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

VLC Participant has been my go-to video app for years, courting again to the nice ol’ Home windows XP days. That loyalty progressed to Android, and I nonetheless use it throughout desktop and cell for my video content material wants. Whereas it stays a strong product, VLC usually feels cumbersome after I crave simplicity. Why go for a piledriver while you want a chisel?

I looked for a secondary participant for extra quick 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 imagine the veteran participant might study 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 ingredient placements. The app presents two settings menus: one for residence display screen group and one other for added tweaks and toggles. I’m by no means greater than two screens away from the house display screen, 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 screen’s organizational choices are considerably customizable, but it surely shows solely folders containing supported content material by default. This makes it simple 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 usually hides necessary icons behind an overflow menu, Subsequent presents quick entry to core controls on the participant display screen.

I’ve a behavior of by accident swiping or tapping on the display screen 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 situated on the display screen’s backside left nook, whereas VLC’s is hidden in its overflow menu. I choose to not faucet a number of instances to entry this important setting, so Subsequent Participant wins this battle.

Total, Subsequent Participant’s controls are extra related to my expertise than these offered by VLC. I don’t at all times want to pick out a subtitle monitor, however I usually wish to come out my video participant or regulate the playback pace. Sure, VLC has extra choices on faucet, however the controls I exploit most aren’t available. I want each gamers allowed customers to customise which icons are on display screen, however Subsequent Participant fits my wants finest for now.

It’s additionally value mentioning the pace of the 2 gamers. I discover Subsequent far smoother when accessing something on the participant display screen. Single-tapping to deliver up or cover icons is carried out with a fluid, swift animation. VLC feels decidedly lumbering as compared. The app additionally has issues with cut-off icons because of their dimension or location on my rounded show. Subsequent is much 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 straight if I don’t wish to use my file supervisor. It excels at streaming media and casting to supported units. 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.