ANDSemu vs melonDS

ANDSemu is a free, open-source Nintendo DS emulator for Android phones and tablets. It provides a streamlined graphical interface for running Nintendo DS games, with portrait stacked, landscape side-by-side and landscape stacked screen layouts, plus LCD swapping. Save states and cheat support are included. The project describes its code as based on nds4droid and DeSmuME, and also names DSdroid in the repository. ANDSemu is licensed under GPLv3; redistribution, forks and selling a fork require compliance with that licence, including source files and build scripts. The README recommends Google Play installation and gives source compilation as an alternative. However, AppBrain reports that the app was removed from Google Play on January 14, 2013. Its historical listing describes a free download requiring Android 2.3.3 or later. Source builds require ActionBarSherlock, Android Support Libraries and ndk-build for DeSmuME and other native libraries.

melonDS is a free, open-source emulator focused on Nintendo DS emulation, with builds listed for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its feature list includes a nearly complete CPU, video, and audio core, a JIT recompiler, an OpenGL renderer with 3D upscaling, joystick support, savestates, RTC, microphone, and lid controls. The project also lists DLDI support. Wi-Fi features include local multiplayer and online connectivity, but are a work in progress and may not work with all games. DSi emulation and GBA slot add-ons are also in progress. DS emulation requires configured BIOS and firmware files; DSi emulation additionally needs a DSi NAND image. melonDS uses raw save files and can import saves from DeSmuME, DraStic, or a flashcard, but does not support the special save memory type used by WarioWare DIY and Jam with the Band. Direct online connectivity requires libpcap or WinPcap, Ethernet, and administrator or superuser privileges; indirect mode does not require Ethernet or those privileges. The software renderer is more accurate but more CPU intensive, while OpenGL may be faster but less accurate.