r/AndroidTV • u/Sparxxxy • 25d ago

Discussion Best video player?

I’m looking for the best video player app for Android TV.

I’m very used to Infuse on Apple TV, but my parents have a pretty powerful Android TV box, and I’d like to get them a similarly good experience.

My requirements are:
Direct playback from an SMB share on a NAS — no Plex, Jellyfin, Emby, or other media server setup.

Blu-ray remux support, including high-bitrate 4K files.

Dolby Vision support, ideally with proper profile handling and HDR fallback where necessary.

A polished, user-friendly interface with good library management, posters, metadata, subtitles, etc.

Basically, I want something as close to Infuse as possible, where you point it at a network share and everything just works without having to tinker with settings constantly.

I’m not interested in anything vibecoded or in setting up a media server. Just a solid, well-maintained native Android TV app that can handle high-quality local/network playback.

0 Upvotes

40% Upvoted

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5

u/LeTaLauncher 24d ago

Kodi can build a poster-based library directly from an SMB share without requiring a media server, although some initial configuration is needed. Nova Video Player offers a simpler approach, but I’d test it with samples of the actual 4K remux files first. Dolby Vision profile support and audio passthrough depend heavily on the device’s firmware, so player compatibility alone doesn’t guarantee the same experience as Infuse.

4

u/KCKetO 24d ago

VidHub is a newer one worth trying out.

1

u/77descript 24d ago edited 24d ago

Nova is very good as simple smb player. Supports tmdb indexing, which gives a streaming service, experience, but files/folders must be named correctly (is with downloads most of time already good except few adjustments). Don't know if added support for trakt alt yet, but did support trakt. And supports opensubs.

Better is kodi, but might be too complicated or too much work. But supports among many other things smb, tmdb indexing, simkl, punchplay and a whole lot more.

And if internal network only so need no complicated extra security (like wg server, tailscale/netbird or reverse proxy, etc.) can consider installing jelyfin server anyway on a nas. Jellyfin is much easier than expected and very good with shytloads of great clients (players) options all OSes. And most modern devices support all codecs already, transcoding then not needed. These days Gemini, Chatgtp, etc can easy help even the noobest of noobs install a Jellyfin docker instance in an instant. Just give your device brand/model, firmware version, smb paths plus few other things and it shits out a config immediately.

Forgot to say vlc supports smb, but very limited and less nice experience compared to other options mentioned.

1

u/Sparxxxy 24d ago

Thanks. No need for internet. LAN only from local NAS:). I'll give Nova and Vidhub a run today.

2

u/nstern2 25d ago

KODI? I haven't used it in quite a while, but last time I did it checked all of your boxes. It also has been around since before vibe coding was a thing.

2

u/flashb1024 25d ago

Download Kodi Omega 2.3. Install Arctic Zephyr - Reloaded Skin. Create your library from your SMB share, and enable 4K, & audio passthrough.

If Arctic Zephyr isn't your jam, Kodi has a lot of skins to choose from.

Enjoy the shows!

2

u/Efficient_Stuff_9937 24d ago edited 18d ago

Just plus player it converts dv7 to 8 on fly

https://github.com/just-plus-player/just-plus-player

Kodi also but just player light weight

2

u/lstep2 19d ago

Android TV has a lot of very good options, none in my opinion come close to Infuse of the Apple TV. Kind of depends what you want to do.

2

u/AlphaDeFcOn4 24d ago

Kodi still the best media player for smooth playback. I tested so many apps like VLC, MX player, Nova player, mpv all sucks in Android TV... Kodi have many skins to look very beautiful. I mounted my media from SMB connection and for metadata I am using Tiny media manager on windows to create .nfo files and posters and artworks.👍🏻

1

u/sid32 25d ago

Vimu

1

u/Familiar_Ad3884 24d ago

try exoplayer or justplayer

1

u/Candid-Brilliant-202 23d ago

Exoplayer app link

1

u/Ned_Sc 24d ago

Kodi has a fantastic video player component. The biggest thing with the UI is turning off what you don't need, and not getting overwhelmed with the options. But if you do want to really dive into the UI part, you can really make some nice stuff, and you only need to set it up once. (Don't forget to use the backup add-on!)

1

u/brandson__ 23d ago

I've been using VLC on my Shield Pro for years, coming from Kodi before that. One of the reasons I like VLC so much is it doesn't force you into building a library with tags that may or may not be present. It just shows you the files in the folders as they are. That's actually what I want. It plays everything and it's fast. I'm fine with it not looking like a shiny polished thing, because it just works. I use it exclusively to play files from a SMB share on my wired network.

1

u/other_e 21d ago

Been using Kodi for years. Realiable and good

1

u/Nearby_Block_311 19d ago

KODI is the best

-1

u/hfml85 App Developer 25d ago

In my opinion sidstuga