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  • 15 best Android multiplayer games

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    Android gaming has been steadily getting better. Before, we had simple puzzle games and we could invite our Facebook contacts to be our friends in games. Multiplayer games used to mean just leaderboards. There are now a ton of games that support actual multiplayer play, including real-time co-op or PvP. In fact, most games these days have some sort of multiplayer element in them. If you’re looking for something to play with your friends, here are the best Android multiplayer games.

    We’d also like to mention Dead by Daylight, a one versus four online multiplayer game with some unique gameplay mechanics.

    The best Android multiplayer games


    Among Us

    Price: Free to play

    Among Us was one of the most popular multiplayer mobile games in 2020 and people still play it quite a bit today. The game has a bunch of players moving around a ship to complete various tasks. Meanwhile, one or two of the players act as an imposter and they slowly try to kill off the whole crew. You can customize the game in a variety of ways and customize your character with a number of add-ons. You can buy more add-ons via in-app purchases and that’s how the game generates revenue. It’s not really kid friendly, but it’s a pretty fun game, especially if you know everybody in the group.


    Apex Legends Mobile

    Price: Free to play

    Apex Legends Mobile is one of the biggest games of 2022. The game is a battle royale-style game where 20 teams of three drop in and fight each other until only one team still stands. Each player can choose from a cast of heroes, each with their separate abilities. Squads are encouraged to play different heroes to mix and match abilities to the greatest benefit. The game has excellent graphics, some of the best mobile shooter controls, and some other game modes for when the battle royale mode becomes stale. It’s very good.


    Call of Duty: Mobile

    Price: Free to play

    Call of Duty: Mobile is one of the newer multiplayer games on the list. It’s also surprisingly good. It’s an online FPS game with a variety of multiplayer modes. That includes classic Call of Duty deathmatches as well as a 100-person battle royale mode similar to PUBG and Fortnite. The game also features some mild gacha elements as you collect famous people from the game series and customize them with various weapon and gear skins. There are a few bugs here and there, but these should get ironed out over time.


    Garena Free Fire Max

    Price: Free to play

    Garena Free Fire Max is the latest game in the Garena series. Like many on the list, it’s a battle royale shooter with up to 50 players in a single fight. You can squad up in teams of four either randomly or with your friends. Players drop in, find weapons, and fight each other until only one squad or player remains. It has decent graphics, decent controls, and plenty of stuff to do. The game has a history of bugs, but usually, they get ironed out.


    League of Legends: Wild Rift

    Price: Free to play

    League of Legends: Wild Rift is a MOBA game where you compete five versus five. You and friends team up to fight the other team in both casual and ranked playlists to see who’s the best. The game play is actually quite good, and it’s one of the best MOBAs on mobile. You can join games in duo, trio, or full five person teams. There are also a variety of champions that you unlock mostly through gameplay. We like it because it’s a true MOBA experience that doesn’t require you to pay to win. The big issue is getting teamed up with players who seem like they’re working against you. However, the game play itself is good.


    See more:


    Legends of Runeterra

    Price: Free to play

    Legends of Runeterra is one of the newer Android multiplayer games. It’s a PvP-style game with elements of dueling, card collecting, and auto battling. Players unlock cards, build decks, assign champions, and duke it out between one another. There are 24 champions and a bunch of cards. Additionally, the challenging but fun gameplay gives you ample opportunity to outwit your opponents. It’s F2P (free to play) friendly so you don’t have to spend money to have a good time. This game replaced Hearthstone on this list, but Hearthstone is still an excellent choice in this genre as well.


    Minecraft

    Price: $6.99 with in-app purchases

    Minecraft is one of the most popular multiplayer games of all time on any platform. You’re dropped into a randomly generated world and then you can do pretty much whatever you want. The game includes cross-play with Xbox One and PC. That means you can play with your friends almost anywhere. The game includes three modes: survival, realms, and creative. The creative mode doesn’t let you die for any reason. Survival mode spawns bad guys, a food system, and you can die. Those looking for console-level quality in a mobile game can’t do much better than this. It is actually a PC and console game as well. The game costs $6.99 upfront. The in-app purchases are for character skins.


    Old School RuneScape

    Price: Free / $10.99 per month / $99.99 per year

    Old School RuneScape is, obviously, one of the older multiplayer games on the list. This one is an MMORPG and a rarity in the Android space. It uses a subscription service rather than freemium elements to drive revenue and that’s not something you see every day. The game itself is quite good. You traverse a huge world, perform many quests, find loot, trade with other players, and take on tons of bad guys. It has a large community and surprisingly responsive developers. There is a free version of the game that is a bit scaled-down, but it’s still fun. The official Runescape has a Google Play app as well.


    Pokemon Go

    Price: Free to play

    Pokemon Go is one of the most popular multiplayer mobile games. Players roam the real world in search of Pokemon, gym battles, and Poke Stops to refill on items. The game is technically single-player. However, gym battles, trainer battles, and just playing them is totally doable with groups of people. In fact, many people who play the game do so solely for the social elements. The player base isn’t nearly as big as it used to be, but many places have official Facebook groups for players to find one another.


    PUBG New State

    Price: Free to play

    PUBG New State is the newer PUBG game on the Google Play Store. It plays like any PUBG game. You parachute down onto the map with a bunch of other people and then shoot it out until only one remain. The game supports up to 64 players. There are also more mechanics, like dodging along with more weapons and items for players to pick up. It’s not quite as chaotic as the 100-player PUBG Mobile game, but it’s still quite fun. The game had some issues upon launch, but the developers are fixing it up pretty nicely.


    Check out these games too:


    Riptide GP: Renegade

    Price: $2.99

    Riptide GP: Renegade is probably the best racing game available. The campaign mode is fun and has plenty of events. There is even a storyline, multiple wave runners to buy and upgrade, and more. The online multiplayer option is above average. Up to eight total players can compete in head-to-head matchups. It also supports split-screen multiplayer mode, hardware controllers, and more. There’s even a challenge mode where you can compete against the best times of your friends. It has no in-app purchases to get in the way and we liked that a lot.


    Rocket League Sideswipe

    Price: Free to play

    Rocket League Sideswipe is the official Rocket League game on mobile. It’s not quite the same as the PC version, but it’s still quite a bit of fun. Players compete in one vs one or two vs two matches. Yes, you can play with friends as well. You use your car to knock the ball into the goal. Games take place in less than two minutes for the most part, so it’s a good mobile phone experience. It’s not the huge multiplayer experience of some other games on this list, but sometimes you just want to play with one friend.


    Streets of Rage 4

    Price: $8.99 + $2.99

    Streets of Rage 4 is an old-school beat ’em up, much like you found in the arcades in the 1990s. You pick a character, battle your way through levels, and fight bosses until you reach the end. The game is a good port of the console and PC version, and there is also an optional DLC that adds even more content. For multiplayer, you join a friend in co-op mode to finish the levels together. This one is nice because it also has offline support, controller support, no in-app purchases, and more. The only downside is that the multiplayer isn’t quite as huge as some of the battle royale games on this list.


    Supercell games

    Price: Free to play

    Supercell developed some of the most popular multiplayer games in recent memory. Their biggest hits include Clash Royale, Clash of Clans, and Boom Beach. Clash of Clans and Boom Beach are strategy games. Players build up bases and armies and fight each other for resources. Clash Royale is a card dueling game similar to Hearthstone. Each game has tons of active players. That means it’s not difficult to find people to play with. Their latest game is Brawl Stars, a competitive multiplayer beat ’em up. They’re not perfect, though, and they change the game balance fairly frequently. As long as you don’t mind that, these games provide decent experiences.


