Most avid gamers and professional app developers are looking for the best android emulators for their pc or macOS because pro gamers always wish to be precise on the big screen gameplay with keyboard and mouse and app developers have to try and test their applications before releasing it as the final product. Moreover, android emulation on Pc or laptop is possible, quite simple, and easier nowadays. Meanwhile, many good emulators have run away and new entrants are making space but the demand is still increasing with the rise of android gaming. Let’s see today the best android emulators for pc and mac to play and enjoy mobile games on the large display.
Mobile emulation software enables gamers to essentially transform their personal computers into a larger version of their smartphone, in order to be able to play the fun and challenging mobile games on a bigger screen with easier controls.
Well, Android is an efficient and feature-rich OS offering a complete solution for a smartphone along with the possibilities of optimum access to your mobile phone. You can customize it by installing 3rd party Apps, change UI, tweak the look and feel of the phone more personalization offered by the Android OS. The open-source nature of Android OS made it the most popular mobile software, this led to the development of many Android-based emulators for PC.
What is an android emulator?
An Android emulator is a software that allows one computer system to act like another computer system. For running smartphone Apps on PC, the emulator behaves like an Android system that can be installed on the Windows and the Apps from Store are installed on the emulator. You can run the Android OS on the Windows and Mac PC for free with emulators.
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In a broader understanding of the functionality of an emulator, The responsiveness and ease of using the mobile Apps on the emulator depend on your system specifications. A good computer with modern hardware could run high-end and the most popular Android games on PC. You can simulate the complete Android experience on Windows and Mac computer with the emulator.
Let’s check the list of some of the best Android Gaming emulator for your Computer PC to run or play android games and apps on your Windows 7,8,10 and Mac Computer for free.
Best Android Emulators for Pc And Mac in 2023
Here are the Best Android Emulators for PC on Windows and Mac to play Android Games and run Apps on Pc and MacOS.
1. BlueStacks Gaming Emulator
BlueStacks is one of the popular and one of the pioneers in emulation software for PC. Bluestacks is the most downloaded android gaming emulator for Windows and Mac. It is one of the ideal and well-designed emulators having the best blend of power, graphics, and processing making it the most favorable Android Emulator for PC among gamers and app developers globally.
Testing Apps or playing games on the Bluestacks will run and function smoothly as the emulator is capable enough to play high-graphics games. Though it is preferable that your PC has good specs which are enough capable of handling the graphics. Nevertheless, the Bluestacks Emulator is the best and most trusted Android Suite to play Android games and apps on Windows and Mac.
The Bluestacks run on the ‘latest’ Nougat version. Bluestacks claims to be 6x faster than smartphone. The software has an advanced key-mapping and control system you can manage key controls with the all-new game controls window. You can also make manual control settings of your preference for a better gaming experience. You can also run other apps of your choice on the simulator.
Minimum System Requirements
- OS: Microsoft Windows 7 and above.
- Processor: Intel or AMD Processor.
- RAM: Your PC must have at least 2GB of RAM.
- HDD: 5GB Free Disk Space
- You must be an Administrator on your PC
- Up to date graphics drivers from Microsoft or the chipset vendor.
2. Tencent Gaming Buddy (Gameloop Now)
The developers of PUBG created Tencent Gaming Buddy (now Gameloop), the emulator specifically caters to mobile gaming on PC. The Gaming Buddy is able to handle high-end games. TGB and now Gameloop, Being an Android gaming emulator you can expect it to be highly optimized to run even on low-end Windows PC. Don’t get confused that TGB is only for PUBG Mobile but actually, you can install any APK along with the OBB if needed on the TGB and play all the hardcore mobile games on Windows.
You can improve the performance of the game by tweaking the Buddy settings, as the emulator is always on development there is much room for improvement. In the settings, you can set the resolution as SD (720p), HD (1080p) or 2K. Also, you can set the display quality as Auto, Smooth, Balance or HD. It is better you do not make any changes to the engine settings if you do not have much knowledge. The game works smoothly on a low-end system and requires basic specs to have a clutter-free play.
Minimum System Requirement
- Windows 7 and above
- CPU: Dual-core from Intel | AMD @1.8Ghz
- GPU: Basic NVIDIA GeForce | AMD Radeon
- 3 GB of RAM
- 2 GB of free storage
3. MEmu Emulator
MEmu is one more popular and widely approved Android Emulator for Windows. It is capable of playing high-end games on PC if the system has the minimum technical specifications for the MEmu Players for smooth working. The emulator offers good features that make gameplay easy on PC. MEmu allows high keyboard mapping customization making it easy for mobile gaming control needs. The gaming emulator can enable virtualization for your PC and it also gives great performance for integrated and dedicated graphics. The best thing about this emulator is, it is compatible with Intel, Nvidia, and AMD powered Windows.
