Between improved audio and visuals, and consumption options, watching videos has never been better. Are you looking for the best video player for your needs?
With 3D and virtual reality becoming more mainstream, advanced audio and visuals, and improved ways of consumption, video content has really improved over the last couple of years. As good as the content is though, to really enjoy the best it has to offer, you need the right video player.
We take a look at some of the best video players out there. From players that give a simple, smooth experience, to feature-packed and advanced video players for the more sophisticated users – we have it all.
For a Simple Viewing Experience
For those looking for a tool to play videos without extra bells and whistles, these video players are for you. They load quickly, don’t have too many confusing buttons or controls, and stay in the background while you enjoy your favorite flicks. No more consuming installations, trying to learn how to use the software, or getting frustrated.
If you don’t already use VLC Media Player, you should; it’s simple, it plays almost all video content, supports 360-degree video, and includes the most important features a video player requires. There are also numerous personalization options such as skins and plugins available. Staying with “keeping it simple,” another player that does the job well is MediaMonkey. It does the basics really well, and then adds to this with some really useful features like managing media on networked drives, automatic tagging, a jukebox option, and syncing media with your other devices. MediaMonkey is free, but its premium option, Gold Edition, includes extra features like advanced search and automatic background media organization.
When thinking of a media player, many people’s minds jump straight away to Windows’ classic media player. It was good for its time, but Media Player Classic Home Cinema is better by a long way. The key is in its simplicity and tried-and-tested reliability. Media Player Classic Home Cinema is lightweight, open source, and supports all common video and audio file formats available for playback. There’s also the wildly popular KMPlayer. KMPlayer is simple to use and contains the right balance of extra features with a clean interface. This option is a versatile multi-media player that can cover various different types of contained formats. KMPlayer has its own internal Codec, making problems with installing Codec (a common error when it comes to video playback) a thing of the past. These solutions are popular for a reason. They’re straightforward, do what you want, and are completely hassle free. Luckily there are tons of options in the video player space, allowing more advanced users to find their perfect solution.
Feature-Packed Players
When it comes to features, look no further than Kodi. Kodi is more than just a media player, it’s an entertainment hub that brings all of your digital media together into one beautiful and user-friendly package. Besides being free, it’s highly customizable, and runs on a wide variety of devices. It’s also open source, which means it’s supported by a dedicated team of volunteers and a passionate community who ensure that it’s continuously improving. You can use Kodi to listen to music, watch movies and TV shows, and you can even use it as a PVR device to record live TV. It can be customized with different skins and add-ons, and offers support for hundreds of remote controls.
If video quality is important to you, DivX is the perfect video player. The player has been around for decades and is constantly getting better. The player supports all the major formats, and is really at its best when showing off its Ultra HD (4K) capabilities. It really is a must-have for those who appreciate high-quality video. Features we love include the ability to cast to another screen (any DLNA-compatible device), its “Trick Play” feature, and advanced audio capabilities. Gom Player is another great option for a player packed with features. It’s used by millions of people throughout the world. Content consumers love it for its simplicity yet broad feature offering. The free video player has built-in support for all the most popular videos and formats, and includes many advanced features. It also offers multiple customization options and a Codec finder service. Useful advanced features include A-B repeat, screen capture, media player capture, and even video effects.
Advanced Players
For advanced users, a player like Potplayer will provide the answer to your video consumption needs. It features enhanced acceleration, support for different types of 3D glasses, and support for various subtitle formats. There’s also support for OpenCodec, Direct3D9 Ex Flip Mode, and Overlay, and you can even choose a preferred sound card if you have more than one.
Staying with advanced players, you should try 5kPlayer. This player combines an HD video player, music player, AirPlay media streamer, and online video downloader into one platform. It handles 4K/5K/1080p HD videos, and one of its most unique features is its ability to download videos from the likes of YouTube, Dailymotion, and Vimeo. When talking about advanced players with rich features, Plex Media Player is up there with the best. The Plex player gives you a professional feeling playback experience. It’s powerful and packed with sophisticated features, and is the perfect tool to be used as part of your home theatre system. The interface is simple, intuitive, and is full of advanced tools and customization options.
Lights, Camera, Action
Technological advancements in recent years have brought incredible things. Improved medical treatments, better anti-fraud solutions, faster internet speed, and advanced video players.
When it comes to your video viewing experience, there’s no need to compromise. There really is something for everyone, from a smooth and light viewing experience, to a feature-packed player and even super sophisticated players for advanced users. There is so much amazing video out there – choose your player and grab the popcorn!
