Best Blu-ray players 2022: 4K, HDR and more

The best Blu-ray players are the perfect way to upgrade your viewing experience, no matter whether you prefer binging your favorite TV series or settling down with freshly popped popcorn for a good old fashioned movie night. 

While we still have a soft spot for the best DVD players (opens in new tab), there’s no denying that Bly-ray players simply provide a higher quality experience. Meanwhile, if you’re a true streaming convert, don’t forget that many of the best Blu-ray players will also offer Smart TV features that enables you to access Netflix, Disney Plus and more. Not only will this give you the ultimate flexibility when it comes to choosing what to watch, but it negates the need to use the sometimes–janky navigation and menus of Smart TVs. 

It’s also worth remembering that Blu-ray players don’t just play Blu-ray discs – they also support traditional DVDs and CDs as well, so your media library built over years won’t be made redundant. Plus, the superior Dolby Atmos audio will give you a cinema-like experience in your own living room (all you’ll need is one of the best mini projectors (opens in new tab)!). 

To hook up your shiny new Blu-ray player with your surrounding tech, just remember that you’ll have to pick up one or more of the best HDMI cables (opens in new tab) and you’ll be golden. 

Best Blu-ray players

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We’ve rounded up the best Blu-ray players currently available, rating them on the features that they offer viewers. Whether you’re looking for an affordable Blu-ray player for movie marathons, or you’re considering getting a games console with Blu-ray capabilities, we’ve rounded up the best options for you to consider below. 

Best Blu-ray players

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If you need a 4K and HDR Blu-ray player that’s not going to break the bank but will still deliver premium quality visual and audio for your big screen TV, the Sony UBP-X700 could be your perfect pick. Picture detail on Blu-ray discs is detailed and well defined with rich colors that remain natural. Audio is powerful and well defined both for movie score and music playback alike. 

You also have a selection of smart apps, accessible via the WiFi connection meaning you can play Netflix right from the shortcut button of your very capable remote. 

Being Sony, this is made to a high standard with quality parts and a build that’s metallic and solid. This means there is minimal warping so external vibrations don’t affect playback, plus you’ll get an internal working that remains intact and at its top-level for far longer than some of the competition.

• Read the full Sony UBP-X700 review

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While cheap 4K Blu-ray players are great and work just fine with most 4K TVs, if you’ve splashed out on a high-end 4K TV then you’ll want a premium 4K Blu-ray player like the Panasonic DP-UB820EB to go with it.

The Panasonic DP-UB820EB uses chroma processing to offer stunning picture quality that rivals what you’d see in a cinema. All the trimmings are here too, with support for HDR10, Hi-Res Audio and Dolby Vision. It even has voice control support and is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can tie it into your smart home setup.

Your TV and movies should sound as good as they look too, thanks to the 7.1ch Analogue Audio Output which will let you hook up even the most demanding home theater system to help build that cinema level experience. Honestly, the only thing that gives us pause here is the price, but if money is no object and you demand perfection, this is the Blu-ray player for you.

• Read the full Panasonic DP-UB820EB review

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3. Panasonic DMP-BDT180EB

The best value 4K Blu-ray player.

Our expert review:

Average Amazon review:

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Reasons to buy

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Excellent price

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USB connection

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4K upscaling

Reasons to avoid

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No wireless

The Panasonic DMP-BDT180EB offers an excellent Blu-Ray experience right out of the box, with 4K upscaling to squeeze the most out of your movies. The same applies to your photos and home movies, too, which can be played back via USB connection.

Corners have been cut to hit the impressive price point, though, most notably with its lack of Wi-Fi. That means you’ll need to buy an Ethernet cable, as well as a HDMI one (neither is included).

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It’s hard to argue with the combination of value and features that the Sony BDP-S6700 offers, which is why we think it’s still the best blu-ray player on the market. While it’s not a true 4K device, it does offer excellent picture quality thanks to 4K upscaling. It’s not quite as good as true 4K, but it also costs three times less than most 4K players.

The Sony BDP-S6700 itself is quite small and lightweight, so you should have no problem fitting it into your home entertainment system alongside your other gadgets. And while it probably won’t win any beauty contests, it looks sleek and unassuming with a smooth black finish. It doesn’t have a display though.

Connectivity is great too, with WiFi and Bluetooth as standard. When connected to the WiFi, you can use the Sony BDP-S6700 to access some of the best TV streaming services (opens in new tab) too, which is useful if you don’t have a smart TV. You can access Netflix, Prime Video, Spotify and Pandora to name but a few apps. 

