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MX Player was the first Android video player to support multi-core decoding, and this remains a key differentiator. Test results have proven that its performance on multi-core devices can be up to 70% better than on single-core devices. This directly translates to smoother playback of high-bitrate HDR video.
Updating to the newest custom codec files solves these limitations by providing direct support for advanced profiles, including HEVC Main 10, VP9 Profile 2, and the modern, open-source AV1 codec.
: The most recent specialized add-on (updated January 29, 2026) is designed to handle formats that MX Player cannot play by default due to licensing, such as Version Compatibility : The newer
Turn off auto-brightness inside the MX Player playback window. mx player hdr codec new
By default, MX Player relies on standard FFmpeg libraries. While the stock app handles standard dynamic range (SDR) formats perfectly, high dynamic range (HDR) video requires specialized color-mapping instructions.
Standard hardware decoding (HW) often rejects custom 10-bit HEVC (H.265) or AV1 containers. The new custom codec bridges the gap, forcing efficient HW+ decoding.
: Full support for 4K and 8K Ultra HD playback across formats including HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision (via HW+ decoder). MX Player was the first Android video player
If you try to play an HDR video without the correct codec or rendering path, your player will display standard dynamic range values. This results in gray, faded, and lifeless colors.
| Feature | MX Player with Custom Codec | VLC for Android | Kodi | MPV (Android) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Intuitive, feature-rich, great for touch gestures. | Simple, functional, but less polished. | Complex, designed for 10-foot interface (TVs). | Very minimal, no-frills interface. | | Codec Support | Excellent (vastly extended by custom codec pack) | Excellent (broad built-in support) | Excellent (built on FFmpeg) | Excellent (built on FFmpeg) | | HDR Rendering | Excellent with HW/HW+ decoding. Excellent for 4K/HDR10/10+. | Good, but hardware acceleration can be less consistent on some devices. | Good, highly configurable. | Excellent performance, but requires manual configuration. | | Audio Passthrough | Yes (AC3/DTS via custom codec) | Yes | Yes (highly configurable) | Yes | | Subtitle Support | Best-in-class (gestures, advanced styling). | Good. | Good. | Basic. | | Ease of Use | Very High | High | Medium (Initial setup) | Low (Needs config files) | | Best Suited For | The all-arounder : Perfect for daily use, offline media libraries, and users who want a premium, polished experience. | The purist: Excellent for users who want a simple, open-source, no-fuss player. | The home theater enthusiast: The ultimate choice for a dedicated HTPC or Android TV box. | The power user/geek: Ideal for those who love command lines and tweaking every possible parameter. |
While MX Player supports HDR playback, many 2160p UHD HDR files cause issues like: Updating to the newest custom codec files solves
Android manages system brightness aggressively when HDR content is detected. For the best contrast:
: In MX Player, tap the decoder icon (top right) and select HW+ . If HDR content looks washed out or "grey," your device may be using Tone Mapping instead of native HDR output because the display is limited. Installing the New Custom Codec (AIO Zip)
: Some devices require you to enable "Bright HDR video mode" under Display & Brightness settings to boost brightness during HDR playback.
When MX Player updates via the Google Play Store, its directory structure occasionally resets, causing it to lose the path link to your custom .zip file.
The new MX Player HDR codec is a specialized software component designed to handle advanced, high-bitrate video profiles. It specifically targets hardware and software decoding for formats.