Reviewing The Best Android Media Players

Android users have a lot of opportunities to extend capabilities of their devices thanks to third-party software, and media players are no exception. Stock media players in Android often lack support for file formats and codecs, as well as some nifty features we are so used to in desktop media players. Since we received an opportunity to play media files on portable devices, we require the same advanced functionality from Android media players as we have in Windows software.

Below is the list of 8 free Android video players we consider worth your attention. Some of them have extensive file and codec support, while others have advanced functionality. Depending on your preferences, you will be able to find the one that satisfies you the most.

Archos Video Player

Archos is known for manufacturing cheap Android handsets, but apparently the company is also producing some solid Android apps, and this video player comes feature packed, supporting a wide range of devices and file formats. It uses hardware accelerated video decoding, which means you can play basically any file format.

In addition, it sports a standalone subtitle downloader, and is capable of online retrieval of TV shows and movie information, including posters. It supports full network playback, which means you can play video from any computer on the network or from storage in your local network, as well as from an external USB device.

The library in Archos will appeal to compartmentalizing aficionados – network indexing feature allows importing remotely shared folders, and viewing them in your multimedia library. In addition, you are able to browse your videos either by folders or in the library. The app is also TV remote control-compatible and can be controlled from keyboard.

If you should experience any problems with hardware decoding, Archos allows you to force software decoding from within the app to be able to watch any video.

Pros

• Beautiful layout of videos and posters
• Comprehensive library, easy to navigate and sort
• A brilliant indexing shares feature
• Comprehensive device compatibility and files and codecs support

Cons

• No gestured controls as in MX Player
• No Chromecast/ airplay support
• No social networks sharing feature
• No floating window

MX Player

MX Player is an awesome Android video player that combines usability and advanced features. It offers a convenient viewer window uncluttered with the information you would barely need. Instead, MX Player focuses on gesture controls and streamlined user interface. It features hardware and software decoding, which means it supports basically any file format. The main window gives you access to the screen lock, subtitle controls and the aspect ratio, while other functionalities can be found in the settings menu.

Do not despair if some file format isn’t reproduced immediately because you may need to download an additional codecs pack, even though the app automatically scans your device once you install it, and downloads the needed codecs automatically.

Bear in mind that the free version is ad-supported, but you can remove the ads via in-app purchases.

Pros

• Supports any file format
• Gestured controls
• Kids lock
• Hardware acceleration
• Subtitles support

Cons

• An occasional crash
• No network streaming
• No floating window or widget

BS Player

BS Player is my personal favorite for a variety of reasons. First of all, as much as the above-mentioned great apps, it also features software and hardware decoding, which enables it to support pretty much all popular video formats. Second, it sports a really beautiful interface, and offers a variety of skins for you to customize the UI. Third, it supports gesture controls and swipe immediate commands. Finally, it also supports subtitles, and, most importantly, in-built subtitles in MKV video files. Moreover, it can download appropriate subtitles for you if you need them. One of the coolest features is the pop out window, which allows you to watch movies in a smaller window floating above other apps.

Pros

• Beautiful and customizable UI
• Swipe and gesture controls
• Support for a large variety of file formats
• Support for subtitles
• Support for inbuilt subtitles in MKV files
• Ability to download more subtitles
• Ability to watch videos in the floating window
• Streaming content support
• Ability to stream multiple audio and subtitle tracks
• Ability to playback media files via Wi-Fi from your network shared folders
• Ability to playback files from uncompressed RAR folders
• Kid lock
• USB On-The-Go support

Cons

• It may sometimes be difficult to find the video file if you have them scattered all over different folders, so a more user-friendly library is welcome.

VLC Beta

This is an open source multiplatform media player that supports most file types, as well as devices and network streaming protocols. VLC developers aim to create an Android media player that would match its desktop counterpart in functionality and usability. It supports subtitles and multi audio, as well as aspect ratio adjustment, but bear in mind that Beta version means you may encounter an occasional bug or crash.

It offers a convenient media library for your media files, as well as allows you to browse folders directly. It also supports gesture controls for volume and brightness, audio headset controls and secondary display, and has of a widget for audio control and cover art.

It does require ARMv7 CPU or x86 CPU devices to run.