• Read the full Sony BDP-S6700 review

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If you just need a cheap Blu-ray player from a brand name you can trust, we think there’s no finer choice than the LG BP175. This model is a few years old now, sure, but it still does everything you need it to while keeping the cost low. It doesn’t offer much in the way of frills – it doesn’t play 4K, or support HDR, but if you just need a cheap Blu-ray player to go with your HD TV, this is a great budget option.

The LG BP175 offers video playback at full HD resolution (1080p), while also offering external HDD playback so you can plug in a hard drive and play digital files directly. On top of that it also has several TV and music streaming apps available for download including favorites like Netflix, Hulu, and even YouTube.

• Read the full LG BP175 review

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6. Xbox Series X

The best Xbox with Blu-ray player.

Our expert review:

Reasons to buy

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4K Blu-ray player

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Affordable

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Comes with free games console

Reasons to avoid

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Traditional remote is extra

Don’t worry, you haven’t accidentally clicked off onto another guide, this is still the best Blu-ray players. But while the Xbox Series X is obviously a video games console (opens in new tab), we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that it also comes with a 4K Blu-ray player built-in. This isn’t some cheap knock off either, it’s the real McCoy. It supports HDR10 and offers video quality on par with most other Blu-ray players in its price range.

You can either buy a Blu-ray player, or buy a Blu-ray player and a games console, which will give you access to a huge library of video games as well as streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus. It may cost you a little more but with those extras it seems well worth it.

• Read the full Xbox Series X review

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(Image credit: Sony)

The PlayStation 5 is a superb choice for playing Blu-rays, DVDs and, of course, some amazing next-gen games. that means you get the very best that 4K and HDR graphics can offer no matter what you load into this wonder device.

You’ve also got a plethora of apps on offer from Netflix and YouTube to Amazon Prime Video to Disney+. A 4K Blu-ray player of this quality isn’t cheap so when you factor that into the price, this becomes a great option if you’re already going to be upgrading your games console.

• Read the full PlayStation 5 review

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The Xbox One S is an affordable alternative to the top-end Xbox Series X. You still get a 4K Blu-ray player and ability to play top-end games, all via a media hub system that can unify your devices at home – but without breaking the bank.

When you consider this can be bought for $300 and a decent Blu-ray player will cost a similar sum, it makes sense to get this with all the extras. Not only will this let you play great games but it will also give you access to streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+ and more all from that one easy to use interface.

• Read the full Xbox One S review

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(Image credit: LG)

Compatible with Full HD TVs and LG MUSICflow, the LG BP350 Blu-ray player features ‘Multi-room Connectivity’ that enables you to listen to your favorite tunes, no matter which room you’re in. Whether your music is stored on a CD or USB device, you can wirelessly transmit it to your multi-room speakers. Another great feature from this LG Blu-ray player is the direct access to online content with the LG Remote App. 

In terms of the picture quality you’ll be able to enjoy, this Blu-ray player features 1080p Upscaling, Video Enhancement and Deep Color. Meanwhile, the Dolby TrueHD technology is designed to be capable of reproducing studio-quality sound. It also has built-in WiFi and weighs just 0.85 KG (perfect for storing away from sight, if that’s what you prefer). Coming in a smart, black design, this Blu-ray player has plenty of great features for a very reasonable price. 

What to look out for in a Blu-ray player

The best Blu-ray players are capable of playing a broad array of video and audio formats, including 3D and 4K Blu-ray discs. Below is a list of criteria to consider when looking for the best Blu-ray player for your home entertainment system.

Build Quality & Usability: Easy Interfaces & Scrolling

As home theater hardware, Blu-ray players aren’t nearly as performance-tied as product families like smartphones or tablets. Still, ease of use plays a vital role in what makes the best Blu-ray player.

In our evaluations, we measured the performance of each player in several areas. Factors like cleanly designed interfaces and quick loading speeds were strong points for our top rated Blu-ray players. If you want to adjust settings, like audio sources and subtitles, you don’t want to scroll through submenu after submenu. Similarly, we factored in the boot time of each Blu-ray player on stock settings into our ratings. While boot time was only one of several data points we used – many players have quick-start settings that allow for instantaneous power on times – it can be an indicator of player performance in secondary areas.

Qualitatively, we evaluated the design and build quality of each player and its accessories. While these specifications are secondary to player performance, they still play a strong role in daily use. Poorly designed remotes or players with low-quality bodies can be an inconvenience.