    Terraria

    Price: $4.99

    Terraria is kind of like a 2D version of Minecraft. There’s a huge, open world for you to explore. You mine resources, craft stuff, build stuff, and defeat enemies. There is a multiplayer mode that works online or over local Wi-Fi if you want to play with friends at home. Much like Minecraft, there is a metric ton of things to do. The ceiling is your imagination. We think Minecraft is the better game, but Terraria is something in the same genre that’s also a little bit different.


    If we missed any of the best multiplayer games for Android, tell us about them in the comments. You can also click here to check out our latest Android app and game lists.
    Thank you for reading. Try these out, too:



    from Android Authority https://ift.tt/EnRudZx
    via IFTTT

    Android gaming has been steadily getting better. Before, we had simple puzzle games and we could invite our Facebook contacts to be our friends in games. Multiplayer games used to mean just leaderboards. There are now a ton of games that support actual multiplayer play, including real-time co-op or PvP. In fact, most games these days have some sort of multiplayer element in them. If you’re looking for something to play with your friends, here are the best Android multiplayer games.

    We’d also like to mention Dead by Daylight, a one versus four online multiplayer game with some unique gameplay mechanics.

    The best Android multiplayer games


    Among Us

    Price: Free to play

    Among Us was one of the most popular multiplayer mobile games in 2020 and people still play it quite a bit today. The game has a bunch of players moving around a ship to complete various tasks. Meanwhile, one or two of the players act as an imposter and they slowly try to kill off the whole crew. You can customize the game in a variety of ways and customize your character with a number of add-ons. You can buy more add-ons via in-app purchases and that’s how the game generates revenue. It’s not really kid friendly, but it’s a pretty fun game, especially if you know everybody in the group.


    Apex Legends Mobile

    Price: Free to play

    Apex Legends Mobile is one of the biggest games of 2022. The game is a battle royale-style game where 20 teams of three drop in and fight each other until only one team still stands. Each player can choose from a cast of heroes, each with their separate abilities. Squads are encouraged to play different heroes to mix and match abilities to the greatest benefit. The game has excellent graphics, some of the best mobile shooter controls, and some other game modes for when the battle royale mode becomes stale. It’s very good.


    Call of Duty: Mobile

    Price: Free to play

    Call of Duty: Mobile is one of the newer multiplayer games on the list. It’s also surprisingly good. It’s an online FPS game with a variety of multiplayer modes. That includes classic Call of Duty deathmatches as well as a 100-person battle royale mode similar to PUBG and Fortnite. The game also features some mild gacha elements as you collect famous people from the game series and customize them with various weapon and gear skins. There are a few bugs here and there, but these should get ironed out over time.


    Garena Free Fire Max

    Price: Free to play

    Garena Free Fire Max is the latest game in the Garena series. Like many on the list, it’s a battle royale shooter with up to 50 players in a single fight. You can squad up in teams of four either randomly or with your friends. Players drop in, find weapons, and fight each other until only one squad or player remains. It has decent graphics, decent controls, and plenty of stuff to do. The game has a history of bugs, but usually, they get ironed out.


    League of Legends: Wild Rift

    Price: Free to play

    League of Legends: Wild Rift is a MOBA game where you compete five versus five. You and friends team up to fight the other team in both casual and ranked playlists to see who’s the best. The game play is actually quite good, and it’s one of the best MOBAs on mobile. You can join games in duo, trio, or full five person teams. There are also a variety of champions that you unlock mostly through gameplay. We like it because it’s a true MOBA experience that doesn’t require you to pay to win. The big issue is getting teamed up with players who seem like they’re working against you. However, the game play itself is good.


    See more:


    Legends of Runeterra

    Price: Free to play

    Legends of Runeterra is one of the newer Android multiplayer games. It’s a PvP-style game with elements of dueling, card collecting, and auto battling. Players unlock cards, build decks, assign champions, and duke it out between one another. There are 24 champions and a bunch of cards. Additionally, the challenging but fun gameplay gives you ample opportunity to outwit your opponents. It’s F2P (free to play) friendly so you don’t have to spend money to have a good time. This game replaced Hearthstone on this list, but Hearthstone is still an excellent choice in this genre as well.


    Minecraft

    Price: $6.99 with in-app purchases

    Minecraft is one of the most popular multiplayer games of all time on any platform. You’re dropped into a randomly generated world and then you can do pretty much whatever you want. The game includes cross-play with Xbox One and PC. That means you can play with your friends almost anywhere. The game includes three modes: survival, realms, and creative. The creative mode doesn’t let you die for any reason. Survival mode spawns bad guys, a food system, and you can die. Those looking for console-level quality in a mobile game can’t do much better than this. It is actually a PC and console game as well. The game costs $6.99 upfront. The in-app purchases are for character skins.


    Old School RuneScape

    Price: Free / $10.99 per month / $99.99 per year

    Old School RuneScape is, obviously, one of the older multiplayer games on the list. This one is an MMORPG and a rarity in the Android space. It uses a subscription service rather than freemium elements to drive revenue and that’s not something you see every day. The game itself is quite good. You traverse a huge world, perform many quests, find loot, trade with other players, and take on tons of bad guys. It has a large community and surprisingly responsive developers. There is a free version of the game that is a bit scaled-down, but it’s still fun. The official Runescape has a Google Play app as well.


    Pokemon Go

    Price: Free to play

    Pokemon Go is one of the most popular multiplayer mobile games. Players roam the real world in search of Pokemon, gym battles, and Poke Stops to refill on items. The game is technically single-player. However, gym battles, trainer battles, and just playing them is totally doable with groups of people. In fact, many people who play the game do so solely for the social elements. The player base isn’t nearly as big as it used to be, but many places have official Facebook groups for players to find one another.


    PUBG New State

    Price: Free to play

    PUBG New State is the newer PUBG game on the Google Play Store. It plays like any PUBG game. You parachute down onto the map with a bunch of other people and then shoot it out until only one remain. The game supports up to 64 players. There are also more mechanics, like dodging along with more weapons and items for players to pick up. It’s not quite as chaotic as the 100-player PUBG Mobile game, but it’s still quite fun. The game had some issues upon launch, but the developers are fixing it up pretty nicely.


    Check out these games too:


    Riptide GP: Renegade

    Price: $2.99

    Riptide GP: Renegade is probably the best racing game available. The campaign mode is fun and has plenty of events. There is even a storyline, multiple wave runners to buy and upgrade, and more. The online multiplayer option is above average. Up to eight total players can compete in head-to-head matchups. It also supports split-screen multiplayer mode, hardware controllers, and more. There’s even a challenge mode where you can compete against the best times of your friends. It has no in-app purchases to get in the way and we liked that a lot.


    Rocket League Sideswipe

    Price: Free to play

    Rocket League Sideswipe is the official Rocket League game on mobile. It’s not quite the same as the PC version, but it’s still quite a bit of fun. Players compete in one vs one or two vs two matches. Yes, you can play with friends as well. You use your car to knock the ball into the goal. Games take place in less than two minutes for the most part, so it’s a good mobile phone experience. It’s not the huge multiplayer experience of some other games on this list, but sometimes you just want to play with one friend.


