Best iOS Emulators For PC, Windows & MAC
7 Best iOS Emulators for PC (Windows & Mac) For 2021 – There aren’t as many iOS emulators available as for Android. In this article, I’m going to go over some of these emulators for iOS and see what they bring. But before that, we have to understand the meaning of the Emulator world.
What is an Emulator?
The emulator is software that can be used to copy other hardware (hardware). This is generally a hardware simulator in a piece of software. The advent of emulators can be credited to tech geeks who wanted to save some old tech.
For example, you can play a Nintendo game console on your computer. This can be played because of an emulator.
How does the Emulator work?
What is the iOS Emulator?
An iOS emulator is a piece of software that allows you to take functionality from iOS software. Windows-based PCs can run iOS software. There are three types of emulators: iOS emulator for android which is not possible but for mac and windows it is now possible.
This is useful for app developers and people who want to test the Apple App Store or other apps that are exclusive to iOS only.
Apart from the iPhone, the iOS emulator can also emulate the iPad and iPod. There is no monopoly in this market as there are many iOS emulators available.
Why use the iOS Emulator?
There are many things you can do with this iOS emulator. For example, not every iPhone app developer has an iOS device, so, an iOS emulator can be used by them to test apps for iOS. Also, another benefit of using such an emulator is for playing iOS games and apps on your Windows PC.
Best iOS Emulator for Windows & Mac
So, without further ado, let’s get to our list of the best iOS Emulators for Windows and Mac, all of which you can download and use freely.
1. iPadian iOS Emulator– iPadian MAC
iPadian for MAC is an ios emulator that emulates the iPad operating system. It runs on Windows XP and above versions of Windows. There is a launcher that is similar to the iPad and to be honest, this is not an emulator, iPadian is an iOS simulator.
It is based on the Adobe Air platform and comes with a built-in application store that includes applications that can run on Windows. Therefore, the experience you get is an iOS application. One of the downsides of this emulator is that it can’t emulate the entire iPad like Touch Function.
You won’t be able to get the same touch experience as windows and the actual iPad’s swiping function isn’t smooth either.
The problem with iPadian is that it is not capable of emulating the entire iPad like the Touch function. You won’t experience the same touch interaction when you work with tools in Windows. The swipe function associated with the iPad won’t work properly.
One great thing about this emulator is that you can download a free version. It also provides App Store and other features. But many applications are locked and the one that locks is the application itself.
2. Air iPhone Emulator
It helps to create a GUI from selected iOS applications on your PC. This app is meant for developers. As a developer, you can easily upload newly developed applications to this software.
You can also easily test functions before uploading. There are some features but the things that are missing are quite a lot. That includes applications like the Safari Browser. The installation process is fairly straightforward, and it is similar to the iPadian emulator.
3. iPhone Simulator
iPhone Simulator is another powerful tool of the best iOS Emulators. The main strength of the simulator is in the number of features it carries. The user interface of this software is very well designed.
It allows compatibility with multiple iOS applications and you don’t have to spend a lot of effort on it. The apps that this simulator can effectively emulate include Safari, Clock, Notepad, App Store, Calculator, and more.
There are several limitations. This program is especially useful for developers who like to have an iOS environment during the early stages of app development. However, there is no debugging in this application.
4. Appetize.Io
Appetize.Io is another different kind of best iOS emulator, this iOS emulator is cloud-based therefore, you won’t be able to download and install this software directly on your desktop or laptop.
This is an excellent choice for developers. If you are looking for an alternative tool that can help you with your software project then, you can give Appetize.Io a try.
You can get a free version that can be used for 100 minutes per month. If you want to upgrade this service, you can pay $ 0.05 and because it is cloud-based, you will not be able to install any applications on the software itself.
Otherwise, you can test a.IPA file on it. You simply upload the “.IPA” file to your account and then use this application as long as you pay. When it’s done uploading, all you need to do is click play and you can now debug your app.
5. Smartface
Smartface allows iOS application development through debugging and provides you with a variety of applications to download and run from the App Store.
The best thing is? The best iOS emulator is free. Working with Smartface is very easy, just install the software on the host device with the App Store. After this, you can establish a connection with a Windows PC. You will also need to install iTunes on your computer.
You can easily test and debug your code with Smartface once you install it. The debugging module comes with features like breakpoints and real-time code changes. Can also be used to test code changes in real-time.
Furthermore, you can use the software with various iOS environments from iPhone to iPad. It can also be used with the Android platform.
6. MobiOne Studio
Another best iOS emulator app that is very popular is MobiOne Studio. This helps you emulate the iOS environment on a Windows PC.
This application can run various iOS applications easily. Apart from that, it gives you the ability to develop iOS applications.
With more than half a million downloads, this application has been widely recognized today. One thing I love about this app is the UI features that you can easily personalize. There are many templates to choose from.
You can use it in portrait and landscape mode. It also provides you with support for reviewing and testing large applications with the help of App Sync technology.
This app has been discontinued, but if you want to install it, you can download alternatives from other websites for free. One thing you should be aware of however are viruses that can accompany non-executable files.
If you can do it, you must download this application completely.
7. Adobe AIR
Using the Adobe AIR runtime framework, you can create new instances of the iOS GUI right on your Windows PC. While not technically an emulator in the true sense of the term, this tool allows developers and testers to get a feel for what an app will look and behave like on iOS without actually running it on that operating system.
Hardware replication limits mean that you don’t get a comparison of apple to apple in terms of your app behavior, and what you see in iPhone AIR may not be exactly what it renders or happens on an actual iOS device. That said, if you just want to know what something looks like on the iPhone, Adobe AIR is a great choice.
Conclusion
iOS is very expensive software to use iOS properly, you have to buy one of the high-priced Apple products, namely the iPhone or iPad. Now, not every developer has that kind of money, especially in countries like Indonesia.
Hence, an emulator makes a pretty good investment for a developer. Even if you are not a developer and just a technician looking to explore the entire iPhone market, you can do it easily with an emulator.
Apart from that, various weird games and apps can also try the native iOS app and see how it differs from android. The iOS emulator is a cool way to make sure people who don’t own an Apple product can also get to know the software experience.
Mustafa Al Mahmud is the founder and owner of Gizmo Concept, a leading technology news and review site. With over 10 years of experience in the tech industry, Mustafa started Gizmo Concept in 2017 to provide honest, in-depth analysis and insights on the latest gadgets, apps, and tech trends.
A self-proclaimed “tech geek,” Mustafa first developed a passion for technology as a computer science student at the Hi-Tech Institute of Engineering & Technology. After graduation, he worked at several top tech firms leading product development teams and honing his skills as both an engineer and innovator. However, he always dreamed of having his own platform to share his perspectives on the tech world.
With the launch of Gizmo Concept, Mustafa has built an engaged community of tech enthusiasts who look to the site for trusted, informed takes on everything from smartphones to smart homes. Under his leadership, Gizmo Concept has become a top destination for tech reviews, news, and expert commentary.
Outside of running Gizmo Concept, Mustafa is an avid traveler who enjoys experiencing new cultures and tech scenes worldwide. He also serves as a tech advisor and angel investor for several startups. Mustafa holds a B.S. in Computer Science from HIET.