VLC Player has long been a staple in the realm of video applications, tracing its roots back to the early days of Windows XP. Over the years, it has seamlessly transitioned to Android, maintaining its status as a reliable choice for both desktop and mobile users. However, as powerful as VLC is, it can sometimes feel overwhelming when simplicity is desired. In search of a more streamlined alternative for quick video viewing, I stumbled upon Next Player. While it may not boast the extensive features of VLC, this simplicity is precisely what makes it appealing, offering lessons that the veteran player could benefit from.
Next Player excels in design and usability
What Next Player lacks in features, it compensates for with its striking design. It stands out as one of the most visually pleasing Android apps I have encountered in recent times, fully embracing Material You and thoughtful element placements. The app provides two distinct settings menus: one dedicated to home screen organization and another for additional tweaks. This thoughtful layout ensures that users are never more than two screens away from their desired content, and once the environment is customized, revisiting these menus becomes a rare necessity.
Its clean design initially attracted me, but Next Player’s strength is its straightforward functionality.
The home screen offers some customization options, displaying only folders containing supported content by default, which allows for immediate access to directories and a seamless viewing experience. The video player interface is particularly user-friendly, with core controls readily accessible on the player screen, unlike VLC, which often hides essential icons behind an overflow menu.
As someone who occasionally swipes or taps the screen inadvertently while watching, I appreciate Next Player’s lock icon conveniently positioned at the bottom left corner, compared to VLC’s hidden option. This thoughtful placement minimizes the need for multiple taps to access crucial settings, making Next Player a clear winner in this regard. Overall, the controls in Next Player align more closely with my viewing habits than those offered by VLC. While VLC provides a broader range of options, the most frequently used controls in Next Player are more readily available, catering to my needs effectively.
I don’t always need to select a subtitle track, but I often want to pop out my video player or adjust the playback speed.
Speed is another area where Next Player shines. The app delivers a notably smoother experience when navigating the player screen, with single taps resulting in fluid animations. In contrast, VLC can feel sluggish, and its interface sometimes suffers from cut-off icons due to size or placement on rounded displays. Next Player, on the other hand, excels in aesthetic appeal and functionality.
VLC still reigns in some areas, but not all
Despite my growing fondness for Next Player, VLC remains indispensable for certain tasks, particularly when browsing video files stored on my NAS. Its capabilities in streaming media and casting to supported devices are unmatched. Additionally, VLC allows users to explore audio files, create playlists for uninterrupted viewing or listening, and switch to its Android TV app on Chromecast—features that Next Player currently lacks. While these functionalities have solidified VLC’s reputation as a robust application, I am increasingly valuing usability over an abundance of options. In this regard, Next Player has proven to be a worthy companion for my video viewing needs.
