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Lightweight Android Emulators
Want to run an emulator on the PC? But feeling blocked because of the low specification of your PC. There are many lightweight android emulators out there which need a very low or nominal amount of resources from your computer. The minimum specification can be as low as 1GB of Ram and 10 GB of storage.
There are many uses of emulators, you can experience android on your PC, you can use android apps on your Windows or Mac PC or you can play some high-end android games with your keyboard and mouse. Though this list is for low-end PCs so it might become hard to play these high-end games with this low-spec system but you can experience it.
Let’s get into the list of the best Lightweight Android Emulators, which will provide you the ease of using android with your keyboard and mouse.
List of the Best Lightweight and Fastest Android Emulators
The one which is first in the list has the least demand of resources and as the list goes on increasing the demand for resources also keeps on increasing.
We have curated a list of almost all lightweight emulators so choose according to your needs.
1. Andy
This is one of the lightest emulators and it gives you the flexibility to explore more android features. Andy has many advantages such as controlling your PC with your mobile phone connecting it via Bluetooth and wifi connection.
Earlier there were some flaws in the application but after several updates, Andy’s team managed to fix the issues and made the application flawless.
If you think this is the right application for you. Then go for it.
Minimum Specification requirement for Andy:-
| OS | Windows 7/8.1 up or Ubuntu 14.04+ or Mac OSX 10.8+ |
| CPU | Intel/AMD Dual-core processor |
| GPU | OpenGL 2.1 up |
| RAM | 1GB RAM/3GB RAM (recommended) |
| Memory | 10GB |
| File Size | 871MB |
2. Droid4x
This is also a very attractive emulator. The key feature of this emulator is that it supports add-ons. It allows you to use your smartphone phone as a game controller.
For example – If you are playing Asphalt 9 and your mobile phone will work as a controller and you’ll be able to play.
There are many more features like we can customize our keyboard layout according to our ease.
Minimum Specification requirement for Droid4x:-
| OS | Windows 7/8/8.1/10 (32-bit/64-bit) |
| CPU | Intel/AMD Dual-core processor |
| GPU | OpenGL 2.1 up |
| RAM | 1GB RAM/4GB RAM (recommended) |
| Memory | 4GB |
| File Size | 8MB |
3. Genymotion
Genymotion is also suitable for application developers because you can test your application on various versions of Android or if you are not a developer you can set any version of Android according to your need.
The best part of Genymotion is that it is available on Android and Mac both so you don’t have to worry about anything. It also works faster than some actual smartphones in the market.
Here’s one pro tip for developers, you can integrate Genymotion with the Android studio for a better experience.
Minimum Specification requirement for Genymotion:-
| OS | Windows 7/8/8.1/10 (32-bit/64-bit) |
| CPU | Intel/AMD 64-bit processor |
| GPU | OpenGL 2.0 up |
| RAM | 2 GB RAM |
| Memory | 2 GB |
| File Size | 117 MB |
4. MEmu
MEmu is also one of the most smooth emulators because it offers complete compatibility with intel and AMD chipsets. It also has some advanced settings which make your android games or applications smoother.
It is good for both whether it is gaming or productivity.
Minimum Specification requirement for MEmu:-
| OS | Windows 7/8/8.1/10 (32-bit/64-bit) |
| CPU | Intel/AMD 64-bit processor |
| GPU | OpenGL 2.0 up |
| RAM | 2 GB RAM |
| Memory | 2 GB |
| File Size | 117 MB |
5. Nox Player
Nox is known for its compatibility, Nox Player provides extreme compatibility with different applications. It has a built-in video recorder and a GPS feature that allows you to use those apps which have location restrictions.
Other than this, It has a charming bar on the right-hand side of the emulator window which allows us to access some helpful options and Nox has many tiny-tiny features like this.
