Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) preview is officially here, and you can use it to install and run Android apps on Windows 11. While the ability to run Android apps natively on Windows 11 is certainly an exciting development, you might be wondering if WSA is capable of replacing a dedicated Android emulator for Windows. That’s exactly what we will be exploring in this Windows Subsystem for Android vs BlueStacks comparison.

While there are several Android emulators out there, one that manages to stand out is BlueStacks. We have used BlueStacks 5.3 in comparison with the first preview of Windows Subsystem for Android bearing version number 1.7.32815.0. Now that you know the specifics involved, read on to find out if WSA is worth installing on Windows 11.

  • Windows Subsystem for Android vs BlueStacks: BenchmarksWindows Subsystem for Android vs BlueStacks: App CompatibilityWindows Subsystem for Android vs BlueStacks: PerformanceWindows Subsystem for Android vs BlueStacks: GamingWindows Subsystem for Android vs BlueStacks: Which is Better for Developers?

Windows Subsystem for Android vs BlueStacks: Benchmarks

Before we get to the results, I want to emphasize that you take these numbers with a grain of salt. That’s because the benchmark scores fluctuate in BlueStacks based on the device profile and performance mode. I used Galaxy S20 Ultra as the device profile with the high-performance mode in BlueStacks during my tests. Moreover, BlueStacks runs on Android 7 Nougat, while Windows Subsystem for Android is based on Android 11. With these settings, BlueStacks managed to surpass Windows Subsystem for Android in single-core performance, while WSA performed better in the multi-core segment, as you can see below:

As I said, these scores don’t entirely reflect the complete capabilities of WSA, especially when it is in beta. It’s better to wait until Microsoft releases the final version of WSA before making a judgment on optimization and performance.

Since Windows Subsystem for Android lacks Google Mobile Services (GMS) by default, the app collection is significantly limited. Even if you sideload apps, apps that require GMS will not work until you patch your WSA installation and install Google Play Store on Windows 11. On the other hand, BlueStacks has a vast library of apps and games, thanks to Google Play Store.

Moreover, I would also like to mention both Windows Subsystem for Android and Bluestack 5 come with multi-instance support. What does that mean, you ask? Well, that means you can run multiple different Android apps on your Windows 11 PC at the same time. You are not limited to using just one Android app or game at a time. The multi-instance manager in Bluestacks lets you create and power up multiple instances to “play several games together, use different accounts at the same time and farm more easily in many different games.”

Talking about performance, my brief time using Android apps on Windows 11 has been pleasant. I have been able to install most of my favorite apps, including Apple Music, on my Windows 11 PC. Be it installing apps from the Play Store, streaming videos on YouTube, or scrolling through Reels on Instagram, the experience has been fairly good. Of course, you can’t scale Instagram to cover the entire screen on your laptop, and some apps act finicky while resizing or installing. But overall, the first beta of Windows Subsystem for Android has surely lived up to my expectations.

Windows Subsystem for Android vs BlueStacks: Gaming

A lot of you might be interested to know if you can install and play games like Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) or PUBG Mobile on your Windows 11 PC using Windows Subsystem for Android. Well, things are a bit complicated and not as straightforward as you might expect.

That brings me to the next shortcoming: key mapping. You see, BlueStacks and other Android emulators have been around for a while and have dedicated tools to help users assign keybinds. So yeah, you have a complete set of customization options for in-game controls in Bluetsacks.

We also tried installing Asphalt 9 Legends on Windows 11 from Aurora Store, but it force quit due to the lack of GMS. Arjun from our team tried installing Asphalt 9 from Google Play Store and found the performance to be choppy with no response for arrow keys. If it wasn’t clear already, you should continue using emulators if you are planning to play resource-intensive games.

While gamers are better off sticking to BlueStacks, app development is a different story. After enabling developer mode and setting up ADB, developers can use Windows Subsystem for Android to run and debug apps. WSA will show up as a device in the IDE’s device manager. That’s a subtle quality-of-life improvement to easily debug apps without having to rely on Android emulators.

Can I play PUBG Mobile or Battlegrounds Mobile India on Windows Subsystem for Android?

Users report that trying PUBG Mobile and BGMI on Windows 11 natively through Windows Subsystem for Android is resulting in an account ban. You will likely get a “Your account has been temporarily frozen due to abnormalities detected in your emulator. Please update your emulator to the latest version” error if you try playing PUBG Mobile on Windows 11 using the Windows Subsystem for Android.

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