There are many Android video players available nowadays that can play motion pictures right there and then. Gone are the days when watching videos on devices meant converting them to a lower quality, which can diminish your viewing experience. These days, most modern mobile phones come with a default video player. While many are content with using it, others would prefer to use a player that not only provides better viewing quality but also gives users access to more features that enhances the overall viewing experience.
Best Android Video Players Today
It being one of the most essential mobile apps to download, finding the right video player to suit your needs may prove to be difficult. There are a lot of Android video player apps in the market with similar functions. For this reason, we hope that this list will help you find the right video player for your Android device.
Do note that these apps were chosen based on their ratings on Google Play and are not arranged in a particular order. Moreover, most of the apps listed are free video players. However, some of them might require you to shell out a couple of bucks to have complete access to all app functions.
As one of the most popular Android video players, MX Player is popular for its smooth and user-friendly interface, as well as its ease of use and powerful features. Some of MX Player’s noteworthy features include its ability to support a variety of video formats and subtitle controls. Those aside, it also has swipe features and a screen lock feature. It’s also worth noting that this video player supports hardware acceleration and multi-core decoding. The app assists in decoding high-resolution video files without diminishing quality. The application also has several plug-ins that you can download to further enhance the viewing experience.
The only possible downfall of this app is that its free version has banner ads. You can, of course, choose to remove the ads by purchasing its Pro version.
VLC Media Player is also a popular Android video player. Many love VLC’s desktop version for its ease of use and its number of available functions. The good news is, they’re bringing everything that you love in the desktop version to VLC for Android.
From adaptive streaming, network streaming, and the usual functions; a noteworthy aspect about VLC Media Player is that it supports almost every video format. It supports 360-degree videos and 8K formats making it a very powerful Android video player to have. Moreover, VLC for Android also allows users to play audio files and even features a complete database, an equalizer, and filters to play all audio formats.
One thing that you will love about VLC for Android is that it’s completely ad-free and does not require any type of in-app purchases.
FX Player supports all video formats, subtitles, screen mirroring, and navigating among others. It has a mobile-optimized interface that offers a continuous and smooth interface. A noteworthy feature of the app is its ability to support 4K playback and other HD formats like Blue-Ray ripped videos.
Further, the app also supports multilingual audio support. It scans all of your video files and SD card automatically so that you don’t have to spend time importing the files just to view them. Adding to that, the app also features a pop-up player, which allows you to continue watching your videos while accessing another app.
However, the app is ad-supported so prepare for some interruptions while watching. As of writing, FX Player does not offer subscriptions to remove said ads.
KMPlayer is an Android video player that supports a wide range of codecs and file formats. It features all basic functions such as playback controls and gesture controls. Additionally, the app also has subtitle support that makes subtitles more suitable for mobile viewing. It also allows users to customize and control subtitles if needed.
Apart from being able to play videos stored in your phone and SD card, KMPlayer also allows you to view contents stored on your Google Drive for easier access.
KMPlayer’s most unique aspect will probably be its 3D support. With this, users will be able to enjoy locally stored 3D videos as well as online 3D videos. This function makes KMPlayer an app to have if you’re looking for a video player that goes the extra mile to provide you with a premium viewing experience.
This versatile and functional android video player supports most audio and video formats for playbacks. OPlayer HD gives users excellent playback controls and a user-friendly interface that will ultimately help in upping your viewing experience. Apart from basic functions such as subtitles, the app also supports a built-in file manager, AirPlay, Mirroring, and HDMI wire support.
The app remarkably consumes less battery, remotely plays your files on your PC, and can protect your app and folders with password protection. OPlayer also converts your 3D movies to 2D mode so you can still enjoy them without going through the painstaking process of conversion.
Unfortunately, with its excellent functions, you will have to spend a little bit to access OPlayer. However, OPlayer also has a free version called OPlayer Lite that will give you less access to its functions but will still play your files the same way as its paid version.
Known for its broad format support and ability to smoothly play 4K and Ultra HD files, XPlayer or Video Player All Format also gives users privacy by protecting private videos. Its HD player helps viewers enjoy full HD playback with its advanced motion settings where viewers can change media speed easier and faster.
Further, with XPlayer, you can also easily identify file details such as its storage and quality among others. The player also supports Night Mode and makes managing and sharing video files easier.
