mpv-android

What mpv-android is

mpv-android is a free Android video player based on libmpv. It supports hardware and software decoding, with listed codecs including H.264, HEVC, MPEG-4, MPEG-2 Video, VP8, VP9, and AV1. Subtitle options include SRT and ASS, styled subtitles through libass, and secondary or dual subtitles. Gesture controls can seek and adjust volume or brightness. Playback features include network streams through Open URL, background playback, Picture-in-Picture, and keyboard input; advanced rendering settings include scalers, debanding, and interpolation. Android TV is supported, although its TV version is available only through F-Droid or manual APK installation. The latest F-Droid release listed requires Android 6.0 or newer. The project is distributed under the MIT License. Google Play reports that the developer declares no data collected and no data shared with third parties. The F-Droid listing shows network and shared-storage permissions, and recommends its client for update notifications and a more secure download route than direct APK installation. The app is not an AAR library or module for importing into another app.

Who it suits

It suits Android users seeking a video player with broad listed codec support, subtitle options, and playback controls. Android TV users should note the separate distribution route for the TV version.

Getting started

1. Open the mpv-android GitHub website
2. Choose a GitHub release or the F-Droid listing
3. Install through the F-Droid client or manually install an APK
4. Use the F-Droid client for update notifications
5. On Android TV, obtain the TV version through F-Droid or manual APK installation

Verdict

mpv-android offers extensive video, subtitle, playback, and rendering options at no cost for Android. Android TV is supported, but its TV version has a separate installation route, and the app cannot be imported as an AAR library or module.