What are the best ways to run Android applications on Linux?

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3

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Mar 28, 2021

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Here’s the Deal

3 Options Considered

Best ways to run Android applications on Linux	Price	Based On	Default Desktop Environment
-- Anbox	-	-	-
-- Genymotion	-	-	-
-- Chrome OS	-	Gentoo>Chromium OS	Aura

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score 12 · Answer 1

Anbox

Top Pro

Fast

Its fast since there is no emulation layer. See More

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score 5 · Answer 2

Genymotion

Top Pro

Can be integrated with Eclipse and Android Studio

Genymotion has plugins for Eclipse and Android Studio allowing you to launch Genymotion right from within those IDEs. See More

Top Con

Expensive

Peter J. Mello's Experience

We're still a long way off from any sort of interoperability between Android and standard desktop Linux. (Which is disappointing considering that Android is still essentially a downstream fork of Linux, right down to the kernel.) While Genymotion is not in a position to dominate the very sparse playing field of an abstraction layer to connect the two worlds, they have done the best job to date of solving the issues inherent to running Android within a VM (virtual machine, i.e. operating system container). It's the only one of the current options that exist for either Windows or Linux I've used that starts and performs reliably whenever I open it. Responsiveness remains a disappointment, but as of writing this review (June 2019), they stand alone as the viable solution for Android emulation/containerization. See More

Top Pro

Simple setup

Installation is standard and after installing and launching Genymotion you'll have to log in. Once signed in, you can create your virtualized Android device. See More

Top Con

Accelerometer and gyroscope is not yet emulated

Although accelerometer and gyroscope is not yet emulated, accelerometer data from a physical device can be used with the remote control widget. See More

Top Pro

Faster than most Android devices

Genymotion takes advantage of OpenGL capable graphics cards allowing it to be one of the fastest Android emulators. The only comparable option is HAXM enabled Android SDK emulator. See More

Top Con

No way to install your applications directly from Titanium Studio before version 3.2

With an app's apk it's possible to simply drag & drop it on a running device to install and launch the app. See More

Top Pro

Cross-platform

Genymotion is available on Windows, OS X and Linux. See More

Top Con

Doesn't come with gapps installed

Top Pro

Free version available

A free version is offered to use it with general functionality non-commercially. See More

Top Con

Can't set a custom display resolution

For example: it's impossible to run it in full screen on a full HD monitor. See More

Top Pro

Comes bundled with Virtual Box

Genymotion runs on Oracle Virtual Box, that is bundled with the installation. See More

Top Con

Signup required for download

Before downloading Genymotion, users must create an account. And even if you download from an alternative mirror, bypassing signup, you need to register and login in the application itself before using it. See More

Top Pro

Can simulate multitouch interactions

Multitouch commands can be issued via mouse and keyboard. See More

Top Pro

Emulates every Android version starting with Jelly Bean and later

Genymotion supports Android 2.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 emulation. See More

Top Pro

A webcam and a dummy webcam can be used with the emulated device

Genymotion allows using a webcam connected to a computer as a camera for the emulated device. It can also enable a dummy webcam that will display a genymotion logo in motion. To use a webcam or set up a dummy, access camera settings panel by pressing ctrl+3 (or ⌘+3), enable the functionality and choose a front-facing and a back-facing camera. See More

Top Pro

GPS Widget

GPS information, including position, accuracy and bearing, can be used and modified in real time. Ctrl+2 (or ⌘+2) to access GPS settings panel. See More

Top Pro

Large library of emulated devices as well as custom devices

Genymotion has a selection of over 20 virtual devices, including various Google, HTC, LG, Motorola, Samsung and Sony phones and tablets. If a device that's needed is not found in the library, a custom phone or tablet device can be created with RAM, screen size and density adjusted from the wrench menu. See More

Top Pro

Multiple ways of installing an application including drag & drop

Genymotion offers three ways of deploying an app: By dragging and dropping an .apk file on a device (ADB must be installed) By running adb install <appname>.apk By using a web link from within the emulated device. See More

Top Pro

Allows creating shared folders between host and VM

In order to enable the functionality: Go to your VirtualBox VM setting / Shared folder tab Add a shared folder with the folder you want to shared, and check the "auto mount" option Start your VM as usual from the Genymotion software Your shared folder is available in the /mnt/shared directory (multiple shared folders are supported). See More

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score 1 · Answer 3

Chrome OS

Top Con

Cannot be installed

Chrome OS is exclusive to Chromebooks, and Google has no plans to release images of Chrome OS for installing to your own PC. You'll have more luck with CloudReady in expense of losing Android support. See More

Top Pro

Powerwash

Powerwash is to revert the system to factory settings and effectively deleting all of your data. Powerwashes shouldn't be performed as often however, since its only intended as last resort when something goes wrong. See More

Capuccino 's Experience

If you're aiming to use Android apps, you should be looking none other than Chrome OS. Natively supporting Android apps without any emulators, it runs every Android app you can find as long it supports your architecture and a keyboard and mouse, and the best thing is - it's Google-backed. See More

Specs

Based On:Gentoo>Chromium OS

Default Desktop Environment:Aura

Init-System:Upstart (core-only)

Package Manager:Chrome Extensions, Android Package Installer

See All Specs

Top Con

Relies in Google Services

Chrome OS relies on Google services, which may be an issue for some. See More

Top Pro

Linux support

Starting from Chrome OS 72, Linux applications are supported. If you're aiming to do gaming on your Chromebook, make sure you have Chrome OS 76 which has GPU acceleration added which should allow running games. See More

Top Con

Can only install apps from the Play Store

Android apps currently only install at Play Store. So if you want an app, you have to grab it from the Play Store. See More

Top Pro

Automatic Updates

Unlike most OSes, Chrome OS was concieved with automatic updates. And unlike most OSes, Chrome OS's updates are significantly smaller than the competition, allowing updates that are faster. See More

Top Con

Read Only Filesystem

If you are a massive Linux tinkerer, you will notice that the Gentoo-based OS is not modifiable. This is a security measure to prevent unintended writes to the sensitive parts of the system. You can disable the write protection by remounting the root as rewritable and setting the write protection to off. See More

Top Pro

Secure by default

Google Chrome OS is secure by default, having verified boot and locking the OS down to prevent unintended writes to the sensitive parts of the operating system allows Chrome OS to be safe for the regular citizen. See More

Top Pro

Native Android Support

Chrome OS can run Android apps without any modifications. As long as your android app runs in the architecture and supports mouse and keyboard, you're set. See More

See All

What are the best ways to run Android applications on Linux?

3 Options Considered

Anbox

My Recommendation for Anbox

My Recommendation for Anbox

Fast

Genymotion

My Recommendation for Genymotion

My Recommendation for Genymotion

Can be integrated with Eclipse and Android Studio

Expensive

Simple setup

Accelerometer and gyroscope is not yet emulated

Faster than most Android devices

No way to install your applications directly from Titanium Studio before version 3.2

Cross-platform

Doesn't come with gapps installed

Free version available

Can't set a custom display resolution

Comes bundled with Virtual Box

Signup required for download

Can simulate multitouch interactions

Emulates every Android version starting with Jelly Bean and later

A webcam and a dummy webcam can be used with the emulated device

GPS Widget

Large library of emulated devices as well as custom devices

Multiple ways of installing an application including drag & drop

Allows creating shared folders between host and VM

Chrome OS

My Recommendation for Chrome OS

My Recommendation for Chrome OS

Cannot be installed

Powerwash

Relies in Google Services

Linux support

Can only install apps from the Play Store

Automatic Updates

Read Only Filesystem

Secure by default

Native Android Support

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