Minimum Specification requirement for Nox Player:-
| OS | Windows 7/8/8.1/10 (32-bit/64-bit) |
| CPU | Intel/AMD 64-bit processor |
| GPU | OpenGL 2.0 up |
| RAM | 1.5GB RAM/4GB RAM (recommended) |
| Memory | 1.5 GB |
| File Size | 310 MB |
6. Gameloop (Tencent Gaming Buddy)
Gameloop is probably one of the best gaming emulators because it is totally for gaming. Gameloop is quite popular in PUBG mobile players because both are developed by the same organization.
The compatibility of Gameloop is just amazing. It supports almost all android games and at the back, there is the support of Tencent like a big tech giant, so don’t have to worry about anything.
Minimum Specification requirement for Gameloop:-
| OS | Windows 7/8/8.1/10 (32-bit/64-bit) |
| CPU | Intel/AMD Dual-Core processor |
| GPU | OpenGL 2.0 up |
| RAM | 3GB RAM/8GB RAM (recommended) |
| Memory | 1GB |
| File Size | 9MB |
7. Bluestacks
Bluestacks is the most popular emulator though it is not that lightweight. We have to add this to our list because of its performance and compatibility with Windows and Mac. It has almost all the features which an ideal emulator should have.
You can do everything, whether it is gaming, app development, or productivity Bluestacks is the one-stop solution.
It is very easy to set up and use even if you can make it easier to use using features like key mapping and others.
Minimum Specification requirement for Bluestacks:-
| OS | Windows 7/8/8.1/10 (32-bit/64-bit) |
| CPU | Intel/AMD Dual-Core processor |
| GPU | OpenGL 3.0 up |
| RAM | 4GB RAM/8GB RAM (recommended) |
| Memory | 5GB |
| File Size | 465MB |
8. LD Player
LD player is totally a gaming-oriented emulator and purely focused on gaming performance. It has a ton of features like graphical support, multi-instance great keyboard mapping high FPS, and many more.
It has an interface and design like Bluestacks but that’s not a bad thing.
Minimum Specification requirement for Bluestacks:-
| OS | Windows 7/8/8.1/10 (32-bit/64-bit) |
| CPU | Intel/AMD Dual-Core processor |
| GPU | OpenGL 3.0 up |
| RAM | 2 GB |
| Memory | 36 GB |
| File Size | 3.65MB |
9. Leapdroid
Leapdroid is the newest emulator in this list but A works great even though it’s new. It has some cool tweaks by which you can run your games even more smother. You can even run two same applications at the same time with two different accounts.
So no need to bother anymore! Let’s download this lightweight Android emulator!
Minimum Specification requirement for Leapdroid:-
| OS | Windows 7/8/8.1/10 (32-bit/64-bit) |
| CPU | Intel/AMD Dual-Core processor |
| GPU | OpenGL 2.1 up |
| RAM | 2 GB |
| Memory | 2 GB |
| File Size | 271MB |
10. AMIDuOS
AMIDuOS is also one of the best lightweight emulators and it is known for its user-friendly interface and multi-touch support. This emulator is best for those who have touchscreen laptops and PC.
Minimum Specification requirement for AmiduOS:-
| OS | Windows 7/8/8.1/10 (32-bit/64-bit) |
| CPU | Intel/AMD Dual-Core processor |
| GPU | OpenGL 3.0 up |
| RAM | 2 GB/ 3GB (recommended) |
| Memory | 2 GB |
| File Size | 226MB |
Wapping Up
This was the list of Best lightweight emulators, every emulator has its advantages and disadvantages, some are good for gaming, some are good for productivity so choose according to your need and install it on your PC.
FAQ
What is the best Android emulator for PC?
Each emulator of course has its features and advantages, so you should choose an emulator that suits your goals. Whether to play games, test apps or develop apps.
What is the best Android Emulator for a low spec PC?
Bluestacks, NOX, and MEmu are pretty good choices for low spec PCs. Besides that, you can also try the performance of Genymotion.
Are Emulators safe and legal?
The emulator is a legitimate application and is also safe to use.
What is the best Android Emulator for gaming?
The best Android emulators for gaming are Bluestack, Gameloop, Nox, and MEmu.
Sourabh Sharma is a student as well as a copywriter, he loves to spend his time writing blog posts.