PlayerXtreme is an app that supports all types of video formats and can stream audio, subtitles, and videos from your PC or other websites to your phones. You can easily control playback with the app and even use it to organize and share music, photos, and videos to your social media platforms.
Additionally, the player also sports a built-in subtitle downloader that makes using and managing subtitles easier for the user. Further, the app also allows users to add lyrics to music and enables them to get online content with its browser feature.
GPlayer takes the viewing experience to the next level by not only supporting a variety of formats but also fast loading HD and large files without compromising the quality. The app also supports online videos from YouTube and other sites. It allows users to share media content with others through wireless channels without the need for configuration.
A noteworthy function of GPlayer is that it allows users to rearrange the size of their video screen for easier viewing. Further, users can also watch a maximum of six videos at the same time with GPlayer’s multi-window playback. The app is also ad-free, which is a plus for android video players.
While GPlayer is generally free, you can opt to purchase other features in-app if you want access to more features.
If you’re looking for a video player but don’t have the memory to download apps with big file sizes, you might want to try out PLAYit. This app is known mostly for being lightweight but provides powerful functions for your viewing pleasure. The app features a simple interface, smooth playback, and clear displays.
The app also allows users to personalize subtitles by formatting font colors and language. Apart from that, you can also choose to watch your videos in a floating window so you can use other apps while watching.
PLAYit is a no-frills Android video player that allows you to play your files with clear audio-visuals at a faster rate. The app also sports day mode, night mode, and a special eye-protection mode. On top of everything, PLAYit is ad-free to not disturb your viewing experience.
BSPlayer is a clean and solid Android video player that plays popular audio and video formats and even plays files directly from uncompressed RAR files. It sports a variety of skins and a customizable interface that you can arrange to your liking.
This smart app is also equipped to help locate subtitles automatically. The app also features hardware-accelerated video playback that increases app speed and reduces battery consumption. However, this still depends on your device’s decoder capability.
While you can fully enjoy its features for free, BSPlayer is an ad-supported player — hence, you will have to make do with ads on your screen. However, you can also opt to purchase BSPlayer Pro, which will remove the ads and give access to the app’s Chromecast support.
What to Look for in a Good Android Video Player
There are many video players in the market. That is why it’s important to put into consideration the features you want from an app. While there are hundreds of video players you can download, not all of them are flexible enough to fit your watching habits. Here are the basic considerations you might want to look for in a good Android video player.
Compatibility With Different Video Formats
An important feature to consider when choosing a video player app is its compatibility with a range of video formats. Default Android video players usually just support formats such as 3GP and MP4. But, others will also be able to play MKV and WebM. However, not all phones will come with these features. That is why it’s important to consider an app that will be able to support and properly play videos of other formats as well.
HD-Ready Architecture
Another feature to consider is its ability to play 4K and other HD videos. Since most of the best camera phones now can shoot in 4K, it would only make sense to look for a video player that also supports it. Default Android video players may not be able to support this function. It may cut down the video quality, which greatly takes away from the entertainment experience.
Good Playback Control
A good video player should also have good playback control. Consider its ease of access and how it will affect your viewing experience as a whole. Some apps will feature the classic playback interface while others might provide you with floating buttons and so on.
Ultimately, you should also consider your immediate needs when downloading an application. It’s important to keep in mind that, despite having excellent features, it might not be the best fit for the purpose that you need it for.
Changing Your Default Android Video Player
Now that you’ve chosen the app for you, all that’s left to do is to make it your default player. The process for most Android phones is simple.
Simply open your device’s settings and click on Applications then Manage Applications. Once there, all you have to do now is to look for your default video player. Once you’ve found your video player, click on it and locate the clear default button.
Alternatively, you can choose to clear all your device preferences for the default video player to be removed. You can do this especially if you can’t find your default player. Once done, you can go back to Application Management and find your new video player. Once you’ve found it, simply click on it and set it as your default.
You can also choose to change your default by opening a video. The applications available for use should appear and from there, just click on your desired video player, tick on the Set as Default checkbox, and hit confirm. It’s as easy as that!
Final Word
There are still other apps in the market that aren’t listed in this article. Most apps will provide you with similar features and functionality. With these apps, watching videos on your phone will not only prove to be easier but also provide you with a viewing experience like no other.
It’s also good to note that some other applications that may not be listed in this article also support features such as casting support and network shares.
With all that in mind, it’s time to sit back, relax, and try out any of these apps to find which one is the best fit for you!
