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Preface: I'm popping all the information I have about the current Android tablets and their Hardware based playback capabilities. I figure this might help users in the future, and allow for comparisons. I will update this post with more results as I get them. There are notable exceptions (Kal-El, Omap 4460) if owners can give their results I will update this post.

CPU: Allwinner A10
Tablets: Ainol Novo 7 Advanced, Onda VI30+, + many others
Video Playback: 1080p High@5.1 16 ReFrames
Hi10p: No HW support. 480p is the limit for this cpu.
Note: Based on Novo7A 1.6T firmware, upper limits not yet known

CPU: Ingenic XBurst JZ4770 (MIPS)
Tablets: Ainol Novo 7 Basic
Video Playback: 1080p High@L4.1 (4 Reframes)
Hi10p: MFR claims 10-bit support, so it may come, but so far test results see otherwise.
Notes: It seems 720p playback with SW level, 1080p playback with hw acceleration.

CPU: Marvell ARMADA 1000 (88DE3010)
Tablets: Nixeus Fusion XS (NX-500)
Video Playback: 1080p High@5.1 8 ReFrames
Hi10p: 1080p High@5.1 <10 ReFrames
Notes: This is a setup box android setup. Data is based on feedback from youtube video and test results from those - Video Link, Forum Discussion

CPU: Nvidia Kal-El (Tegra 3)
Tablets: Asus Transformer Prime (+ many others in the future)
Video Playback: 1080p High@5.1+ (40mbps video)
Hi10p: 720p 8 ReFrames, SW Playback. HW Acceleration results in pixelizated image.
Notes: Based on Anandtech review and Tech7's data, upper limits yet unknown. VC-1 seem to be not compatible.

CPU: Nvidia Tegra 2
Tablets: Acer Iconia A100/A500, Viewsonic G Tablet, Motorola Xoom + many others
Video Playback: 720p High@3.1 ( no weighted prediction )
Hi10p: No HW support. 480p is the limit for this cpu.
Notes: Based on Iconia A100 test results - done by myself

CPU: 1.5 Ghz Qualcomm MSM8255T "Snapdragon"
Tablet: HTC Flyer/EVO 4G View
Video Playback: 720p High@4.1
Hi10p: 720p choppy playback and then audio drops out ~40 seconds into the video via SW decoding using MX Video Player (any hi10p file with 16 ref frames is a no go though). Have yet to try out a 480p video.
Notes: Tested on Tech7's HTC Flyer.

CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon (2 core) 1.5ghz
Tablets: HTC Evo View
Video Playback: 720p High@5.1/1080p High@5.1(some 1080p files stutter with higher reframe count)
Hi10p: No HW support. 480p is the limit for this cpu.
Notes: Based on forum feedback.

CPU: Rockchip RK2918
Tablets: Cube U15GT, Window N50, & many more
Video Playback: 1080p High@L5.0
Hi10p: Unknown.
Notes: Based on forum feedback against U15GT (credit to Matt)

CPU: Samsung Exynos 1.2 ghz
Tablets: Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus
Video Playback: 1080p High@5.1 16 ReFrames
Hi10p: No HW support. 480p plays smoothly. 720p is watchable but Jerky.
Notes: Based on Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus test results, upper limits not yet known - done by myself. The exynos uses a zero copy rendering scheme which is amazingly fast. It is unlikely the tested video is the upper limit of this CPU. The spec sheet of the exynos implies that the hw video acceleration supports 10-bit video, but I was unable to get it play using anything but sw decoding. It is possible with firmware/the right player software that hi10p maybe supported in the future.

CPU: Samsung Hummingbird 1.0ghz
Tablets: Samsung Galaxy Player
Video Playback: 720p High@5.1
Hi10p: unknown.
Notes: Based on Samsung Galaxy Player 5.0 (US Version) test results - done by myself

CPU: TI Omap 4430 (1.0 - 1.2 ghz)
Tablets: Kindle Fire, Nook Tablet, Droid Bionic
Video Playback: 720p High@3.1 ( no weighted prediction ) - Nook Tablet
Video Playback2: 1080p High@4.1 - Droid Xyboard
Hi10p: unknown.
Notes: It is possible that there are software limitations or firmware optimizations that needed to be done for the Nook Tablet to properly use the IVA module. Using the inbuilt player on the Nook tablet I was only able to play 720p video, using the Xyboard 1080p video plays well. It uses a V4L2 rendering scheme

thanks for the list - also need the new MIPS from Ingenic, but from the brief review i have seen its not a strong performer on the video front so far

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From what I read online the MIPs Ingenic processor is having issues playing h264 720p High@L4.1. I'm thinking it's probably in the same class as the Tegra2 in video playback (720p High@3.1), but I'm having problems confirming this. I'll ask around and expand as it goes.

I found another information - Full HD 1080p30 multi-standard video encode/decode
http://www.ti.com/general/docs/wtbu/wtb ... ntId=53243

I have tried this personally with the Nook Tablet's built in Media Player. I was able to play 720p videos, but they were varying degrees of choppy depending on which one I used. I'm guessing it will do 1080p30 if you can manage a certain format, like maybe base profile h264, but almost all the videos in the 'wild' will probably have issues playing. It is possible that this performance may improve later as they improve implementation with the IVA, but for now even 720p will be difficult on these tablets.

Quote from Nook tablet owners discussing re-encoding their files using handbrake
"As said elsewhere, the 4430 has decoding capability equal to that of a netbook. For 720p content (and even some 1080p), you don't need to recode the video. You would only recode to get a smaller size.".
reference link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1361819

Basically it's picky with it's media content... For the files I brought with me it seemed like 720p was about the limit.

@Suppin Have you tried another player? For example MoboPlayer https://market.android.com/details?id=c ... ndroid.nil

I do not own a nook tablet, hence what I could try on it was limited. I actually was playing with it in a best buy store.

I did find this thread on moboplayer on the nook tablet. apparently it's force closing on them atm.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1351776

Updated with additional information, notes, hi10p test results, and Kal-El initial information. Probably will get to play with a Transformer Prime in the new year.

They look pretty.

_________________
Home Viewing: Assassin HTPC (i5 3570k 3.4 GHz w/ HD 4000) + Samsung UN32EH4003
Portable Audio: Cowon J3 + Brainwavz M3
Portable Video: Google Nexus 4 + Brainwavz M5
Other Toys: WDTV Live Streaming, Xtreamer SideWinder3, Sansa Clip Zip
How to Encode: Blu-Ray to HDVP-2 | DVD to HDVP-2 | DVD to S:Flo²
How to Get Help With: Files That Won't Play | Remuxing An MKV File
Tools: MakeMKV | DVD Catalyst

Guess I'll find me a cheap used one to tie me over til end of 2012. No Hi10p means no sale for me. BTW, Prime is Asus not Acer