL 2.0 capable video card, with an up-to-date driver. We recommend the use of one of the following minimum graphic chips: Intel HD Graphics 4000 (2012), Nvidia GeForce 500 Series (2011), ATI Radeon HD 6000 Series (2011)
- 64 bit CPU, with VT-x or AMD-V capability, enabled in BIOS settings
- RAM memory: at least 2GB
- Screen resolution greater than 1024 x 768 pixels
- Free space on hard disk: at least 100MB
- To run virtual devices, you must install Oracle VM VirtualBox.
- A minimum of 2GB of free space is required to deploy a virtual device. You might need more than 8GB depending on your use of the virtual devices and the applications you have installed.
Main Page
If you want to go to their website and download the Genymotion then click here.
AMIDuOS
AMIDuOS comes in the list of fairly new emulators that you will find in the market. AMIDuOS might be new but comes loaded with a fair amount of features. AMIDuOS offers both app testing and gaming features but doesn’t come with any advanced features for these tasks. Its decent features when combined with a very low price tag definitely makes it worth a shot.
AMIDuOS Editions
AMIDuOS comes in 2 editions and offer a 30-day free trial of both editions.
AMIDuOS PRO: This version costs around $15 (once) and comes in Jellybean and Lollipop configurations.
AMIDuOS Lite: This version costs around $10 (once) and comes in only Jellybean configuration
Features
These are the features that AMIDuOS will offer.
- ARM support
- Suitable for games and apps
- Support for 3D acceleration
- Support for external peripherals
- Sensor support includes Ambient Light, Accelerometer, Gyrometer, Compass and Orientation
- Tablet features with multi touch and gesture support
- Storage and file sharing capabilities
- Both front and rear cams support
- Sync capabilities
Supported Platforms
AMIDuOS is only available for Windows right now. It is available on Windows 10, 8.1, 8 and 7 (32 and 64 bit)
Pros
- Very simple and fast
- Easy installation
- Includes Tablet features
- A wide range of sensor support
- Affordable
- A lot of customization options for both UI and Storage (SD card)
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a lot of advanced features
- Only available for Windows
- No dynamic resizing
System Requirements
The System Requirements for AMIDuOS are as follows
- x86/x86_64 Processor
- 32/64-bit of Windows 7/8/8.1/10
- Display driver with OpenGL 3.0 or above
- Hardware Virtualization Technology (Intel VT-x/AMD-V) should be enabled in BIOS
- Minimum 2GB of System RAM, though 3GB is recommended for good performance
- Minimum 2GB of Hard disk free space
- Microsoft .Net framework 4.0 or above
- Admin Privileges
Main Page
If you want to go to their website and download the AMIDuOS then click here.
MEmu
MEmu is another relatively new Android Emulator in this list but don’t be fooled by its age. MEmu is known for its high performance and smoothness. In fact, its benchmarks have been far superior to other top Android Emulator. Even its users have acknowledged the speed difference between MEmu and various other Android Emulators.
MEmu Editions
MEmu has only one edition and it is completely free without any hidden restrictions. But, unfortunately, MEmu is only available for Windows so keep that in mind.
Features
Here is a list of features that MEmu comes loaded with.
- Comes with multiple Android Kernels like Jellybean, Lollipop and KitKat
- Multiple instance support
- Support both AMD and Intel Chipsets
- Supports both apps and games
- Support Customization of CPU, memory size, nav bar location, root mode, etc.
- Customizable screen resolution
- Keyboard and joystick mapping
- GPS location simulation
- External peripheral support
- File sharing
- Syncing capabilities
Supported Platforms
Unfortunately, MEmu is only available for Windows right now. It is available for Windows 10, 8.1, 7 and vista
Pros
- High speed and smooth performance
- Easy to use
- Completely free
- Supports multiple instances of emulator
- A lot of customization option
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a lot of advanced features
- Only available for Windows
System Requirements
The System Requirements to run MEmu properly are:
- Windows Vista/Windows 7 SP1/Windows 8.1/Windows 10
- Intel or AMD CPU (with Virtualization Technology support preferred)
- GPU with OpenGL 2.0+ support
- At least 1 GB free system memory
- At least 2 GB of free disk space under installation path
Main Page
If you want to go to their website and download the MEmu then click here.
Droid4x
Droid4x is another Android Emulator in this list that is a bit new as compared to other, more mature, Android Emulators. But the fact that it is a new Android Emulator and is quite popular says a lot about the quality of this product. Droid4x is mainly designed for games but can be used for productivity and app testing. It doesn’t come with a ton of features but its decent enough to use as an entertainment and testing product. Also, it is completely free which is a plus.
Droid4x Editions
Droid4x is free and is available for everyone. There are no restrictions whatsoever with its installation.
Features
Droid4x offers a decent variety of features to its users. Some of the major features are given below
- Video recording and picture taking capabilities
- File Sharing support
- Suitable for both games and apps
- Resizable screen with full screen mode for maximum fun
- Supports external devices like joystick
- A lot of customizable options especially with Add-ons
- Can use smartphone as a controller for games
Supported Platforms
- Windows 10, 8, 7, XP and Vista (32 and 64 bit)
- Mac OS X
Pros
- Easy to use
- Easy and simple installation procedure
- Completely free
- Add-on capability
- Recording capabilities
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a lot of advanced features
- Since it is new, it has some performance issues
System Requirements
The System Requirements for Droid4x are as follows
- Win7 x64, WinXP, WinVista, Win7 x32, Win8 x32, Win8 x64, Win10 x32, Win10 x64, Windows 8, Windows 10,
- 4 GB RAM
- 2 GHz, quad-core (AMD or Intel)
- 1 GB VRAM (Nvidia or AMD)
Main Page
If you want to go to their website and download the Droid4x then click here.
Conclusion
So, this was the list of Android Emulators that we researched toughly so you don’t have to waste your time. There are, of course, a lot of other Android Emulators out there on the internet but these are the ones that are the most popular ones. Some of these are new while some of them have been in the industry for quite some time. All of these are fairly good at what they are designed for so pick the one that you think will suit you the best. If you can’t decide then try a few of them to see which one you like the best.
Of Course, these are emulators and none of them is perfect. So, go with the one that suits your requirements and you won’t be disappointed.
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