    Streets of Rage 4

    Price: $8.99 + $2.99

    Streets of Rage 4 is an old-school beat ’em up, much like you found in the arcades in the 1990s. You pick a character, battle your way through levels, and fight bosses until you reach the end. The game is a good port of the console and PC version, and there is also an optional DLC that adds even more content. For multiplayer, you join a friend in co-op mode to finish the levels together. This one is nice because it also has offline support, controller support, no in-app purchases, and more. The only downside is that the multiplayer isn’t quite as huge as some of the battle royale games on this list.


    Supercell games

    Price: Free to play

    Supercell developed some of the most popular multiplayer games in recent memory. Their biggest hits include Clash Royale, Clash of Clans, and Boom Beach. Clash of Clans and Boom Beach are strategy games. Players build up bases and armies and fight each other for resources. Clash Royale is a card dueling game similar to Hearthstone. Each game has tons of active players. That means it’s not difficult to find people to play with. Their latest game is Brawl Stars, a competitive multiplayer beat ’em up. They’re not perfect, though, and they change the game balance fairly frequently. As long as you don’t mind that, these games provide decent experiences.


    Terraria

    Price: $4.99

    Terraria is kind of like a 2D version of Minecraft. There’s a huge, open world for you to explore. You mine resources, craft stuff, build stuff, and defeat enemies. There is a multiplayer mode that works online or over local Wi-Fi if you want to play with friends at home. Much like Minecraft, there is a metric ton of things to do. The ceiling is your imagination. We think Minecraft is the better game, but Terraria is something in the same genre that’s also a little bit different.


    If we missed any of the best multiplayer games for Android, tell us about them in the comments. You can also click here to check out our latest Android app and game lists.
    Thank you for reading. Try these out, too:



    from Android Authority https://ift.tt/EnRudZx
    via IFTTT

    Google Photos tests new search function to let you find people by their face

    0
    Google Photos Search logo close
    Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority
    • Some people are finding that the Google Lens button within the image viewer in Google Photos has been replaced by a new search button.
    • When looking at images with faces, the search button detects the face to find other photos with that face.
    • It seems the new button is just enhancing the features of Google Lens.

    The Google Photos app appears to be testing out a new handy search function. The function has replaced the Google Lens button on the app for some people.

    When looking at photos in the image viewer in Google Photos, you may have noticed the Google Lens icon among the share, edit, and delete options at the bottom of the screen. Tapping it allows you to do everything from translating words to finding similar images on the web. However, that doesn’t exactly help with searching for people through your own photos.



    from Android Authority https://ift.tt/FsHWCID
    via IFTTT
    Google Photos Search logo close
    Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority
    • Some people are finding that the Google Lens button within the image viewer in Google Photos has been replaced by a new search button.
    • When looking at images with faces, the search button detects the face to find other photos with that face.
    • It seems the new button is just enhancing the features of Google Lens.

    The Google Photos app appears to be testing out a new handy search function. The function has replaced the Google Lens button on the app for some people.

    When looking at photos in the image viewer in Google Photos, you may have noticed the Google Lens icon among the share, edit, and delete options at the bottom of the screen. Tapping it allows you to do everything from translating words to finding similar images on the web. However, that doesn’t exactly help with searching for people through your own photos.



    from Android Authority https://ift.tt/FsHWCID
    via IFTTT

    The best sports shows on every major streaming service

    0
    Five ball players watching the game in A League of Their Own - best sports shows
    Credit: Amazon

    There’s nothing like an impassioned speech or training montage to get you riled up. Sports stories can reach something primal in viewers, whether that’s through personal achievement or a team coming together. And there’s lots to choose from, including some stellar streaming shows. So, what are the best sports shows you can stream now?

    See also: The best original streaming shows on every platform



    from Android Authority https://ift.tt/9GUznis
    via IFTTT
    Five ball players watching the game in A League of Their Own - best sports shows
    Credit: Amazon

    There’s nothing like an impassioned speech or training montage to get you riled up. Sports stories can reach something primal in viewers, whether that’s through personal achievement or a team coming together. And there’s lots to choose from, including some stellar streaming shows. So, what are the best sports shows you can stream now?

    See also: The best original streaming shows on every platform



    from Android Authority https://ift.tt/9GUznis
    via IFTTT

    Daily Authority: 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Top tips for snoozing social media

    0

    Hello again, and welcome to the Daily Authority. I woke up far too early this morning to beat the planned power cut, but the scrumptious bowl of fruit I had for breakfast mostly made up for it.

    Slow your social media roll

    DALL·E social media addiction 16 9



    from Android Authority https://ift.tt/FruszyN
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    Hello again, and welcome to the Daily Authority. I woke up far too early this morning to beat the planned power cut, but the scrumptious bowl of fruit I had for breakfast mostly made up for it.

    Slow your social media roll

    DALL·E social media addiction 16 9



    from Android Authority https://ift.tt/FruszyN
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    Poll: Did you miss the Galaxy Note line this year?

    0

    Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra S Pen peeking

    Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Authority

    Samsung skipped the Galaxy Note series last year, opting to bring S Pen support to the Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 3 instead. The same situation took place in 2022, as the Korean brand skipped the Galaxy Note line again in favor of bringing the tech to its existing high-end devices.



    from Android Authority https://ift.tt/uwv0Rbg
    via IFTTT

    Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra S Pen peeking

    Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Authority

    Samsung skipped the Galaxy Note series last year, opting to bring S Pen support to the Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 3 instead. The same situation took place in 2022, as the Korean brand skipped the Galaxy Note line again in favor of bringing the tech to its existing high-end devices.



    from Android Authority https://ift.tt/uwv0Rbg
    via IFTTT

    JazzCash To JazzCash Payment Ternsfer

    0
    JazzCash To JazzCash Payment Ternsfer
    Hello Friends! Welcome To My Ajdi Technology Channel, We make entertaining videos about technology, including tech reviews, computer software, android apps bolgger tutorial and other content. Jazzcash To Jazzcash Money Transfer | Jazzcash Account Se Paise Kase Nikale ........................................................................ #jazzcash #JazzCashPaymentTernsfer #Jazzcashtransaction #jazzcash #jazzcashapp #jazzcashhelpline #jazzcashretailer #jazz #Mobicash DISCLAIMER: This Channel DOES NOT PROMOTE Or Encourage Any illegal Activities , All Contents Provided By This Channel is Meant For EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE Only.. 👉 Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use, 👉COPYRIGHT NOTICE All clips included in this video is under fair use. If any part of the contents of this channel is that your property (as a musician, label, video, image distributor or artist), please send me a personal message on email and your content will be removed within 24 hours. SOCIAL LINKS.. DOWNLOAD AJDI TECHNOLOGY CHANNEL APP FOR LATEST TECHNOLOGY TIPS AND TRICKS. #ajditechnology https://ift.tt/AXlN4a1... Subscribe To My Channel and Get More Great Tips Subscriber Link: https://www.youtube.com/ajditechnology?sub_confirmation=1 Android App free download: https://ift.tt/aXCEiHR... Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ys... Twitter: https://twitter.com/AjdiTechnology Facebook MySelf : https://ift.tt/zy3TBml... Facebook: https://ift.tt/FK3QRwb... Facebook Group. https://ift.tt/DTtWFbs Instagram: https://ift.tt/dJoSBT4... Google Plus: Website: https://ift.tt/CckGxTt About : Ajdi Technology is a YouTube Channel, where you will find technological videos in Urdu and Hindi, New Video is Posted Everyday. https://youtu.be/0XFduJW1b4g
    JazzCash To JazzCash Payment Ternsfer
    Hello Friends! Welcome To My Ajdi Technology Channel, We make entertaining videos about technology, including tech reviews, computer software, android apps bolgger tutorial and other content. Jazzcash To Jazzcash Money Transfer | Jazzcash Account Se Paise Kase Nikale ........................................................................ #jazzcash #JazzCashPaymentTernsfer #Jazzcashtransaction #jazzcash #jazzcashapp #jazzcashhelpline #jazzcashretailer #jazz #Mobicash DISCLAIMER: This Channel DOES NOT PROMOTE Or Encourage Any illegal Activities , All Contents Provided By This Channel is Meant For EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE Only.. 👉 Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use, 👉COPYRIGHT NOTICE All clips included in this video is under fair use. If any part of the contents of this channel is that your property (as a musician, label, video, image distributor or artist), please send me a personal message on email and your content will be removed within 24 hours. SOCIAL LINKS.. DOWNLOAD AJDI TECHNOLOGY CHANNEL APP FOR LATEST TECHNOLOGY TIPS AND TRICKS. #ajditechnology https://ift.tt/AXlN4a1... Subscribe To My Channel and Get More Great Tips Subscriber Link: https://www.youtube.com/ajditechnology?sub_confirmation=1 Android App free download: https://ift.tt/aXCEiHR... Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5ys... Twitter: https://twitter.com/AjdiTechnology Facebook MySelf : https://ift.tt/zy3TBml... Facebook: https://ift.tt/FK3QRwb... Facebook Group. https://ift.tt/DTtWFbs Instagram: https://ift.tt/dJoSBT4... Google Plus: Website: https://ift.tt/CckGxTt About : Ajdi Technology is a YouTube Channel, where you will find technological videos in Urdu and Hindi, New Video is Posted Everyday. https://youtu.be/0XFduJW1b4g