MEmu is preloaded with Google Play Store so you can browse and install the Apps on the PC easily. It also associates itself with the APK files on your Windows Storage and when you double-click the file, the emulator will prompt to install the App. The developers at MEmu app player regularly release updates to add more features and fix any issues with the App. The software helps in the deep integration of the mouse and keyboard to play the games smoothly.
Minimum System Requirements
- Intel, Nvidia or AMD CPU Processor
- Windows XP/7/8 /8.1/10
- Windows DirectX 11 or Graphics driver with OpenGL 2.0
- Hardware Virtualization Technology (Intel VT-x/AMD-V) shall be enabled in BIOS
- Minimum 2GB of system memory
- Minimum 2GB of hard disk free space
4. Remix OS Player
Remix OS Player is heavily optimized for gaming. Specifically, you can map keyboard buttons and control the game to your every comfort. The developers potentially looked at improving the software more inclined toward gaming. It is important to note that the emulator doesn’t support AMD chipset and requires Virtualization Technology-enabled in your BIOS. The App has a very clean and fresh interface appealing to the users. The emulator has lots of customization options for gaming preferences letting the users make the most out of the Remix OS.
The interface of the Remix OS is very fresh. The remix is the best platform for developers to test their App. It is a very robust Android gaming emulator with an inbuilt Play Store. The Game Toolkit of the Remix gives everything you need to enjoy your favorite Android games on a PC. Remix OS Player is the only Android emulator that allows you to play multiple games at the same time.
Minimum System Requirements
- 2 GHz dual-core processor or better
- 2 GB system memory.
- Minimum 8 GB of free hard drive space
- Any updated graphics
5. Nox Player
Nox Player is the of the best Android gaming emulator for Windows and Mac. The Emulator is designed with the only motive for playing games. Nox can handle high FPS games without any clutter and supports keypads, gamepads and script recording (helps to record a sequence on screen for later play). Though it may take some time for you to get acquainted with the controls, once you get along with it, Nox Player would turn out to be the best place to run Android Apps and Games on Windows or Mac. You can customize the controls in the settings and also optimize the quality in case if you feel the graphics are higher than your PC standards.
One of the most amazing features of the Nox is, it comes with a rooted version of Android out-of-the-box. So, you get a completely unlocked player to gain full access to the Android. The Nox is upgradable to Nougat. I recommend Nox for its feature-rich and amazingly smooth run on the PC.
Minimum System Requirements
- Windows XP/7/8 /8.1/10 and DirectX 9.0C
- Dual-Core, AMD, or Intel
- OpenGL 2.0 and above
- 1.5 GB RAM
- 2.5 GB Free space on the hard disk
6. Genymotion Emulator
An easy-to-use Android emulator that has been designed to help developers test Apps. With genymotion emulator you can run the Android Apps over the cloud as a virtual machine. You just need to sign in and on the main screen, click Add to select and download an Android machine to emulate. Select a device from the range of tablets and phones available with various Android versions. Start the machine and done. The Emulator runs over the cloud on SaaS, PaaS, AWS, CGS, and more. So, you just need a modern updated browser and good internet speeds. You can use the emulator as a virtual Android device and perform all functions as on a conventional mobile.
The interface of Genymotion is easy and intuitive. But the thing is you need a powerful PC for the smooth working of the VM. Ideally, the app is suited for gaming and product testing. Though the service is paid, you get 1000 minutes for free. You can test your apps and games for various device conditions that include, performance over different battery levels, Wi-Fi Strength, Data, GPS, Pixel, Gyroscope, Different Storage Levels, RAM, Multitouch, and more. The VM offers a number of tools and plugins for deep testing of the App.
Minimum System Requirements
- Microsoft Windows 7, 8/8.1, 10 (32 or 64-bit);
- macOS 10.9 or above;
- Linux Ubuntu 18.04 or above
- OpenGL 2.0 capable video card, with an up-to-date driver.
- 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.
- Updated Web Browser
7. PrimeOS
PrimeOS is not an emulator in itself but an Operating System that boots itself after creating a partition in the computer storage. So, you will see dual-boot options when you boot your PC, Windows OS, and PrimeOS. The interface of Prime OS is very clean and clutter-free having a nice feel of a desktop with the power of Android. The developers have brought in all the fundamental elements of the Android ecosystem to the OS like along with Desktop characteristics like the start menu, taskbar, etc giving a very fresh usage experience. Being an OS it integrates very well with the system hardware thus giving an upper hand compared to the emulator system which needs to be responsive according to the system.
For gaming, there are some dedicated features like Decapro key mapping tool, custom control settings, dedicated gaming center to manage your games, CPU & GPU support tools and more. The OS is capable of running all hardcore games smoothly due to its deep bond with the hardware. OTA support is available if you install in EXT4 RW partition. Also, Opengapps are included, no need to install them manually. Therefore, you can access all the Google Apps along with its services on the desktop. PrimeOS is one of the best alternatives if you have an old PC and looking for some change.
