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Head-to-head · Nintendo 3DS Emulators

Mandarine-Neo vs 3Beans

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Mandarine-Neo #4 in Nintendo 3DS Emulators 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 5 features Visit Mandarine-Neo
3Beans #6 in Nintendo 3DS Emulators 8.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 5 features Visit 3Beans

Mandarine-Neo leads on 0 checks, 3Beans on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreMandarine-Neo · 8.7/10
  • Free planboth

Mandarine-Neo scores higher on our rubric for nintendo 3ds emulators: 8.7 against 8.3 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #6.

Mandarine-Neo is the better fit for cross-platform users wanting Android enhancements. 3Beans is the better fit for desktop users needing system-level 3DS emulation.

  • Mandarine-Neo fits best

    Cross-platform users wanting Android enhancements

  • 3Beans fits best

    Desktop users needing system-level 3DS emulation

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Side by side

Feature Mandarine-Neo 8.7/10 Visit ↗ 3Beans 8.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.3
Ranking #4 in Nintendo 3DS Emulators #6 in Nintendo 3DS Emulators
Best for Cross-platform users wanting Android enhancements Desktop users needing system-level 3DS emulation
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop, Mobile Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, Android Windows, macOS, Linux
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business
Features Mandarine-Neo 1/5 · 3Beans 1/5
System software support Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Save states Not checked yet Not checked yet
Graphics upscaling ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Cheat support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Online multiplayer Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, Android Windows, macOS, Linux
Our review
Pros
  • Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android
  • Android releases include resolution scaling, multiplayer, and driver importing
  • Offers configurable layouts with Vulkan and OpenGL rendering
  • Boots the 3DS operating system and Home Menu
  • Supports software and hardware GPU rendering
  • Handles cartridge auto-boot and encrypted cartridge dumps
Cons
  • 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
  • Game compatibility remains limited
  • Requires files dumped from a physical 3DS with homebrew access
  • New 3DS has more issues and runs much slower than Old 3DS
Our verdict

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 →

3Beans is an open-source Nintendo 3DS emulator for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It models the console at a low level, including its operating system, and can boot the 3DS Home Menu and launch some Nintendo 3DS games. Its audience is desktop…

Read the review →
  1. Mandarine-NeoNintendo 3DS Emulators 8.7Free plan
  2. 3BeansNintendo 3DS Emulators 8.3Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • 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

  • 3Beans — where it wins

    • Boots the 3DS operating system and Home Menu
    • Supports software and hardware GPU rendering
    • Handles cartridge auto-boot and encrypted cartridge dumps

    Where it doesn't

    • Game compatibility remains limited
    • Requires files dumped from a physical 3DS with homebrew access
    • New 3DS has more issues and runs much slower than Old 3DS

More comparisons

All nintendo 3DS emulators comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update