    JazzCash To JazzCash Payment Ternsfer

    0

    via IFTTT

    via IFTTT

    How to clean your Apple Watch

    0

    Whether it’s sweat, sunblock, or you’ve developed a rash, something will inevitably leave you wondering how to clean your Apple Watch. Follow the proper instructions to freshen up your wristwear without damaging your device.

    Read more: Everything you need to know about your Apple Watch



    from Android Authority https://ift.tt/YVmJ5hM
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    Whether it’s sweat, sunblock, or you’ve developed a rash, something will inevitably leave you wondering how to clean your Apple Watch. Follow the proper instructions to freshen up your wristwear without damaging your device.

    Read more: Everything you need to know about your Apple Watch



    from Android Authority https://ift.tt/YVmJ5hM
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    Step aside ultrawide, ultra-tall monitors are perfect for reading and writing

    0

    LG’s new DualUp monitor is unconventional, to say the least. It doesn’t look like any monitor I’ve ever used, let alone seen. The display stands 28 inches tall with a 16:18 aspect ratio. It’s a sight you’d be forgiven for stopping and staring at, but the decision to stand out with a unique design ultimately pays off for some special use cases, especially reading and writing. Not sure if a vertically stacked display is right for you? Let’s dig into where the LG DualUp stands tall and where it might fall short.

    LG DualUp Monitor with Ergo Stand
    $609 at Amazon
    Save $ 90.99
    About this article: I tested the LG DualUp monitor for one week. The unit was provided by LG, but LG had no say in the direction or published content.

    What it’s like to use the LG DualUp

    LG DualUp Erog Monitor



    from Android Authority https://ift.tt/EmtvGBU
    via IFTTT

    LG’s new DualUp monitor is unconventional, to say the least. It doesn’t look like any monitor I’ve ever used, let alone seen. The display stands 28 inches tall with a 16:18 aspect ratio. It’s a sight you’d be forgiven for stopping and staring at, but the decision to stand out with a unique design ultimately pays off for some special use cases, especially reading and writing. Not sure if a vertically stacked display is right for you? Let’s dig into where the LG DualUp stands tall and where it might fall short.

    LG DualUp Monitor with Ergo Stand
    $609 at Amazon
    Save $ 90.99
    About this article: I tested the LG DualUp monitor for one week. The unit was provided by LG, but LG had no say in the direction or published content.

    What it’s like to use the LG DualUp

    LG DualUp Erog Monitor



    from Android Authority https://ift.tt/EmtvGBU
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    Google Nest Wifi Pro review: Wi-Fi 6E on the cheap

    0

    The Google Nest Wifi may have launched back in 2019, but it still holds up as a great option even today. That said, its lack of Wi-Fi 6 means it’s really starting to show its age. Enter the Google Nest Wifi Pro, which adds quite a few changes to its predecessor, including Wi-Fi 6E support.

    The Nest Wifi’s lack of Wi-Fi 6 support was one of its most glaring omissions, so the jump to Wi-Fi 6E is very welcome. It’s not all upgrades, however. The Nest Wifi Pro ditches the built-in Google Assistant speakers found in its predecessor. Is what Google’s latest router gains worth what it has lost? Let’s find out in our Google Nest Wifi Pro review.



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    The Google Nest Wifi may have launched back in 2019, but it still holds up as a great option even today. That said, its lack of Wi-Fi 6 means it’s really starting to show its age. Enter the Google Nest Wifi Pro, which adds quite a few changes to its predecessor, including Wi-Fi 6E support.

    The Nest Wifi’s lack of Wi-Fi 6 support was one of its most glaring omissions, so the jump to Wi-Fi 6E is very welcome. It’s not all upgrades, however. The Nest Wifi Pro ditches the built-in Google Assistant speakers found in its predecessor. Is what Google’s latest router gains worth what it has lost? Let’s find out in our Google Nest Wifi Pro review.



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    How to spend less time on social media: Here are our team’s best tips

    0
    Social media platforms are the new town square, but the anonymity of online profiles and algorithmically funneled echo chambers has led to toxic interactions and overconcern about how we present ourselves. While social networks claim to connect us, they often distract us from connecting with those directly in front of us, leaving many feeling paradoxically connected and socially isolated. Moreover, the dopamine-inducing features of social media utilize the same neural circuitry as gambling, causing the brain’s reward region to trigger the same kind of chemical reaction seen with drugs like cocaine. Here’s everything you need to know about social media addiction and some tips from the Android Authority team to curb it.

    Why is social media addictive?

    DALL·E phone addiction

    Credit: Dall-E

    The short answer: because the apps are designed to be. As the late Edward O. Wilson famously stated, “the real problem of humanity is the following: we have Paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions, and god-like technology.” While civilization is spurring-off new marvels every day, our brains are the same as they were in pre-historic times, and our biological hardware can’t keep up with the rapid developments of modern life. As such, technology has outsmarted us. It can learn and predict what we like based on our psychological biases and vulnerabilities, so getting sucked into our smartphones is anything but an accident.



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    Social media platforms are the new town square, but the anonymity of online profiles and algorithmically funneled echo chambers has led to toxic interactions and overconcern about how we present ourselves. While social networks claim to connect us, they often distract us from connecting with those directly in front of us, leaving many feeling paradoxically connected and socially isolated. Moreover, the dopamine-inducing features of social media utilize the same neural circuitry as gambling, causing the brain’s reward region to trigger the same kind of chemical reaction seen with drugs like cocaine. Here’s everything you need to know about social media addiction and some tips from the Android Authority team to curb it.

    Why is social media addictive?

