android-emulator-m1-preview captured the early effort to bring the Android Emulator to Apple Silicon by targeting the ARM64 host and macOS virtualization APIs. The preview introduced native builds that avoid x86 translation, dramatically improving boot time, UI smoothness, and battery usage on M1-class Macs. It documented limitations typical of a preview—graphics features, sensor fidelity, and compatibility quirks—while outlining the path to parity with established macOS targets. Developers could test app installs, basic input, and network scenarios to validate their toolchains ahead of mainstream IDE support. The project also served as a staging ground for feedback on Hypervisor.framework usage, Metal rendering, and system image formats for ARM guests. Although superseded by stable emulator releases, it remains a useful historical reference for how Android tooling crossed the Apple Silicon transition.
Features
- Native ARM64 emulator build for Apple Silicon Macs
- Faster boot and better UI responsiveness than translated x86 emulation
- Integration with Hypervisor.framework and Metal rendering
- Early support for app install, input, and networking on ARM system images
- Known-issues tracking for graphics, sensors, and compatibility gaps
- Bridge for tooling migration during the Apple Silicon transition
Project Samples
