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Android emulators bring the Android operating system to your desktop or laptop computer. With just one click of a button, these emulators allow you to run your favorite Android apps right on your PC or Mac. No matter whether you want to take the Android OS for a test drive or develop apps, there are many free ways to emulate Android on your computer.
1. BlueStacks
BlueStacks is, hands down, the most popular Android emulator for PCs and Macs. Their App Player allows you to run Android apps full-screen and faster than other emulators on the market. With BlueStacks, you can play all of your favorite games, like Candy Crush or Temple Run 2, right on your laptop or desktop. BlueStacks is still free to download, but this may change in the future.
2. Jar of Beans
Jar of Beans is a Jelly Bean 4.1.1 emulator that’s quick and works best at high resolutions. You can download the emulator from the Jar of Beans official website, although the developer of the emulator has stopped working on the project.
Once you install Jar of Beans, you can start using all of your favorite Android apps. The user-interface is simple and straightforward. Just click the “Start Android” button and you’re ready to go. You also have the option of auto-starting the emulator and playing in full-screen.
3. YouWave
YouWave is an Android emulator that’s a cross between Android’s native emulator and BlueStacks. The Home 3.2 version will cost you $19.99, but it’s worth the price if you’re looking to emulate newer versions of Android. YouWave Home 3.2 runs Android 4.0.4, offers multiple screen sizes, runs X86 apps, supports international language keyboards, and allows for multiple users on the PC. A 10-day free trial is available for the Home version.
The only downside to YouWave is that it’s only compatible with Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.
4. Android SDK
Android SDK is a native Android emulator. While it’s designed for developers, it does come with an emulator that allows you to run Android apps on your desktop or laptop. Both the Eclipse ADT and the Android Studio are available. While its performance isn’t on par with some of the better emulators on this list, it’s still a free option for anyone looking to run apps on their PC, Mac or even Linux.
5. Genymotion
Genymotion markets itself as the “faster Android emulator.” It’s a hardware accelerated emulator that can run on Mac, Windows and Linux and lets you run the OS on some of the best-selling devices. Genymotion is great for developers and anyone that wants to run Android apps on their desktops or laptops. The only issue with this emulator is that it doesn’t offer a full-screen mode.
A free version of the emulator is available through its official website, but you can’t use it for commercial purposes. The Indie (99 €/year) and Business (299 €/year) version will give you more options, but they aren’t worth paying for if you’re not using the emulator for development purposes.
Amir Whitnall
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