    DALL·E phone addiction

    Credit: Dall-E

    The short answer: because the apps are designed to be. As the late Edward O. Wilson famously stated, “the real problem of humanity is the following: we have Paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions, and god-like technology.” While civilization is spurring-off new marvels every day, our brains are the same as they were in pre-historic times, and our biological hardware can’t keep up with the rapid developments of modern life. As such, technology has outsmarted us. It can learn and predict what we like based on our psychological biases and vulnerabilities, so getting sucked into our smartphones is anything but an accident.



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    Future Pixel phones should have these AI-enabled features

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    Google Pixel 7 close rear view on green wall
    Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

    Google’s Pixel phones weren’t the first to deploy AI smarts to push the envelope of smartphone capabilities, but they’ve consistently showcased some of the best examples of everyday enhancements that benefit day-to-day use. From better video capture using HDRNet to features like Photo Unblur and even audio message transcription, the Pixel series has pushed NPUs, and ML-infused cores on processors like the Tensor G2, to create subtle yet transformative user experiences.

    Read more: Google Pixel 7 buyer’s guide



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    Google Pixel 7 close rear view on green wall
    Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

    Google’s Pixel phones weren’t the first to deploy AI smarts to push the envelope of smartphone capabilities, but they’ve consistently showcased some of the best examples of everyday enhancements that benefit day-to-day use. From better video capture using HDRNet to features like Photo Unblur and even audio message transcription, the Pixel series has pushed NPUs, and ML-infused cores on processors like the Tensor G2, to create subtle yet transformative user experiences.

    Read more: Google Pixel 7 buyer’s guide



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    How To Get Free 3000MB and 6000 Minutes Plus Massages

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    How To Get Free 3000MB and 6000 Minutes Plus Massages
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    How To Get Free 3000MB and 6000 Minutes Plus Massages
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    Why Not Use 4GB Free Internet Offer Complete Details

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    Why Not Use 4GB Free Internet Offer Complete Details
    https://youtu.be/QwLCkpySh5w
    Why Not Use 4GB Free Internet Offer Complete Details
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    How to cancel your PlayStation Plus subscription

    0

    Sony’s PlayStation Plus subscription service has a lot to offer with three different tiers, but perhaps you aren’t using it enough to justify the monthly cost. Here’s everything you need to know about canceling your PlayStation Plus subscription.

    Read more: How to get a refund from the PlayStation Store



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    Sony’s PlayStation Plus subscription service has a lot to offer with three different tiers, but perhaps you aren’t using it enough to justify the monthly cost. Here’s everything you need to know about canceling your PlayStation Plus subscription.

    Read more: How to get a refund from the PlayStation Store



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    The best Android emulators for PC and Mac of 2022

    0
    Holiday sales alert: Right now Black Friday sales are in full swing! You can find our full Black Friday guide here, or check out some of our favorite deals below:

    Android emulators are surprisingly popular. Playing mobile games on your PC has a lot of advantages. You can use your mouse and keyboard for controls, and you can play games without burning through your phone’s battery. Productive folks can take advantage of mobile apps for basically the same reason. Emulating Android on a computer is a lot easier than it used to be. We’ll show you the best Android emulators for both PC and Mac.

    The list is quite a bit shorter than it used to be. Many of the bigger competitors have gone out of business without much in the way of replacements. With Microsoft introducing Android apps and games support in Windows 11, we anticipate this list to get even shorter as people start migrating to the easiest option. Check out the very bottom of the article to check out former entrants and what happened to them.

    The best Android emulators for PC and Mac

    Why do people use an emulator, to begin with?

    It’s simple, really. There are three main uses for an Android emulator. The first is gaming. Mobile games on PC let you use your larger screen to see stuff easier. Plus, mouse and keyboard support makes a lot of stuff a little bit easier. Plus, your computer is usually plugged in and offers unlimited battery life, whereas your phone would likely overheat if it had to run a game while being plugged in. Some of the more hardcore mobile gamers will also run their games in an Android emulator to give their phone a break.

    The second most popular use case is for app development. There are a couple of other tools available. Development-focused emulators usually combine an IDE with the emulator so developers can code their app, run it on the emulator, and fix bugs as necessary. Android Studio blows all of the competitors out of the water here. It uses an Android Virtual Device (AVD) function that lets developers emulate specific devices. It helps developers test on a wide range of devices before launch, ensuring fewer bugs.

    The last use is productivity. This is less common since most mobile productivity tools are also available on PC or Mac already. Plus, Chromebooks are cheaper and better at running Android apps than emulators. That said, some mobile apps are just easier to use than their PC counterparts, so an emulator can actually help.


    PROMOTED

    BlueStacks

    Price: Free

    BlueStacks is known by many users to be the most comprehensive Android app player in the market, and with good reason. Aside from running on both Windows and Mac, this emulator comes jam-packed with a ton of features to improve the gamer’s experience.

    Its most popular features include the Keymapping Tool to create customized control schemes, the Instance Manager through which you can create multiple instances of the emulator and run several games simultaneously, and quality-of-life features like Eco Mode, which help to reduce resource consumption while running the most demanding games. It’s also the safest emulator out there, with certified GDPR compliance — your data is always safe with them.

    The most recent version, BlueStacks 5, is the lightest and fastest the emulator has ever been, delivering high-performance gaming even on low-end devices. The latest version addresses some of the most common complaints of the previous version — namely, the fact that it can feel bloated, especially when running on inferior hardware. Try it right now for yourself and discover why BlueStacks has a community of over 500-million gamers around the world!

    Interested in more? Check out the best games to be played on BlueStacks.


    Android Studio

    Price: Free
    Android Studio screenshot 2022

    Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

    Android Studio is the best option for app developers. Technically, Android Studio is an IDE. It comes with an emulator via the Android Virtual Device function. You can create basically any device you want and use it to test your app. Regular people can also use this as an emulator, and the performance actually isn’t half bad once you get through the set-up. We played some games and used some apps without much difficulty. That said, it doesn’t have the extra support for keyboards like gaming-focused emulators have.

    Set-up is a bit complicated at first, and using everything may require a week or two of learning. However, after that, this is a solid overall product, and many developers use it to develop apps you use every day. It’s also one of the few emulators capable of running the latest versions of Android. It comes with the Play Store, but you have to build an AVD with the Play Store icon in order to use it.

    Android Studio does have some competition in this space. Xamarin and Genymotion both perform more or less the same task. They are IDEs with built-in emulators so you can test your apps out. Xamarin is good because it’s cross-platform between Android and iOS. Genymotion’s big claim to fame is its scalability which allows for sharding and parallel testing. We think Android Studio is the best, but you have options in the development space.


    ARChon

    Price: Free
    ARCHon screenshot 2022

    Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

    ARChon is a solid pseudo-emulator that works right out of Google Chrome. Obviously, that means you need Google Chrome in order to use ARChon. The process of installing ARChon is basically just installing an extension in Chrome with the developer settings turned on, but getting apps to run is a bit more complicated. You have to use a tool to convert APKs for use here. This one is definitely for power users who either only need to run the occasional Android app on their computers or are testing. The instructions for use are on the official GitHub, linked below.

    In our testing, we had a lot of problems with games, but that’s likely due to a number of different causes. For the most part, this one shines with apps. PC and Mac users can probably use another option on this list because it’s simply easier. The nice thing about ARChon, though, is that it works on any operating system with Google Chrome, including Linux, so we’re leaving it on this list for those people.


    Bliss OS

    Price: Free
    Bliss OS screenshot 2021

    Bliss OS has come a long way since it first made an appearance on this list. It’s definitely one of the better emulators. There are three different ways to use it. The first is a live boot option where you boot it off of a flash drive. Secondly, you can install it as a partition on your PC and boot it directly into Bliss OS. Finally, you can install it via a virtual machine. Click here for all of the installation methods. We recommend the flash drive or full boot method.