Minimum System Requirements
- Windows, Linux, Ubuntu, Mac
- RAM: 2GB
- Hard Disk Space: 8GB Storage
- Intel and AMD-based x86 based processor
8. Andy Player
Andy player is designed simply yet a powerful emulator for PC and Mac. It lets you integrate your device more intimately with your PC. A good thing about the Application is it syncs across all the devices connected thus no need for transfer of game progress. You can also transfer the Apps from mobile to Emulator hassle-free.
You can use the Phone as a joystick and enjoy the games on the Big Screen with your smartphone as a controller giving you a whole lot of good UX for play. It also provides users with unlimited storage capacity, PC and Mac compatibility, and the freedom to play the most popular mobile games on a desktop.
Minimum System Requirements
- Dual-core AMD or Intel CPU with Virtualization support
- 3GB of RAM
- 10GB of free disk space
- GPU with OpenGL 2.1 support
- Windows 7 SP1 / Windows 8.1 / Ubuntu 14.04+ / Mac OSX 10.8+
9. Android Studio
The Android Studio is specifically catered to developers who want to develop Android Apps. You get a number of custom-tailored features to test out your product. The Studio offers its own Android Emulator, not a general purpose wherein you can install and play the Apps. The Studio’s emulator is very complex and is best suited for developers who want to test out their Apps for various conditions like signal strength, battery, storage, RAM, CPU, GPU, and more.
This emulator is an official tool from Android which is too complicated for the consumer due to very minute programs. But if you are a developer and want to experiment with the App for performance and usage, Studio is the best emulator for your PC. It comes with features like APK Analyzer, Layout tester, real-time error detection, code editing and more.
Minimum System Requirements
- 64-bit distribution capable of running 32-bit applications
- 3 GB RAM
- 2GB HDD space
- Windows, Linux or Mac
- The minimum Monitor resolution needs to be 1280×800
10. KOPlayer
KOPlayer is a free and solid platform built on kernel technology on x86 Architecture. Which supports advanced features like OpenGL & hardware acceleration. It brings a quality Android playing experience to the Windows platform. The emulator supports multiple accounts, screen recording, gamepad & keyboard mapping for streamlined controls. The App has built-in GMS support with Google Play Store to download your favorite Apps safely.
Minimum System Requirements
- Windows 7 or above
- CPU dual-core AMD or Intel CPU
- Graphics card- GPU with support OpenGL 2.1
- HDD- 10 GB of free disk space.
- RAM: 2GB RAM
11. Droid4x
Droid4x is an old emulator and there is no active development on the software. It supports all versions of Windows having mid-level specs. But what makes it special is its stability making it capable to run even on basic system requirements which keep it ahead. The emulator also works with touchscreen-compatible PCs.
Droid4X also lets you record the emulator screen. You can configure your gamepad or keyboard with Droid4X to play your favorite games. You can create and customize personalized controls of your preference. Like any other emulators out there, you use the Droid4x for making some productive work.
Minimum System Requirements
- A Dual Core CPU supporting virtualization technology
- Windows 7/8/8.1/10 with 32bit or 64bit System
- 1GB RAM
- Graphics Chipset/Graphics Card supporting at least Open GL 2.0
- 2 GB Free Space on HDD
12. Archon Gaming Emulator
ARChon is not a conventional emulator system for PC. It is actually a Chrome extension that allows loading APK files on Google Chrome Browser in runtime. It is not an easy emulator to run as you need to change the APK file using a tool to make it compatible with ARChon. Also, every APK file may not run due to support issues. You need to perform more other steps to run an App on Chrome using this extension. Also, it can only take the pressure of small APK files having no additional file size.
Minimum System Requirements
- Radeon HD 3400 Series or GeForce 6600 graphics, with 1080p resolution.
- Windows 7/8/8.1/10 with 32bit or 64bit System
- 512 MB RAM
- DirectX 9 GPU
13. LDPlayer
LDPlayer is an emulator designed for playing mobile games on Windows. Play games with keyboard and mouse. The Android emulator lets you operate simply and conveniently even in multiplayer games. It is receiving good responses from gamers and is believed to be one of the best Android emulators for pc in 2020.
This is compatible with various types of games offering smooth controls, and stable and efficient operations. You can run multiple games at a time without any process kill. Based on Android Lollipop. In addition to playing Android games on PC, you can also access Google Play Store along with Google Mobile Services Suite for other apps. With its multi-functional design and user-friendly settings, it is one of the most recommended simulators for PC.
Minimum System Requirements
- Intel or AMD CPU Processor like x86 or x86_64.
- Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows XP XP3.
