Everything is contained within the emulation software. This means you can do things not normally possible on your computer, like install Android apps on Windows and test drive various versions of the OS, without needing a phone or tablet. These emulators can be helpful if your favorite app only runs on your phone, but you’d like to use it from your computer, too, or on a bigger screen. If you’re new to Android and want to test out the newest version before buying an Android phone, some emulators can do that for you.
Google Play is built-in, so just install the apps you want through the app store, and then open their shortcuts like you would on a mobile device. If you’re looking for an emulator that lets you quickly install an Android app on your PC, you can’t go wrong with this one. It’s free, but you can upgrade to BlueStacks Premium for no ads, daily wallpapers, app recommendations, premium support, and more. Some apps work in full-screen mode, you can buy in-app things much like you can from a mobile device, apps for kids are separated into their own tab, and the search tool makes it super easy to find apps in seconds. You get the whole operating system as if you were running a tablet right there on the screen. There’s direct access to the Play Store, so after logging in to your Google account, it’ll feel much like you’re on an Android 7 tablet: just choose which apps to install, and you’ll have them open in no time. You don’t even need to open MEmu first to run your favorite app. Just make a desktop shortcut so it’s accessible at any time; it’ll open directly in MEmu App Player. This is quite a beast of a program if you’re interested in customizations. You can adjust performance (great if you have limited system resources), change the render mode, define custom keyboard shortcuts, set keymapping, fake your GPS location, install Android apps manually (without using the app store), shake the screen, automate mouse and keyboard actions, record the screen, and lots more. There are also one-click toggles to easily enable root mode, GPU memory optimization, ASTC cache, 120 fps mode, and lots more. Only paying users can remove ads, change the theme, and customize the dock. While you can install apps manually from their APK files, it also includes over 1,000 mobile games, and is the official Android emulator for PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, and Arena of Valor. The emulator itself is very responsive. This was clear immediately after installing it, and continued throughout downloading and using apps. The settings include options for changing the screen rendering mode, turning on Root Authority, and adjusting anti-aliasing, resolution, and memory/processor settings. Screenshots and recordings can be saved to any custom folder of your choosing. Nimo TV is built-in, so you when you’re not playing, you can switch over to this live streaming platform to watch other players who are broadcasting their gameplay.
However, instead of installing the whole Remix OS, you can use the Remix OS Player emulator to run Android apps on your computer. This software is described as a game emulator for your computer because it lets you customize some shortcuts normally used for navigating games, but you can use Remix OS Player for other apps, too, like Snapchat, Facebook, etc.; everything is available through the Play Store.
Nearly every option in this emulator makes playing games easier. For example, you can record macros, define keys for things like multiple strikes and weapon fires, adjust FPS settings, record the screen, and take screenshots, among other things.
Since this is a full Android emulator, you can also reposition the apps on the home screen and install widgets, just like you can on a real Android device.
This program doesn’t have an easy-to-use interface like the other emulators in this list, so it isn’t the greatest if you just want to run some Android apps on your computer. However, if you plan to create your own apps, and you want an easy way to test them throughout the creation process, then this might be all you need.
This emulator can run modern versions of Android (through v10), not just old ones like some of the competition. The way it works is you install virtual devices by selecting the Android version you want and the device model that should run that version of Android. For example, you might select Android 10 and Google Pixel to emulate that phone and OS on your computer. You can also make a custom phone or tablet by specifying the screen resolution. The processor, memory size, and network mode are customizable as well. You can use Genymotion for free only if it’s for personal use (otherwise, there are three paid editions). To get started, make a user account, activate it through the link they send to your email, and then download the software.
