Android is one of the most popular mobile computing operating systems
and powers a diverse range of phones, including the low-end ones and
the high-end flagship. The good thing about Android is that other than
running it on mobile devices, it can also run on the desktop with a
suitable emulator. In case you have an ancient Windows machine and want
to convert it into something useful, running Android on it can give your
ancient Windows machine a new lease of life.
DO You Know? You Can Also Run Android Apps in the Google Chrome Browser
There are many free Android emulators for Windows on the market but
only a few of them could match up to our expectations. Listed below is a
carefully curated list of Android emulators for your Windows PC.
1. Bluestacks
Bluestacks
has been one of the most sought-after Android emulators thanks to its
easy installation and the ability to accept third party apk’s by double
clicking on them. This app supports one of the most exhaustive lists of
applications and is a natural choice if you are on a quest for an
Android emulator to run apps and play Android Games.
As we said earlier, Bluestacks comes packed in a single file which
can be installed directly, and unlike other programs it doesn’t need a
third-party virtualization tool.
We found Bluestack to be best optimised for playing games, though the
UI is slightly different from any run-of-the-mill Android phone and
keeps reminding you that you are using an emulator.
2. Andy
Andy OS
is another Android emulator, which unlike most of other emulators on
the market, offers features like touchscreen support. We need to install
virtualbox in the system, and the installer file will automatically
install Oracle VM, in case you don’t have it installed in your system.
The installation process can be a bit time-consuming and
resource-hogging if you are using an under-specced device. Once the
installation is done, it prompts a restart after which you are ready to
experience Andy OS.
The best takeaway of the emulator has to be the fact that it matches
up so closely with an actual Android device, and if you dig inside the
settings Andy will show that it is running on Android 4.4 (a.k.a
KitKat). Another good bit is that Andy OS offers a feature wherein you
can use your phone as a remote control whilst playing games!
3. Genymotion
Genymotion
is the best bet if you are looking for a complete Android experience.
Genymotion emulator, however, needs you to not only sign up at their
website but also activate your account by verifying your e-mail address.
Just like Andy, Genymotion uses VirtualBox, which will be used by the
emulator to create a virtual machine.
The unique feature of Genymotion emulator is that it lets you choose
between a slew of Android devices, both smartphones and tablets, and
then uses the Virtual Box to emulate the device. We choose HTC One
running on Android KitKat 4.4.4, and we were impressed by the level of
detailing. The x86-built architecture makes Genymotion faster than
Bluestacks. Some of the features like Pixel perfect and Screenshots are
only available in the paid version.
4. YouWave Android emulator
YouWave Android emulator
is the natural pick for users who don’t use a high-end system. Unlike
other emulators, YouWave can be installed and run in a low configuration
PC without any problems. Additionally, the emulator also supports
Android online multiplayer gaming, and it features an easy-to-use user
interface.
Users can install apps by using apk files or by directly heading to
Playstore and downloading the app. We would like to let you know that
YouWave is not completely free, but the company offers a 10-day trial
before you make up your mind to shell out some money.
5. Windows Android
As the name implies, this emulator is highly optimised for Windows
systems. The emulator can be installed easily and the fact that it runs
on Windows Kernel ensures that the emulator is speedy and it doesn’t
really get hung up in the middle.
Windows Android
dynamically chooses the appropriate UI based on the size of the
windows. The emulator also supports the use of mobile phones as
controllers for the games.
Windows Android has one of the best home screens we have come across
in emulators, and the UI is highly optimized for PC usage. It’s good to
see the app operate at lightning fast speed without any lag whatsoever.
Conclusion
It is hard to hand pick a single winner as each emulator has its own
pros and cons. I have been personally using Bluestacks for quite a while
and found it to be one of the most simple yet intuitive emulators out
of the lot. The fact that Bluestacks is completely free is icing on the
cake for users. Bluestacks steals the crown as we found it to be
extremely balanced, and it supports one of the widest ranges of Android
apps. If you are a serial gamer, without any second thought, I would
recommend the Windows Android emulator as it renders the best graphics
without any frame drops and also lets you use the Android phone as a
controller.
Which Android emulator have you used, and which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.