Head-to-head · Nintendo 3DS Emulators
AzaharPlus vs Mandarine-Neo
AzaharPlus leads on 0 checks, Mandarine-Neo on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreAzaharPlus · 8.9/10
- Free planonly Mandarine-Neo
- Most featuresAzaharPlus · 3 of 5
AzaharPlus scores higher on our rubric for nintendo 3ds emulators: 8.9 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #4.
AzaharPlus is the better fit for users needing cheats, save states, and broad compatibility. Mandarine-Neo is the better fit for cross-platform users wanting Android enhancements.
- AzaharPlus fits best
Users needing cheats, save states, and broad compatibility
- Mandarine-Neo fits best
Cross-platform users wanting Android enhancements
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Side by side
| Feature | AzaharPlus 8.9/10 Visit ↗ | Mandarine-Neo 8.7/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.9 | 8.7 |
| Ranking | #3 in Nintendo 3DS Emulators | #4 in Nintendo 3DS Emulators |
| Best for | Users needing cheats, save states, and broad compatibility | Cross-platform users wanting Android enhancements |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Open source | Free plan |
| Free plan | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Desktop, Mobile | Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux, Android | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android |
| Features AzaharPlus 3/5 · Mandarine-Neo 1/5 | ||
| System software support | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Save states | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Graphics upscaling | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Cheat support | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Online multiplayer | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Supported platforms | Windows, Linux, Android | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Our verdict | AzaharPlus is an open-source fork of the Azahar Nintendo 3DS emulator for users who want to run supported 3DS game files on desktop and mobile platforms. It supports Windows, Linux, and Android, with Android 9 compatibility included among… Read the review → |
Mandarine-Neo is an open-source Nintendo 3DS emulator maintained as a continuation of the Mandarine project. Built as a Citra fork, it runs Nintendo 3DS software and provides desktop releases for Windows, macOS, and Linux alongside Android… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
AzaharPlus — where it wins
- Supports Windows, Linux, and Android, including Android 9.
- Includes built-in cheats, save states, and Amiibo generation.
- Adds older-CPU support and multiplayer compatibility with other Citra forks.
Where it doesn't
- Its platform coverage is limited to Windows, Linux, and Android.
- Multiplayer details focus on fork compatibility rather than online play.
- Its focus is Nintendo 3DS emulation rather than broader console coverage.
Mandarine-Neo — where it wins
- Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android
- Android releases include resolution scaling, multiplayer, and driver importing
- Offers configurable layouts with Vulkan and OpenGL rendering
Where it doesn't
- Experimental hacks and features may suit users seeking a defined feature set
- The listed feature set excludes save states and cheats
- Android support requires Android 9.0 or newer
- AzaharPlus8.9/10 · Open source
A feature-rich 3DS emulator fork for users who want customization and compatibility.
Visit AzaharPlusFull verdict → - Mandarine-Neo8.7/10 · Free plan
A broad, free emulator with Android-focused enhancements and configurable graphics.
Visit Mandarine-NeoFull verdict →
More comparisons
- Azahar vs AzaharPlus
- Azahar vs Mandarine-Neo
- Citra Libretro Core vs AzaharPlus
- Citra Libretro Core vs Mandarine-Neo
- AzaharPlus vs Panda3DS
- AzaharPlus vs 3Beans
- AzaharPlus vs Tanuki3DS
- AzaharPlus vs Citra MMJ
All nintendo 3DS emulators comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update
