What's a good emulator to try?

[ABG]

A good question.

I have documented some of my emulator experiences in

FAQ Section: Companion and Emulator

Introductory Your First App Testing - MIT AIStarter for 64 bit Windows - MIT Sample Connect -> Companion sequence - @ABG Breaking News: 3/18/2026 Current Version, from the AI2 Help->Companion Info link: 2.78 Downloadable 2.78u link: https://ai2.appinventor.mit.edu/companions/MITAI2Companion.apk http://ai2.appinventor.mit.edu/companions/MITAI2Companion.apk Prior versions Usage Techniques Check the MIT Rendezvous server status - JIS MIT AIStarter (Connect->Emulator) Companion Update …

I just checkd, and my laptop has MemuPlay and MultiMemu installed on, both free with game ads. The Multi-Memu is useful when you need several emulator images, working cross-version on test Companions.

My desktop PC runs BlueStacks 5, also free with ads, but the ads are on the side, where I can clip around them when making demo runs.

I don't bother with AIStarter. Search the Web for Wallace and Grommit The Wrong Trousers for what I think of the AIStarter startup sequence.

P.S. Regarding GenyMotion, I have used that in the past, but it required a different apk file for the Companion, names emulator.apk, due to some low level architectural difference in that emulator documented in the FAQ. Life's too short for that.