There are different video file types and compression standards that are better than others. HEVC or H.265 is one of them. HEVC is also known as High-Efficiency Video Coding, and it allows users to keep the high quality of their videos even when the file size is reduced. However, HEVC video files can’t be run by all devices because they need to be decoded by the device first. The decoding process is difficult and complicated, which is why the average smartphone can’t run it with its default video players.
If you’re looking for a good HEVC player that can be run on your Android smartphone, we have several options for you in this list. We’ll be sharing the best HEVC players for Android in 2022.
Why Can’t All Android Smartphones Play HEVC Files?
Some smartphones have been developed to have the capability to decode. However, most smartphones, especially entry-level devices, still aren’t able to process HEVC files because they aren’t made to decode these video files.
The first step to playing HEVC files on your phone is to check if your Android smartphone has the capability to process and play these videos. This ability can be checked by accessing the Codec Information of the phone. You can do this by using an app called Media Codec Info. This will display the information you need to know when it comes to finding out if your smartphone supports the HEVC video format. Heres how you do it:
1. Install Media Codec Info on your smartphone.
2. Once the app is installed, open it and look for the following codecs in the Codec List.
- If your smartphone has Qualcomm Processor: OMX.qualcomm.hevc.decoder
- If your smartphone has Exynos Processor: OMX.Exynos.hevc.dec
- If your smartphone has Mediatek Processor: OMX.mediatek.hevc.decoder
Depending on your processor, one of these codecs should be present in the Codec Information on your phone to prove that your smartphone will be able to run HEVC files. If either one of these codecs are present, you can go ahead and continue reading our list to check what the best HEVC players are for your Android phone.
What is the Best HEVC Player for Android?
On Google Play Store, you will find tons of Video Players, but only a few of them can play HEVC files. That’s why we have handpicked the best HEVC players for you. These are the top 5 best HEVC players for Android in 2022.
- VLC for Android
- CnX Player
- XPlayer
- OPlayer
- MX Player Pro
VLC for Android
The first option on our list is the iconic VLC for Android app. VLC is highly revered because of its simple but extensive features, including the fact that it is one of the only video players that can run HEVC files. It can also run other video formats besides HEVC, such as MKV, AVI, MOV, FLAC, AAC, and more. VLC also supports multi-track audio and subtitles, making it a suitable video player for watching TV shows or movies that feature these aspects.
Another thing that we liked the most about VLC for Android is that the user interface is very simple, and everything is well-organized, which makes it easier to use. Also, it’s very reliable, and you won’t experience any issues while playing HEVC or other formats on the app. As VLC for Android is an open-source application, you can use it without paying a single penny and get app updates for a lifetime.
VLC for Android also has a simple and straightforward user interface. This is important in balancing the number of features VLC has, and with how well-organized it is, it makes it easy for users to navigate. The app also supports a number of different codecs as well. If you’re someone who wants to run different files with different codecs from the comfort of your phone, you can with VLC for Android.
Finally, the app is completely free because it is open-sourced. You will be able to get lifetime updates for this video player as long as you have it on your phone. If you want an all-around video player, VLC for Android is one of the best options for you.
CnX Player
Another powerful video player for HEVC files is an app called CnX Player. This app can also run other video formats besides HEVC, such as X265, AVC, VP8, VCI MPEG-4, MP4, MKV, and more. This app also allows you to run different video resolutions for whatever video you want to play. you can choose from FHD, UHD, and other types of resolutions. CnX Player also has other features, making it one of the best video players available for download today.
You can adjust the look of your videos by adjusting its saturation, and you can stream 4K videos and other video formats that are quite heavy to process, such as HEVC, with ease. CnX Player also allows you to cast your videos through TV Firestick or Chromecast on a bigger screen. It allows you to control other aspects of the videos you access such as video playback, brightness, and volume.
CnX player can be used for free, but there are pop-up ads that will occasionally pop up whenever you’re using the app. However, this won’t impede your watching experience, because it doesn’t allow full-screen ads. You can purchase the pro version of CnX Player for an ad-free experience.
XPlayer
XPlayer is another popular video player app for Android users. You can use XPlayer to play any video file in the HEVC format on your Android smartphone. You can also play other video formats such as MKV, M4V, AVI, 3GP, WMV, TS, and more. It also ahs other features such as hardware acceleration and night mode to make your user experience much better.
XPlayer also supports the use of Chromecast, so you’ll be able to play whatever videos you have on your TV. This video player can also run 4K videos, as long as your smartphone can handle the resource load. XPlayer is considered a premium video player, but you can still use its features, albeit with the presence of ads.
OPlayer
Our fourth pick for the best HEVC player for Android phones is an app called OPlayer . This device also supports other formats such as MKV, MP4, AVI, 3GP, FLV, WMV, and more, besides HEVC. You can also play 4K videos on OPlayer.
The video player also has other features such as night mode, quick mute, hardware acceleration, autorotation, aspect ratio, and more. You can also continue listening to videos or audios through the app while you do other tasks on your phone with OPlayer’s background video player. If you’re looking for another premium video player, OPlayer is a good option to have.
MX Player Pro
is another very popular premium HEVC player which you can use to play HEVC videos on your smartphone. The best thing about MX Player Pro is that it’s pretty lightweight, but still, it can easily handle heavy video formats without any problem.
The final video player on our list is called MX Player Pro. This is another popular HEVC video player that is good for smartphones that can’t process too many heavy resources or videos, but can still support HEVC video formats. MX Player Pro is considered one of the best premium video players because it supports multi-core decoding, which greatly improves the app’s performance when it plays different videos.
The app also supports the addition of subtitles and different subtitle formats that you can have for your videos. These formats include AMI, SubRip, MicroDVD, SubViewer2.0, Teletext, and others. There is also a Kids Lock option that prevents children from playing with the video player to help them focus on what they’re watching. If you’re looking for a high-performance and high-efficiency video player, MX Player is a solid option.
Conclusion
That rounds up our Top 5 best HEVC players for Android in 2022. All of them come with support for HEVC format, but we also broke down the other features that make them unique and suitable to your needs.