Playing iPhone Video on MacBook Quicktime vs VLC

[Microman]

When I play a video from my iPhone that is on the MacBook desktop, it stutters. But when choose to play it with VLC it plays perfect.

Anything I can do to make QuickTime player work better?

[Tiangou]

Microman wrote:
When I play a video from my iPhone that is on the MacBook desktop, it stutters. But when choose to play it with VLC it plays perfect.

Anything I can do to make QuickTime player work better?

What model MacBook/Pro? Older ones won't have CPUs/GPUs optimized for modern h.265 codecs from a current-gen iPhone. You can switch to an older codec on the iPhone using the Settings > Camera > Formats > Most Compatible toggle. This is pretty much the only thing you can do short of getting a faster Mac with a processor that has better built-in optimizations for the codecs you're using, and storing the files on faster SSD media.

VLC has myriad little tricks that it will do to play back as seamlessly as possible. Critically, it uses a fairly large buffer (that the end-user can customize), storing some of the data from the file in memory prior to starting playback, and it subtly applies filters to cover for the occasional dropped frame. QuickTime X has a fixed buffer that isn't particularly large and it's not designed to optimize the video-playback experience. (Apple seems to put no effort into making QuickTime X a worthwhile application to use for... anything at all.)

My advice is to use QuickTime only when you need to trim a video file in a hurry, and use VLC when you want to play your video files.

[Filliam H. Muffman]

Yeah, needs to be 6th gen Intel (with proper OS updates) or later to easily play back H.265. Especially if it's over 1080p video resolution. Another option is to use Handbrake to convert it to H.264 or earlier video codecs and resolution lower than 1080/60Hz.

[Microman]

Yes, this is my older 2012 Mid 13" MacBook Pro. SSD, 8 Gigs Ram, and Catalina. So that would be the answer.

[RAMd®d]

I vote the real answer is to stick with VLC, unless you have some reason to prefer QuickTime.

QT plays only a percentage of my videos, so I use VLC exclusively.

I hate the QT UI, which hasn't changed in years, and it looks like development has been dead for a good while.

VLC is very versatile and updated often.

Well, not as often as Firefox, but when compared to QT...

Of course, buying new iron is always good.

[Racer X]

I only use QT as a last resort these days. IINA, then VLC, then QT. Both IINA and VLC let you speed up playback a small amount for so many of the great, but plodding dramas these days. 108% is my standard playback speed.

Give IINA a try too.