The first thing I do after buying an Android smartphone is install essential apps. Even in this age of streaming, I do consume a lot of locally stored content on my device. So, I need an Android app that can play movies and TV series without any issues with file formats or compatibility.
I’ve been using MX Player for more than a decade, and the app can play virtually any file format. Offering intuitive controls, multicore decoding, and other advanced features, MX Player is miles ahead of most video players, and is now an ad-supported app.
The former paid, ad-free Pro version is still available in some markets, but availability varies by region. The app has also expanded beyond local media playback, operating as a streaming service under Amazon.
MX Player rarely faces video playback issues
The app offers unmatched compatibility
It’s essential for a video-playing app to run different file formats without the need for you to access any editing software. Default video players often stumble and are only optimized to run file formats the manufacturers support officially. MX Player is engineered to solve this problem.
Whether you have a high-quality 4K video encoded at a high bitrate or an old, ancient AVI file from 2005, MX Player doesn’t disappoint. You can also play video files packaged with multiple audio files and subtitles and choose between them. This is thanks to how MX Player handles audio and video decoding.
If you try playing a file the phone doesn’t officially support, the app switches to its own custom software decoders, ensuring the file plays back perfectly.
For instance, there were times when I played a TV show, and my handset’s native media player couldn’t recognize the audio format and played it on mute. When I ran the same file on MX Player, I did not face any such issue, and the video file played perfectly with the audio intact.
Multiple decoder options ensure smooth playback without excess battery drain
There is support for both hardware and software-based decoders
If you are someone who is not tech-savvy, you may not be well-versed in how an advanced video player decodes files. MX Player supports multicore decoding, meaning it can split the heavy lifting of playing a heavy video file across multiple processor cores.
You get access to HW, HW+, and SW decoding options. The HW(Hardware) option uses your device’s built-in media decoder. It is highly battery-efficient but strictly limited to the file types your phone manufacturer supports.
The HW+ (Hardware Plus) decoder utilizes MX Player’s custom media frameworks while still tapping into the phone’s hardware acceleration. This expands the file formats you can play smoothly without draining your battery or causing the processor to overheat.
Lastly, you get the SW (Software) decoder that forces your phone’s CPU to decode the video purely through software. This uses more battery, but it all but guarantees the video will play. You can easily toggle between these modes with a single tap on the screen while the video is playing.
In my testing, I found the HW+ option to work smoothly most of the time, offering vast file compatibility and power efficiency. Another key feature you get is the ability to boost your volume by up to 200x. While I used the app, this feature was available while using the HW+ and SW decoder options. This means if the video file you run has low-quality audio that is barely audible, you can boost it way past the default limit.
Subtitles can be switched easily while playing a video file
The app supports a wide range of subtitle formats
MX Player supports all sorts of subtitle formats, including SSA and ASS formats. If the subtitles on your file are out of sync, you can easily change the timestamps and get them in line without the need to navigate through complex menus.
If the video file has multiple subtitles in different languages, you can easily choose between them. To do this, tap the top-right menu (three dots or the subtitle icon), select Subtitle, and then choose the one you want.
Earlier, if your movie didn’t come with subtitles, you didn’t need to go treasure hunting as the app had a built-in feature to download subtitles. Sadly, in recent versions of the app, I noticed this feature to be missing.
Adjust brightness, volume, and playback speed without digging through menus
MX Player’s touch controls are easy to master
Default video players don’t give you much in terms of intuitive controls. It is a bit of a headache to physically reach out to change the volume or to go through a bunch of settings to adjust the brightness.
MX Player has an amazing implementation of gesture controls that are bound to make your life easier.
- Brightness: Swipe up or down from the left side of the screen.
- Volume: Swipe up or down from the right side of the screen.
- Video Timeline: Swipe horizontally anywhere on the screen to scrub forward or backward.
- Zoom: Pinch the screen to zoom in or out.
- Playback Speed: Swipe up or down with two fingers to instantly change the playback speed.
- Subtitle Sync: Swipe horizontally back and forth directly on the subtitle text to sync it.
- Subtitle Position: Swipe up or down on the subtitles to move them vertically and keep them out of the way.
- Subtitle Size: Pinch the subtitles to make the text larger or smaller.
After using these gestures a few times, they are bound to become a part of your muscle memory, and there is no looking back.
MX Player is arguably the best media player for Android
With support for most video formats, advanced decoding options, and intuitive controls and gestures, MX Player does it all. The app also features a built-in streaming platform and some interesting features such as file transfer that works similarly to Android’s Quick Share feature.
The only con is the ads that pop up at unwanted moments. It is also worth noting that recent versions of MX Player have stripped down some features related to local video playback. Nevertheless, I would highly recommend the app to anyone who is looking for an advanced media player offering a ton of features all packaged in an easy-to-learn user interface.