Pros

• Just like its desktop counterpart, VLC player for Android reads all file formats
• Offers audio and video media library with search options
• Network streaming is supported, as well as secondary display
• Supports subtitles, both embedded and external
• Allows you to select multiple audio and subtitle tracks
• Full hardware decoding and gesture controls

Cons

• The app is in Beta for over a year now, which raises questions as to whether we will see the bug-free version.
• No social network sharing options
• No Chromecast support

GPlayer

This media player is probably one of the most graphically pleasing apps with a floating window that enables you to watch media even when you’re doing something else on your device. Moreover, you can open multiple video windows simultaneously, but bear in mind that only one audio streaming will be able to play. It works perfectly smooth, supporting pretty much any file format, including MKV with inbuilt subtitles, as well as external subtitle files.

Pros

• Support for multiple floating windows
• Support for a large number of file formats, including MKV
• Support for subtitles, both inbuilt and external
• The ability to browse your media library based on the list, grid or 3D gallery mode
• Multiple widget support
• Group media sharing, which means you can share your video files with your friends, provided you have a high-speed wireless connection
• Ability to personalize your video lists
• Sync Play feature allows you to watch the same media content with your friends over Wi-Fi

Cons

• Controls may seem somewhat small for some clumsy users
• Some options are available via in-app purchases

Dice Player

The greatest advantage of this powerful media player, besides its powerful pack of features, is the ability to watch media files over the network – it supports FTP, HTTP, Windows Share and WebDAV. It also supports multiple subtitles and audio tracks and subtitle synchronization calibration.

It does have a list of unsupported devices though.

Pros

• Perfect for network streaming
• Supports large number of file formats and subtitles
• Pop up play and multiple audio and subtitles tracks
• HW accelerations

Cons

• Has some limitations in terms of unsupported devices

Mobo Player

Mobo Player offers support of a huge variety of file formats, even the ones that are normally not supported by your device via software forced decoding. It also supports multiple audio tracks, a Cover Flow view, on-screen subtitles and extensive library management tools. It also has a floating window that enables you to watch your media files while you’re doing something else on your device. You can also stream videos via HTTP and RTSP protocols.

The list of supported subtitle formats is limited to SRT, NSA and a SS, but it also supports inbuilt MKV, MPV and MOV subtitles. It offers a possibility to customize playlists in a convenient media library.

Pros

• Support for nearly all file formats
• Support for inbuilt and external subtitles
• Convenient media library
• Media streaming via HTTP and RTSP protocols.
• Software decoding capabilities

Cons

• Not all subtitle file formats are supported, if compared to some other apps on the list

KMPlayer

KMPlayer supports a staggering amount of file formats on its own, and does not require decoding, so you can play almost any media file without hassle. A cleanly-cut, simplistic, yet functional interface features options to change the file names and manage your media files at your heart’s content. It supports a lot of codecs, and features a media library with convenient file navigation. Additionally, you can edit media file extensions and folder names, as well as delete, move or create files and folders. It also supports video slow down and speed up functions, as well as a playback for camera roll.

It has a kid lock feature and gesture controls for volume and fast forwarding. You can continue watching your video file from where you left off the previous time, as well as skip to the next file. Additionally, you can arrange files according to date, name, size and favorite.

Pros

• Inbuilt support for most file formats, thus no decoding is needed
• Extensive file and folder editing options
• Great media library with easy navigation nd file sorting
• Kid lock

Cons

• No social network integration
• No network streaming

Conclusion

KMPlayer has inbuilt support for most file and codec types and a convenient media library for content management. However, if you want network streaming, there is no better app than Dice Player. For video sharing and simultaneous streaming over WiFi, choose GPlayer. However, BS Player offers multiple floating windows support and a streamlined gesture-controlled UI. Archos app is great for filtering and sorting nerds, with extensive device and file formats support, while the rest offer a mix of features that fall somewhere in the middle: VLC is great, but I wish it exited the Beta stage already. Mobo Player and MX Player are really powerful and feature-rich, being the top rated media players on Google Play. Make your choice, try them out and let us know which one is your cup of tea.

Tip: iOS users should look at our selection of Top 10 Media Players for iOS.