Windows Photos App vs Media Player

This started off as a question but turned into a bit of a rant, maybe I'm just an idiot and don't know how to use Windows properly idk
I have an iPhone and a Windows 11 laptop. I offloaded a ton of videos/photos from my iPhone to my computer to free up space on my phone, thinking that viewing my library and playing videos and such would be an easy thing to do on Windows UI... and it's just not.

Problem is the Windows Photos app and Media Player are so cumbersome to use. Using the Photos app, there's no way to Zoom in on a video, quickly crop it, or change the playback speed?? So I tried Media Player, which at least allows me to change the playback speed, but now there's 0 editing functions, just an advertisement to get ANOTHER app (Clipchamp). These are simple, BASIC functions that a computer should be able to do.. so then I spend 30 minutes on reddit looking for the best media player, download VLC which looks like it's from the stone ages and spend another 30 minutes trying to figure that UI out. Am I being an idiot and not using these apps correctly, or does Microsoft want me to switch between 17 different applications to do basic things with media files?

I've resisted switching to a Mac but between this, OneDrive integration, 37 different iterations of CoPilot that do different, useless functions, and the fact that editing/viewing videos is a much better experience using my tiny + less powerful iPhone... I'm about ready to make the switch to Mac.

The Windows Photos App and Windows Media Player are two distinct applications provided by Microsoft for managing and viewing media files. Here's a comparison of their features and use cases:

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Windows Photos App​

• Primary Purpose: Designed for viewing, organizing, and editing photos and videos.
• Key Features:
  • Photo and Video Viewing: Supports common image formats (JPEG, PNG, GIF, etc.) and video formats (MP4, MOV, etc.).
  • Editing Tools: Basic editing features like cropping, filters, adjustments (light, color, etc.), and drawing tools.
  • Organizing: Automatically organizes photos and videos into albums based on date or folder structure.
  • Slideshows: Allows creating slideshows with music and transitions.
  • Integration: Works well with OneDrive for cloud storage and syncing.
  • Modern Interface: Touch-friendly and optimized for Windows 10/11.
• Best For: Casual users who want a simple, modern app for viewing and editing photos and videos.

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Windows Media Player​

• Primary Purpose: A legacy media player for playing audio and video files, as well as managing media libraries.
• Key Features:
  • Media Playback: Supports a wide range of audio (MP3, WAV, etc.) and video formats (AVI, WMV, etc.).
  • Media Library: Organizes audio and video files into a library for easy access.
  • CD/DVD Support: Can rip CDs, burn discs, and sync media to portable devices.
  • Playlists: Allows creating and managing playlists for audio and video.
  • Minimal Editing: No editing features for photos or videos.
  • Classic Interface: Dated but functional interface, more suited for traditional desktop use.
• Best For: Users who need a simple media player for audio and video playback, especially older formats.

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Comparison Table​

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Which Should You Use?​

• Use Windows Photos App if:
  • You primarily work with photos and videos.
  • You want basic editing tools.
  • You prefer a modern, touch-friendly interface.
• Use Windows Media Player if:
  • You need a simple audio/video player.
  • You work with older media formats or CDs/DVDs.
  • You prefer a traditional media library setup.

For advanced media playback, many users now prefer alternatives like VLC Media Player or PotPlayer, which support a wider range of formats and offer more customization.