Best Android Emulators for PC and Mac - allow users to access Android OS features into your PC, Mac or Mobile. So, you can enjoy Android apps and games. The Android emulator supports Mac OS X 10.6 and up (Snow Leopard, Lion, Mountain Lion, Mavericks, Yosemite) and will work for all Apple computers (. Android Studio Emulator slow, laggy So I'm trying to use the emulator of Android Studio and I have 4gb ram but the emulator are so slow and it's getting laggy. My question is do I need to upgrade my ram or the problem is in the Android Studio? The next Android emulator for Mac on our list is the Droid4X. This emulator was created with raw power in mind and for this reason, it is the best. Xamarin app very slow to load on Android emulator Hi to all, I'm new on Xamarin and mobile apps and try to develop my 1st app with Xamarin forms. It takes a very long time to run any app on the Android emulator, at least 30 seconds even with the basic templates/samples created with a new Xamarin app.
Question or issue on macOS:
First of all, yes I know there’s a lot of topics similar to this issue, I did use the search function on stack overflow.
But most of the issue that were brought up seems to about long boot times.
For me, the emulator is so slow, simply sliding from one home screen to another is like watching a slideshow. I placed in more ‘RAM’ into the virtual device but nothing changes.
How do I fix this?
I’m using a Macbook Pro 2010 on Mac OS X Lion.
How to solve this problem?
Solution no. 1:
On the latest version of the Android SDK there is support for x86 and native execution. Now it is possible to run the emulator at native speeds on a Mac but there is some work to do by hand.
First you need the latest SDK Tools rev.19+ and Platform tools rev.11+, the Android x86 Atom System Image for 4.0.3 to 4.4 and the Intel Hardware Accelerated Execution Manager (HAX) all this from the Android SDK Manager.
After this you need to install HAX, unfortunately the SDK Manager downloads an outdated version. There is the Intel-HAXM hotfix v1.0.8
When you create a new AVD to use this latest system image and enable the GPU support on it (at the moment the snapshot support are not compatible with GPU but it still worths it. The VM will boot up in just a few seconds anyway.
It considerably accelerates the development on Android, it is just a shame that it doesn’t works like this out of the box.
Solution no. 2:
The bounty is still open incase anyone comes up with something better.
But so far, the only solution I’ve found for testing android on Mac OSX is to use a VM. You can still build/install your app from Eclipse as normal using ADT/abd
See http://software.intel.com/en-us/blogs/2011/10/11/getting-started-on-android-for-x86-step-by-step-guide-on-setting-up-android-2223-for-x86-testing-environment-in-oracle-virtualbox/ for step-by-step instructions.
Solution no. 3:
Try genomotion emulator!
Its very fast, and way lighter than the other simulators*!
- Go here https://cloud.genymotion.com/page/customer/edit/, and register
- Download the IntelliJ Idea/Android studio plugin, and the Application (works for Linux/Mac/Windows)
- Install the application. Install the plugin (Preferences/Plugins/Install from disc)
- Open application. Login with registration credentials. Download from genymotion’s cloud an image (eg nexus7 w/o gapps)
- Select in IntelliJ/Android Studio the genymotion icon, and the select the path of the Application
- Run your app in genymotion emulator! Note: it will appear as “USB Device” and NOT as emulator!
*I have tried nexus7 w/ intels HAXM. Its super fast too, but its very heavy! Genymotion is much lighter!
Edit2: some weird error I faced using this emulator. When running the emulator, I could add text input to EditText if physical keyboard language was not english!
Solution no. 4:
Some tips if you still want to try to use the default emulator:
1) Reduce screen size. Don’t bother to build an emulator with 1280×800 screen, the emulator will choke on it as it only uses one CPU/process (not sure) to do all translation from ARM to MacOS and back again and does all of the screen rendering in software. I think the general recommendation is to stay with 800×480 or 1024×700. Less pixels = less lag. Heck try a 480×320, if its really bad on your machine.
2) If you can use an older version of the SDK like 1.6, do so. Some of the performance gets used up by the fancier home screens of Froyo and Gingerbread.
3) Allocate more memory to the emulator. If you are using eclipse:
Go to Preferences.
Select “Launch”
ADD “-partition-size 1024” on the “Default emulator option”
Click “Apply”
You may have done this already but added for clarity.
[MC] Oops (3) was parition-size, -m is for memory.
Hope this helps!
Can you run Android apps on a PC or Mac? Apple will tell you that you can’t. But in truth, if you get a decent emulator, you can run Android apps and games on both Windows and Mac.