    The benefits of Bliss are there. The stable version runs Android 9 as of the time of this writing. Android 11 is in the works with experimental builds and Android 12 is also on its way. That’s newer than most of the emulators on this list. That should allow you to play most, if not all, of the most recent games and use almost every app available.

    In other words, if you can get through the installation, Bliss is a fairly versatile option. It can be buggy on occasion, but otherwise, it worked well. The only thing it lacks is some of the more gamer-centric features of competitors like Nox, Bluestacks, and others, but we don’t think that’s a big deal. It optionally comes with Google apps if you prefer. Bliss is free and open-source, which we like a lot.


    GameLoop

    Price: Free
    GameLoop screenshot 2022

    Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

    GameLoop is our second entrant that is built for gamers. It’s actually by Tencent, developers of several popular mobile games like PUBG: Mobile. The installation process is simple, so you can get into this one in just a few minutes. Once installed, you can play a variety of games or use a variety of apps. We tested TikTok, Call of Duty: Mobile, and a few other titles. Everything worked fine. It doesn’t come with Google Play stock, but GameLoop downloads the components if you need to download something from there.

    There were some hiccups in our testing. Some stuff took a couple of attempts to download, and we had to check out a few errors here and there. Still, this doesn’t use VT like most others and has some interesting extras for officially supported games like Call of Duty: Mobile and PUBG: Mobile. It’s not half bad if the emulator supports the games you want. It works for a lot of other stuff, but some of it can be a pain to install and use.


    LDPlayer 9

    Price: Free
    LDPlayer 9 screenshot

    Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

    LDPlayer is a gamer-focused emulator, but you can run other stuff on it as well. The installation is similar in ease to GameLoop. You simply download a file, install it, open it, set it up, and off you go. It’s easier to use than a lot of other entries and worked smoothly on our AMD-powered PC with an ultrawide monitor. It had fewer bugs than some of its competitors, but it didn’t run perfectly 100% of the time.

    What makes LDPlayer fun is its extra features. You get a toolbar on the right side of the window that lets you quickly take screenshots, record videos, set up keyboard mapping, and other tools. We tried about half a dozen games, and they all ran fine, even if it took a couple of tries to open a couple of them.

    LDPlayer is free, works smoothly, and has enough extra features to make it a good choice in this space. LDPlayer 9 runs Android 9, and that’s good enough to run almost everything.


    MeMU Play

    Price: Free
    MeMU Play screenshot 2022

    Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

    MeMU Play is one of the older emulators on the list. Active development has kept it relevant all these years and it’s one of the better Android emulators you can get. It runs Android 7.1.2 according to the settings menu, so it’s a relatively recent version of Android. Installation is relatively quick and painless, so that’s another point for MeMU Play.

    MeMU Play also comes with a few neat perks. It has a natively-built ability to run multiple instances if you’re into that sort of thing. There is a keymap function that lets you bind your mouse and keyboard to mobile games for easier play. One of our favorites is the ability to share files between MeMU Play and Windows using the shared download folder.

    In terms of performance, it’s not bad. It played our test games fine. We were even able to install apps and use those as well. MeMU Play looks and acts a lot like LDPlayer, so you can probably use either one interchangeably, depending on your needs.


    MuMu Player

    Price: Free
    MuMu Player screenshot 2022

    Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

    MuMu Player is a gaming-focused emulator from Netease, developer of some popular mobile games like the Onmyoji, Vikingard, and others. The main version runs Android 6, but there is a beta for both Android 9 and Android 11 that is in testing. There is also MuMu Nebula, which is a lighter version that you can use with low-end PCs. Installation is as easy as downloading a file and installing it. With some setup, it should only take about five to ten minutes.

    MuMu Player has a toolbar across the bottom of the app that works almost identically to LDPlayer and MeMU Play. You can install APKs, take screenshots, record video, and set keymapping with it. This one also has gamepad support. Otherwise, it works like any other emulator. You log into Google Play, download your games, and play them.

    We didn’t have any problems with this one. The UI and controls are very similar to MeMU and LDPlayer, so if you’ve used one, you’ll be able to get used to this one pretty quickly. We believe it runs Android 7, but the emulator doesn’t let you go to the settings to check in the traditional fashion. It ran our test games without complaint and keeps up in terms of extra features.


    NoxPlayer

    Price: Free
    NoxPlayer screenshot 2022

    Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

    NoxPlayer was one of the original Android emulators and is still quite popular today. It runs Android 9 as of the time of this writing, so the developers have done a good job keeping up. The installation process is easy. Just make sure you reject the optional offers. Once setup, you just log into Google Play and start doing your thing.

    NoxPlayer was among the first to have things like keyboard mapping. You’ll recognize the toolbar along the right side of the window as it is fairly standard practice these days. You can also take screenshots, record videos, and do some other stuff. In our testing, Nox handled our test games without much complaint.

    The main NoxPlayer still runs Android 7.1, but there is a beta for Android 9 if you feel lucky. There is also a version for Mac, which makes this among the best options for Mac users. It’s also free to download and use. It’s pretty stable overall, and it competes favorably with the likes of LDPlayer, MeMU, and others.


    PrimeOS

    Price: Free
    PrimeOS installer screenshot 2022

    Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

    PrimeOS is like Bliss OS. You install this one as a partition on your hard drive and boot into it. That makes installation a bit more complicated, but PrimeOS has an installer EXE that’ll help create a partition and install it for you, so it’s not horrible to do. Once installed, you reboot your machine and opt to boot into PrimeOS instead.

    From there, it works and feels a lot like Bliss OS. You have a full Android-powered desktop. You can get Google Play as well so it supports almost everything. There are also some extra features for gamers like keyboard and gamepad support, script recording, and more. It played our test games with a few issues, but it may be related to my test PC running on older hardware.

    The stable version of PrimeOS runs Android 7. There are betas available for Android 11 builds as well, which is one of the newer ones available. However, as it is a beta, there are likely more bugs and issues with that version. It’s otherwise free. The only advice we have is to be ready to learn a bit about how partitions work, but otherwise, it works fine.


    Windows 11

    Price: Free
    Amazon Appstore Windows 11

    Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

    One of the biggest features of Windows 11 is its ability to run Android apps. It uses virtualization like all of the other solutions on this list, but Microsoft includes the tools for it natively in Windows 11’s settings. All you have to do is go to the Microsoft Store, download the Amazon Appstore, and Windows 11 will pop up a tutorial to help you with the rest.

    Amazon’s Appstore is a decent place to get apps, but it doesn’t hold a candle to Google Play. You can still get some popular stuff here and there, along with many popular apps. They all worked just fine in our testing, but we believe functionality will improve over time. The best part about this is that it doesn’t require any weird installations or downloads. You simply download the Amazon Appstore, open it, and run your apps.

    There is a method to install Google Play, but it requires some know-how. It’s also not very stable right now, so we recommend waiting. That said, things like Google Play Games support on PC is in open beta right now and only gaining more steam. Google Play should be easier and more available as time goes on because Google is working on support for Windows 11 as we speak.