Connectivity: Cables, Cables & Cables for Your Player

Home theater setup can often quickly devolve into a mess of cables for various devices, but top Blu-ray players manage to work around these issues. Before making a purchase, consider your current home television and the cable types it needs to function. Do you want the player to use component or HDMI cables for connectivity? What audio standard does your home theater use if you have a secondary audio source? If you plan to use the player as a dedicated multimedia hub, do you want a USB port on the player?

In addition, internet connectivity is an important feature for most home users. Along with allowing streaming apps to function, internet connectivity allows your Blu-ray player to download updates when needed. Some budget players will only have an Ethernet jack for physical connections, but higher-end models include WiFi support.          

Features by the Numbers: 3D & 4K Support 

For most home users, Blu-ray players that provide basic high-definition playback functionality will be enough. However, higher-end and mid-range models increasingly provide features that were previously only found in premium models.

4K is a display standard that refers to media that plays at a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels and possesses higher image quality than traditional high-definition content. TVs with 4K support display content at this higher resolution. 4K compatibility on Blu-ray comes in two formats: Players with native support can play 4K content by default, while players with upscaling simulate a 4K image from a standard high definition source. Image quality on upscaling players will be usable on a 4K television but won’t be comparable to native 4K content.

3D support is rarer these days, as the technology never really took off like TV manufacturers were hoping it would. But if you do have a 3D TV, there are still plenty of 3D capable Blu-ray players out there.

Streaming Apps 

It can be a hassle to bounce between multiple electronic devices, especially when you add streaming services on top of them. Whether you’re trying to build the perfect home theater, or simply want to streamline your existing setup, getting a Blu-ray player with WiFi capabilities is one way to make things easier. A good Blu-ray player can connect to the internet and allow you to access video and music streaming apps – and it should support DLNA streaming in case you want to use the player to access your folder of downloaded videos and music.

A Blu-ray player with media apps allows you to switch between your physical Blu-ray collection and videos from popular streaming sources like Netflix (opens in new tab), HBO Max (opens in new tab), Hulu (opens in new tab) and Disney Plus (opens in new tab). This isn’t a necessity if you already have a standalone streaming device, like Apple TV or Roku, though it may be nice to have streaming access regardless of which device you are using.

Having DLNA streaming support is also a plus if you have your own home media server. If you use Plex or a similar service, you can play your cherished video collection through your compatible Blu-ray player without having to change devices.

It’s worth noting that if you want to stream 4K content through your Blu-ray player, you’ll need to have a compatible television and a good enough internet connection in order to properly support it. In some cases, budget Blu-ray players won’t have all, or even some, of these features. We recommend opting for a mid- to high-end player so that you have all of these options available to you whenever you’re in the mood to watch some movies.

Region free?

One of the most irritating things about DVD players is that certain discs are unable to be played because of their regions, which is just another reason why so many people think Blu-ray players are their answer to that problem. Yet despite popular belief, not all Blu-ray players are region free (opens in new tab), so it’s always best to check before purchasing a Blu-ray for that reason.  

Does a Blu-ray player play DVDs too?

Yes. One of the most useful things about buying a Blu-ray player is that it also works as a DVD player. That means you won’t have to worry about having a separate DVD player set up and your DVD collection is still perfectly usable alongside your Blu-ray collection. While a standard Blu-ray player won’t play 4K Blu-rays, it will happily play Blu-rays, DVDs, and even CDs if you want to listen to music via your Blu-ray player. 

If you’re able to afford the extra cost, it makes sense to buy  a new Blu-ray player even if you still mostly watch DVDs as you have the benefit of also being able to watch Blu-rays while DVDs are gradually phased out. Even better, most Blu-ray players upscale the DVDs you watch meaning you get a superior picture quality while watching older films. Combined with many modern Blu-ray players including smart features such as streaming support, it’s an ideal all-in-one device for those keen to get the most from their media collection.

Can PS5 or Xbox Series X play 4K Blu-Ray? 

While you may be wondering which Blu-Ray player to purchase, there’s a chance you may have one capable of playing 4K movies in your home already.

Both Sony’s PlayStation 5 and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X are able to play 4K (Ultra HD) Blu-Ray, provided your TV has a 4K resolution. 

Better yet, Sony’s machine isn’t region locked. Whichever one you go for you’ll get a solid enough experience, and media remotes are available for each console.

It’s also worth considering that the disc-less versions of both, namely the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition and the Xbox Series S, will not play discs because there’s nowhere to put them.