My favourite video participant was once VLC, then I attempted Subsequent Participant

VLC Participant has been my go-to video app for years, relationship again to the great ol’ Home windows XP days. That loyalty progressed to Android, and I nonetheless use it throughout desktop and cellular for my video content material wants. Whereas it stays a robust product, VLC typically feels cumbersome once I crave simplicity. Why go for a piledriver once you want a chisel?

I looked for a secondary participant for extra instant video viewing duties just a few months in the past and found Subsequent Participant. Though it’s not as feature-rich as VLC, that is to its profit. I consider the veteran participant may be taught lots from this underdog.

What Subsequent Participant lacks in options, it makes up for in design. It’s one of the crucial visually interesting Android apps I’ve utilized in ages, absolutely using Materials You and wise component placements. The app presents two settings menus: one for house display group and one other for added tweaks and toggles. I’m by no means greater than two screens away from the house display, and since I’ve arrange the surroundings to my liking, I not often must revisit these menus.

Its clear design initially attracted me, however Subsequent Participant’s energy is its simple performance. The house display’s organizational choices are considerably customizable, nevertheless it shows solely folders containing supported content material by default. This makes it straightforward to leap right into a listing and begin watching content material instantly.

The video participant itself is a core a part of the video participant expertise, and I discover Subsequent’s interface a lot simpler to make use of. Whereas VLC typically hides essential icons behind an overflow menu, Subsequent presents instant entry to core controls on the participant display.

I’ve a behavior of by chance swiping or tapping on the display or search bar whereas watching content material, main me to lock content material when it’s on my show. Subsequent Participant’s lock icon is conveniently positioned on the display’s backside left nook, whereas VLC’s is hidden in its overflow menu. I favor to not faucet a number of occasions to entry this very important setting, so Subsequent Participant wins this battle.

General, Subsequent Participant’s controls are extra related to my expertise than these supplied by VLC. I don’t all the time want to pick a subtitle monitor, however I typically need to come out my video participant or regulate the playback velocity. Sure, VLC has extra choices on faucet, however the controls I take advantage of most aren’t available. I want each gamers allowed customers to customise which icons are on display, however Subsequent Participant fits my wants greatest for now.

It’s additionally price mentioning the velocity of the 2 gamers. I discover Subsequent far smoother when accessing something on the participant display. Single-tapping to deliver up or cover icons is carried out with a fluid, swift animation. VLC feels decidedly lumbering compared. The app additionally has issues with cut-off icons attributable to their measurement or location on my rounded show. Subsequent is way neater in virtually each aesthetic facet.

As a lot as I’ve grown to love Subsequent Participant, I nonetheless use VLC to browse my NAS’s video recordsdata immediately if I don’t need to use my file supervisor. It excels at streaming media and casting to supported gadgets. VLC additionally lets me browse audio recordsdata, create playlists for uninterrupted viewing or listening, or swap to its Android TV app on my Chromecast. These are options that Subsequent Participant doesn’t have. These options have made VLC a superb app, however I’m slowly realizing I privilege usability above these choices. Subsequent Participant presents simply that.