    If we missed any of the best Android emulators for PC, tell us about them in the comments! You can also click here to check out our latest Android app and game lists! Here are what happened to some old classics from the list:

    Former entrants on the list and what happened to them:

    • Leapdroid was purchased by Google and no longer operates.
    • AMIDuOS closed its doors officially on March 7th, 2018. You can still try it out, but you have to browse the official subreddit for download links.
    • Andy began using some seriously not great development tactics, including suspected crypto mining without user permission. This one is especially disappointing because it used to be quite good. In any case, with the shady development tactics, we don’t recommend anyone use Andy.
    • Droid4x used to be one of the best options, and its later builds are still available. However, it is no longer actively updated, so we removed it from the list.
    • KoPlayer was an outstanding Android emulator for gamers. However, the website appears to be down as of the time of this writing. It has been quite some time since the site went down, so we assume development has ceased.
    • YouWave, a once-popular option, seems to have been discontinued. The official website is down, and you can only find downloads from third-party sites.
    • Phoenix OS was entirely discontinued. It declined in quality quite dramatically before the end, so we should’ve taken it off of our list sooner. In any case, you can still find downloads for it, but we don’t recommend them.
    • Remix OS was discontinued in 2017. It was one of our favorite options while it was available. Phoenix OS was also based on Remix OS. Bliss OS is the best alternative to both of them.
    • Most of the rest simply haven’t been updated or in active development in years and don’t really work well anymore with newer operating systems and hardware. If we missed any, let us know in the comments.

    Thank you for reading. Try these out too:



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    Holiday sales alert: Right now Black Friday sales are in full swing! You can find our full Black Friday guide here, or check out some of our favorite deals below:

    Android emulators are surprisingly popular. Playing mobile games on your PC has a lot of advantages. You can use your mouse and keyboard for controls, and you can play games without burning through your phone’s battery. Productive folks can take advantage of mobile apps for basically the same reason. Emulating Android on a computer is a lot easier than it used to be. We’ll show you the best Android emulators for both PC and Mac.

    The list is quite a bit shorter than it used to be. Many of the bigger competitors have gone out of business without much in the way of replacements. With Microsoft introducing Android apps and games support in Windows 11, we anticipate this list to get even shorter as people start migrating to the easiest option. Check out the very bottom of the article to check out former entrants and what happened to them.

    The best Android emulators for PC and Mac

    Why do people use an emulator, to begin with?

    It’s simple, really. There are three main uses for an Android emulator. The first is gaming. Mobile games on PC let you use your larger screen to see stuff easier. Plus, mouse and keyboard support makes a lot of stuff a little bit easier. Plus, your computer is usually plugged in and offers unlimited battery life, whereas your phone would likely overheat if it had to run a game while being plugged in. Some of the more hardcore mobile gamers will also run their games in an Android emulator to give their phone a break.

    The second most popular use case is for app development. There are a couple of other tools available. Development-focused emulators usually combine an IDE with the emulator so developers can code their app, run it on the emulator, and fix bugs as necessary. Android Studio blows all of the competitors out of the water here. It uses an Android Virtual Device (AVD) function that lets developers emulate specific devices. It helps developers test on a wide range of devices before launch, ensuring fewer bugs.

    The last use is productivity. This is less common since most mobile productivity tools are also available on PC or Mac already. Plus, Chromebooks are cheaper and better at running Android apps than emulators. That said, some mobile apps are just easier to use than their PC counterparts, so an emulator can actually help.


    PROMOTED

    BlueStacks

    Price: Free

    BlueStacks is known by many users to be the most comprehensive Android app player in the market, and with good reason. Aside from running on both Windows and Mac, this emulator comes jam-packed with a ton of features to improve the gamer’s experience.

    Its most popular features include the Keymapping Tool to create customized control schemes, the Instance Manager through which you can create multiple instances of the emulator and run several games simultaneously, and quality-of-life features like Eco Mode, which help to reduce resource consumption while running the most demanding games. It’s also the safest emulator out there, with certified GDPR compliance — your data is always safe with them.

    The most recent version, BlueStacks 5, is the lightest and fastest the emulator has ever been, delivering high-performance gaming even on low-end devices. The latest version addresses some of the most common complaints of the previous version — namely, the fact that it can feel bloated, especially when running on inferior hardware. Try it right now for yourself and discover why BlueStacks has a community of over 500-million gamers around the world!

    Interested in more? Check out the best games to be played on BlueStacks.


    Android Studio

    Price: Free
    Android Studio screenshot 2022

    Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

    Android Studio is the best option for app developers. Technically, Android Studio is an IDE. It comes with an emulator via the Android Virtual Device function. You can create basically any device you want and use it to test your app. Regular people can also use this as an emulator, and the performance actually isn’t half bad once you get through the set-up. We played some games and used some apps without much difficulty. That said, it doesn’t have the extra support for keyboards like gaming-focused emulators have.

    Set-up is a bit complicated at first, and using everything may require a week or two of learning. However, after that, this is a solid overall product, and many developers use it to develop apps you use every day. It’s also one of the few emulators capable of running the latest versions of Android. It comes with the Play Store, but you have to build an AVD with the Play Store icon in order to use it.

    Android Studio does have some competition in this space. Xamarin and Genymotion both perform more or less the same task. They are IDEs with built-in emulators so you can test your apps out. Xamarin is good because it’s cross-platform between Android and iOS. Genymotion’s big claim to fame is its scalability which allows for sharding and parallel testing. We think Android Studio is the best, but you have options in the development space.


    ARChon

    Price: Free
    ARCHon screenshot 2022

    Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

    ARChon is a solid pseudo-emulator that works right out of Google Chrome. Obviously, that means you need Google Chrome in order to use ARChon. The process of installing ARChon is basically just installing an extension in Chrome with the developer settings turned on, but getting apps to run is a bit more complicated. You have to use a tool to convert APKs for use here. This one is definitely for power users who either only need to run the occasional Android app on their computers or are testing. The instructions for use are on the official GitHub, linked below.

    In our testing, we had a lot of problems with games, but that’s likely due to a number of different causes. For the most part, this one shines with apps. PC and Mac users can probably use another option on this list because it’s simply easier. The nice thing about ARChon, though, is that it works on any operating system with Google Chrome, including Linux, so we’re leaving it on this list for those people.


    Bliss OS

    Price: Free
    Bliss OS screenshot 2021

    Bliss OS has come a long way since it first made an appearance on this list. It’s definitely one of the better emulators. There are three different ways to use it. The first is a live boot option where you boot it off of a flash drive. Secondly, you can install it as a partition on your PC and boot it directly into Bliss OS. Finally, you can install it via a virtual machine. Click here for all of the installation methods. We recommend the flash drive or full boot method.

    The benefits of Bliss are there. The stable version runs Android 9 as of the time of this writing. Android 11 is in the works with experimental builds and Android 12 is also on its way. That’s newer than most of the emulators on this list. That should allow you to play most, if not all, of the most recent games and use almost every app available.

    In other words, if you can get through the installation, Bliss is a fairly versatile option. It can be buggy on occasion, but otherwise, it worked well. The only thing it lacks is some of the more gamer-centric features of competitors like Nox, Bluestacks, and others, but we don’t think that’s a big deal. It optionally comes with Google apps if you prefer. Bliss is free and open-source, which we like a lot.


    GameLoop

    Price: Free
    GameLoop screenshot 2022

    Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

    GameLoop is our second entrant that is built for gamers. It’s actually by Tencent, developers of several popular mobile games like PUBG: Mobile. The installation process is simple, so you can get into this one in just a few minutes. Once installed, you can play a variety of games or use a variety of apps. We tested TikTok, Call of Duty: Mobile, and a few other titles. Everything worked fine. It doesn’t come with Google Play stock, but GameLoop downloads the components if you need to download something from there.

