Methods of operating a portable media device 100 including two onboard hardware media decoders (124, 128) operative to decode a given digital content item 148 are disclosed. In some embodiments, one of the onboard hardware media decoders 128 has a relatively high power consumption and produces a relatively `high quality` media signal, and the other of the onboard hardware media decoder 124 has a relatively low power consumption and produces a relatively `low quality` media signal. In one non-limiting use case: (i) when no external power is available, the relatively `low power` hardware media decoder 124 may generate a relatively `low quality` media signal which is presented on an onboard display screen 140a and/or onboard speaker 140b; and (ii) when external power is available, the relatively `high power` hardware media decoder 128 may generate a relatively `high quality` media signal which is exported out of the portable media device 100 via one or more media ports, and presented on an external host presentation device 160 (for example, a large-screen television).