But how do you find a decent emulator? There are so many to choose from. Rather than experiment with random emulators, some of which may infect your PC with malware, you might as well choose an emulator from this list:
List of Best Android Emulator for PC (Low/High-end)
1. BlueStacks
You cannot talk about Android emulators without mentioning BlueStacks. This is easily the best emulator in the world. It guarantees amazing graphics and smooth performance. You can play multiple games at the same time. Gamers will appreciate the live recording and replay features.
Android Emulator Slow Mac Free
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Safe
- It is compatible with numerous Android apps
Cons
- It requires a computer with good specs. It is slow on computers that don’t have enough ram.
2. Nox Player
If you can’t use BlueStacks, Nox Player is a great alternative. It allows gamers to use external controllers. You can also customize your keyboard and mouse controls.
Despite all the features it brings to the table, the emulator is free to use. You can use it to record gameplay.
Pros
- You can play multiple games at the same time
- Free
- Easy to use
- You can customize your controls
3. Game Loop
This is another free emulator that people use to play games like Call of Duty Mobile. You don’t have to register or open an account to use the emulator. Developed by Tencent, you can only find it on the Game Loop website. You cannot download it from the Google Play Store. But this is a minor inconvenience.
Pros
- The emulator guarantees the security of your data
- It is free
- You can play high-end games like Call of Duty and PUBG
S60 3rd Edition Emulator
Cons
- It doesn’t support other types of apps
4. Android Studio
This emulator was created with developers in mind. Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, it has a code emulator and compiler. You can still use it as an Android emulator. It will download and run Android apps. But it also doubles as an app development tool.
Pros
- It supports app development
- It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- You can use the logcat tool to identify runtime errors
Cons
- It is slow on older machines. You need a laptop with decent specs
5. Andy
This is a simple emulator that can sync across your connected devices, simplifying the process of transferring apps from your android device to the emulator on your computer. You can also download apps from a desktop browser on a mac.
The emulator is free despite all the features it offers. It can run hundreds of games.
Pros
- You play games on a computer using your mobile phone as the controller
- You can access social media and messaging apps
- It supports PlayStation and Xbox controllers
- Easy to use
Cons
- The setup file is large
6. Genymotion
This is a great emulator for developers that want to test their apps before they upload them to an app store. The emulator allows visitors to use it for 60 minutes for free.
Once that period expires, they must pay 5 cents per minute. It has over three thousand Android devices for developers to choose from. Genymotion isn’t for gamers. You can’t download games.
Pros
- It is compatible with Eclipse and Android Studio
- It can emulate thousands of Android device configurations
- You can use the webcam on a desktop to record screencasts.
Cons
- It isn’t cheap
- You can’t play games
7. Prime OS
This emulator has a desktop interface that gives users access to a whole slew of Android applications. It makes dual-booting easy (Just one click). Unlike Genymotion, Prime OS provides a memorable gaming experience.
Pros
- Promises a better performance than its rivals
- Great gaming experience
- Dual boot with a single click
Cons
- It doesn’t have official support
- It runs the Android LTS build which is dated
8. ARChon
This is a free emulator that works on windows, mac, and Linux. Rather than an independent program, ARChon is a Chrome extension. It takes a while to master the emulator. But on the positive side, as an extension, the emulator is as lightweight as they come. It supports every Android system. You can run applications and play games.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Installation is easy because the emulator is a browser extension
- You can run apps and play games
Cons
- The emulator is complicated. It may take beginners a while to understand the process of editing APK files.
9. Ko Player
This free emulator will bring all the applications, features, and functions of an Android device to your Windows or macOS computer. It has an intuitive user interface and functions that enable users to record videos. You can play games using the keyboard and mouse or a gamepad. For the most part, it is lag-free.
Pros
- It doesn’t have ads despite being free
- You can record and share gameplay
- The emulator is safe and secure
Cons
- The design requires additional refinement
10. Bliss
Bliss isn’t an ordinary emulator. If you boot your computer from a USB stick, Bliss will run your computer. Though, the USB installation method is complicated and not worth it for people that do not understand what they are doing.
The open-source emulator has numerous customization and power-saving options.
Pros
- The emulator has reliable security features
- It can reduce your battery consumption
- It can run your computer
Cons
- The taskbar has problems
- The sleep state is unreliable
Related: Droid4X Emulator for low-end PCs
Conclusion
Despite what some people think, emulators are not illegal. You can use them to run Android apps and games on your PC and Mac without facing any legal repercussions. The applications above are definitely the best android emulators for PC and Mac on the internet.
Best Free Android Emulator
They stand out because they have been thoroughly tested. Some emulators, such as BlueStacks, have stood the test of time. People trust them because they have spent so many years providing a reliable service. If you need an Android emulator for your PC and Mac, one of the options above will satisfy your needs.