    There were some hiccups in our testing. Some stuff took a couple of attempts to download, and we had to check out a few errors here and there. Still, this doesn’t use VT like most others and has some interesting extras for officially supported games like Call of Duty: Mobile and PUBG: Mobile. It’s not half bad if the emulator supports the games you want. It works for a lot of other stuff, but some of it can be a pain to install and use.


    LDPlayer 9

    Price: Free
    LDPlayer 9 screenshot

    Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

    LDPlayer is a gamer-focused emulator, but you can run other stuff on it as well. The installation is similar in ease to GameLoop. You simply download a file, install it, open it, set it up, and off you go. It’s easier to use than a lot of other entries and worked smoothly on our AMD-powered PC with an ultrawide monitor. It had fewer bugs than some of its competitors, but it didn’t run perfectly 100% of the time.

    What makes LDPlayer fun is its extra features. You get a toolbar on the right side of the window that lets you quickly take screenshots, record videos, set up keyboard mapping, and other tools. We tried about half a dozen games, and they all ran fine, even if it took a couple of tries to open a couple of them.

    LDPlayer is free, works smoothly, and has enough extra features to make it a good choice in this space. LDPlayer 9 runs Android 9, and that’s good enough to run almost everything.


    MeMU Play

    Price: Free
    MeMU Play screenshot 2022

    Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

    MeMU Play is one of the older emulators on the list. Active development has kept it relevant all these years and it’s one of the better Android emulators you can get. It runs Android 7.1.2 according to the settings menu, so it’s a relatively recent version of Android. Installation is relatively quick and painless, so that’s another point for MeMU Play.

    MeMU Play also comes with a few neat perks. It has a natively-built ability to run multiple instances if you’re into that sort of thing. There is a keymap function that lets you bind your mouse and keyboard to mobile games for easier play. One of our favorites is the ability to share files between MeMU Play and Windows using the shared download folder.

    In terms of performance, it’s not bad. It played our test games fine. We were even able to install apps and use those as well. MeMU Play looks and acts a lot like LDPlayer, so you can probably use either one interchangeably, depending on your needs.


    MuMu Player

    Price: Free
    MuMu Player screenshot 2022

    Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

    MuMu Player is a gaming-focused emulator from Netease, developer of some popular mobile games like the Onmyoji, Vikingard, and others. The main version runs Android 6, but there is a beta for both Android 9 and Android 11 that is in testing. There is also MuMu Nebula, which is a lighter version that you can use with low-end PCs. Installation is as easy as downloading a file and installing it. With some setup, it should only take about five to ten minutes.

    MuMu Player has a toolbar across the bottom of the app that works almost identically to LDPlayer and MeMU Play. You can install APKs, take screenshots, record video, and set keymapping with it. This one also has gamepad support. Otherwise, it works like any other emulator. You log into Google Play, download your games, and play them.

    We didn’t have any problems with this one. The UI and controls are very similar to MeMU and LDPlayer, so if you’ve used one, you’ll be able to get used to this one pretty quickly. We believe it runs Android 7, but the emulator doesn’t let you go to the settings to check in the traditional fashion. It ran our test games without complaint and keeps up in terms of extra features.


    NoxPlayer

    Price: Free
    NoxPlayer screenshot 2022

    Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

    NoxPlayer was one of the original Android emulators and is still quite popular today. It runs Android 9 as of the time of this writing, so the developers have done a good job keeping up. The installation process is easy. Just make sure you reject the optional offers. Once setup, you just log into Google Play and start doing your thing.

    NoxPlayer was among the first to have things like keyboard mapping. You’ll recognize the toolbar along the right side of the window as it is fairly standard practice these days. You can also take screenshots, record videos, and do some other stuff. In our testing, Nox handled our test games without much complaint.

    The main NoxPlayer still runs Android 7.1, but there is a beta for Android 9 if you feel lucky. There is also a version for Mac, which makes this among the best options for Mac users. It’s also free to download and use. It’s pretty stable overall, and it competes favorably with the likes of LDPlayer, MeMU, and others.


    PrimeOS

    Price: Free
    PrimeOS installer screenshot 2022

    Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

    PrimeOS is like Bliss OS. You install this one as a partition on your hard drive and boot into it. That makes installation a bit more complicated, but PrimeOS has an installer EXE that’ll help create a partition and install it for you, so it’s not horrible to do. Once installed, you reboot your machine and opt to boot into PrimeOS instead.

    From there, it works and feels a lot like Bliss OS. You have a full Android-powered desktop. You can get Google Play as well so it supports almost everything. There are also some extra features for gamers like keyboard and gamepad support, script recording, and more. It played our test games with a few issues, but it may be related to my test PC running on older hardware.

    The stable version of PrimeOS runs Android 7. There are betas available for Android 11 builds as well, which is one of the newer ones available. However, as it is a beta, there are likely more bugs and issues with that version. It’s otherwise free. The only advice we have is to be ready to learn a bit about how partitions work, but otherwise, it works fine.


    Windows 11

    Price: Free
    Amazon Appstore Windows 11

    Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority

    One of the biggest features of Windows 11 is its ability to run Android apps. It uses virtualization like all of the other solutions on this list, but Microsoft includes the tools for it natively in Windows 11’s settings. All you have to do is go to the Microsoft Store, download the Amazon Appstore, and Windows 11 will pop up a tutorial to help you with the rest.

    Amazon’s Appstore is a decent place to get apps, but it doesn’t hold a candle to Google Play. You can still get some popular stuff here and there, along with many popular apps. They all worked just fine in our testing, but we believe functionality will improve over time. The best part about this is that it doesn’t require any weird installations or downloads. You simply download the Amazon Appstore, open it, and run your apps.

    There is a method to install Google Play, but it requires some know-how. It’s also not very stable right now, so we recommend waiting. That said, things like Google Play Games support on PC is in open beta right now and only gaining more steam. Google Play should be easier and more available as time goes on because Google is working on support for Windows 11 as we speak.


    If we missed any of the best Android emulators for PC, tell us about them in the comments! You can also click here to check out our latest Android app and game lists! Here are what happened to some old classics from the list:

    Former entrants on the list and what happened to them:

    • Leapdroid was purchased by Google and no longer operates.
    • AMIDuOS closed its doors officially on March 7th, 2018. You can still try it out, but you have to browse the official subreddit for download links.
    • Andy began using some seriously not great development tactics, including suspected crypto mining without user permission. This one is especially disappointing because it used to be quite good. In any case, with the shady development tactics, we don’t recommend anyone use Andy.
    • Droid4x used to be one of the best options, and its later builds are still available. However, it is no longer actively updated, so we removed it from the list.
    • KoPlayer was an outstanding Android emulator for gamers. However, the website appears to be down as of the time of this writing. It has been quite some time since the site went down, so we assume development has ceased.
    • YouWave, a once-popular option, seems to have been discontinued. The official website is down, and you can only find downloads from third-party sites.
    • Phoenix OS was entirely discontinued. It declined in quality quite dramatically before the end, so we should’ve taken it off of our list sooner. In any case, you can still find downloads for it, but we don’t recommend them.
    • Remix OS was discontinued in 2017. It was one of our favorite options while it was available. Phoenix OS was also based on Remix OS. Bliss OS is the best alternative to both of them.
    • Most of the rest simply haven’t been updated or in active development in years and don’t really work well anymore with newer operating systems and hardware. If we missed any, let us know in the comments.

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