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).