- Required Windows DirectX 11 or Graphic driver with OpenGL 2.0.
- Minimum 2GB of system memory (RAM)
- Minimum 2GB free hard disk space.
14. BlissOS
Bliss is another kernel-based x86 architectural android OS that boots itself as a native computer OS. You can use it with a USB stick to look for all the features before going for an actual partition boot. It is not a very easy system to get along with but if you are a developer and looking for a simple yet powerful Android OS for your older PC then Bliss is a perfect choice. It runs on the newer versions of Android Pie along with other versions which are unique given other Android gaming emulators are still mostly stuck to Marshmellow.
Minimum System Requirements
| Operating System | Windows XP/Vista/7 |
| Processor | Intel Pentium 4 2.00GHz |
| Memory | 1 GB of RAM |
| Storage Space | 1 GB Free Hard Disk Space |
| Graphics Card | NVIDIA GeForce 6100 Graphics Card |
| Video Card | 128 MB |
15. Xamarin
Xamarin is an official to test the Apps on Windows. The application is not easy to use on the first go but if you work around with it for some time you sure will fall in love with it. The emulator is best suited for professional App developers but is not limited to, as any conventional App developers can give it a try. The screen looks like a mobile display to help the developer test, debug, simulate, and run the mobile apps for the performance check. Xamarin is also an official tool to test iOS Apps.
Though the Xamarin android gaming emulator is now discontinued for any future developments. But you can surely use it to test the App with various settings and tweaks. Xamarin mobile applications can be deployed to physical devices via USB for testing and debugging. You can read and download the stuff from Github. Xamarin is also an iOS emulator used for testing iOS apps on PC.
Minimum System Requirements
- OS: Windows 7. Xamarin.Forms UWP support requires Windows
- CPU: Intel Pentium 1.5 GHz
- RAM (memory): 1 GB
- NVIDIA GeForce 6100 Graphics Card
- HDD: 2 GB
16. YouWave Emulator
YouWave is the oldest Android emulator available and is still working. It has its own limitations but you get Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box if you use the free version. While the paid one comes with Android Lollipop. Though the features offered by both the free and paid version is pretty much the same. The YouWave is not meant for gamers but you can still play some low-RAM games. The emulator targets users who are looking for productivity and testing with a bunch of useful tools for the developers. Apps that require hardware sensors, or use closed-source APIs, are not supported.
Minimum System Requirements
- Intel Pentium G630 HD 2.7 GHz CPU
- 8GB DDR3 RAM
- 500MB disk space,
- Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10
17. Windroy
Windroy is a project that combines the functions of YouWave and Bluestacks and attempts to emulate Android in Windows. Its aim is to be able to run all Android apps and to be as easy to use as any other Windows application. Android 4.0.3 is the version that currently runs on Windroy. It’s quick to start and offers you a basic Android experience, it doesn’t offer App Store but you need to download the APKs manually. It is a very generic software and lacks some of the very useful features like the audio output and some of the apps are very unstable.
Minimum System Requirements
- Processor: 800MHz or faster
- 512 MB RAM
- 273 MB free space on disk HDD
- Operating System: Windows Vista or later
18. Phoenix OS
With the closure of Remix OS by Jide, Phoenix OS becomes the go-to software for a modified Android gaming emulator environment for Windows 10. Developed based on Android 7.1, Phoenix OS pacts many classic PC features desktop, multi-windows, mouse, and keyboard support, while also providing perfect support for Android games thanks to system-level compatibility. Phoenix OS supports a variety of peripherals such as mouse and keyboards, gamepads, and even docks.
Phoenix OS supports file category, LAN access, and universal search, along with mouse support, and drag and drop cross-windows. It is a complete emulator OS with all the applications pre-installed for quick access. You get ethernet, app clone, shortcut key support, and more. The Phoenix OS(x86) can run on devices with Intel x86 series CPUs. It can be installed on the hard disk for operation, without affecting the original document system.
Minimum System Requirements
- Intel Pentium 3.5ghz CPU
- AMD A10-9700 Box (AD9700AGABBOX) Graphics Card
- 256GB ADATA Ultimate SU800 SSD
- RAM DDR4-2667 G.Skill DIMM 8GB DDR4-2666 Kit
- 500MB disk space,
- Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10
Discontinued Emulators: There were few emulators discontinued after some time of its launch. They are LeapDroid and AMIDuOS is officially discontinued and there’s no new version of this emulator available.
Conclusion: The above-listed best Android emulators for pc and macOS are tested and screened by experts and professionals in this field, we have also referred to online information to reach the bottom line. It all suggests we to believe that the list of Android emulators in this article is the best of all time. We may update you in the future if anything changes in the list. Yet, if we miss anything to add here, you may suggest to us, please write your comment in this section for anything you wish to share with us.
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