SPlayer: Fast Video Player 1.3.7

SPlayer: Fast Video Player 1.3.7 is a free Android video player from S Media Team. It lists the videos stored on your phone and plays them with touch gestures for volume, brightness and seeking. You can download SPlayer: Fast Video Player for Android from Google Play.

Quick facts

• Version: 1.3.7
• Developer: S Media Team
• Platform: Android
• Licence: free
• Size: about 102.45 MB according to catalogue data
• Get it on: Google Play

What it is for

The gallery app on most phones can play videos, but it is not built for longer viewing: it may not handle every format, has few controls and mixes videos with photos. A dedicated player like SPlayer gathers all videos in one list, sorted by folder, and offers controls designed for watching films, series and recordings. Swiping on the screen changes volume or brightness, a horizontal swipe skips forward or back, which makes long videos easier to handle. That is convenient for downloaded lectures, recorded shows, or videos transferred from a computer for a trip. The app is relatively large for a player, which suggests it includes its own decoders for formats that Android does not support by itself.

Guide: getting started

1. Install the app from Google Play and check the developer name.
2. Allow access to videos on your device so the player can find them.
3. Browse folders and tap a video to play.
4. Use swipe gestures for volume, brightness and seeking.
5. Look in the menu for subtitle and audio options if your video has several tracks.

Playback tips

• Lock the screen orientation for comfortable viewing in bed.
• Use headphones for better sound on long videos.
• If a video stutters, close other apps and check whether the player's settings offer a different decoding mode.
• Move large videos to a memory card if the phone offers one.
• Delete videos you have watched to keep storage free.

Who it suits

SPlayer suits people who watch downloaded or transferred videos on their phone regularly and want something more comfortable than the gallery. If you mostly stream from online services, their own apps already include players, and a separate one adds little.

Permissions and ads

A video player needs access to your media files. It has no reason to read contacts or messages. Free players are commonly financed by ads; if they become intrusive, check the settings or consider an alternative.

Pros and cons

• Pro: all videos in one place, sorted by folder.
• Pro: gesture controls for volume, brightness and seeking.
• Pro: free.
• Con: large app for a video player.
• Con: ads in the free version.

Alternatives

Other video players in our listings include VLC Media Player, which is open source, and MX Player. For editing clips, see CapCut or InShot.