You also need to consider compatibility and your current set-up. To make the most of a new 4K Blu-ray player you'll need a 4K TV, although it will still work on an HD display the picture quality will be limited to only 1080p.

The selling point of streaming is convenience and low cost (although some services charge more for higher quality streaming), and it definitely delivers instant gratification. But when it comes to the ultimate AV experience, Blu-Ray can't be beaten. What is a good brand of Blu-ray player? From there, you can get more granular with the specs you're looking for. Many Blu-ray players guarantee the best HDR standards, like Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and surround sound audio formats, like Dolby Atmos, but you'll want to make sure the options you're considering have everything you need—especially if you're considering an older model. Are Blu-rays still worth buying?

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Firstly, let's cut through some confusion. There is the Blu-ray format and then there is the newer 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format – these are two different things. Although it can’t quite match the quality of your favourite films on UHD Blu-ray, 4K streaming lets you watch popular content at the highest quality possible. Compatible with services from YouTube and Netflix, amongst others, the UBK90 lets you stream and view premium 4K content to its full potential. The Sony PS5 is helping to keep 4K Blu-ray technology alive with its dedicated disc drive – in the mainline console, at least. While you can buy a slightly cheaper discless version, it's the standard edition console we're interested in here.The PS5's disc drive can play 4K Blu-rays—which is fitting, since Sony helped to popularize Blu-ray players with the PS3 two whole console generations ago. When it comes to buying gadgets and technology products, particularly in the DVD & Blu-ray Players category it’s important to invest in good quality products. LG BP250 Blu-ray Player is no exception. There are a number of reasons why quality is so important when it comes to these types of products. You've also got a bunch of streaming services built-in, in case you want to use this as your main movie-viewing platform.

The big exception here is Sony's BRAVIA core, which is exclusive to its BRAVIA TVs and offers Blu-Ray equivalent data speeds.There's also the highly expensive Kaleidescape streaming system, which offers incredible quality, but is not priced for the mainstream. See your HDR TV at its full potential, with the LG UBK90 UHD Blu-ray player – the ultimate in sound and vision.Another important factor to consider is longevity. When you buy a high-quality LG BP250 Blu-ray Player, you’re making an investment that is likely to last longer. Cheaper products may seem like a good deal at the time, but they are often made with lower-quality materials and are not designed to last as long. This means that you may end up having to replace your device sooner, which can end up costing you more in the long run. If you're sussing out a gaming console to play your 4K Blu-rays and DVDs, it's worth keeping in mind the Xbox Series X. The Xbox Series X also supports Dolby Atmos audio and Dolby Vision HDR—neither of which you'll find on the PS5—though the Dolby Vision support is limited to streaming services and doesn't extend to the disc drive, hence why the console is so low in this list. (You'll only get regular HDR10 over disc.) We wouldn't suggest buying a 4K Blu-ray player any cheaper than the lowest-priced options from Panasonic and Sony, such as the Panasonic DP-UB150/154 or the Sony UBP-X500– it won't be worth it. Magnetar is a relative newcomer to the 4K Blu-ray world, though it's from the same company as Reavon, which has had products in our list for a while, so it has heritage. Like Reavon players, the Magnetar is a seriously premium piece of hardware, weighing in at hefty 8kg, keeping those discs totally stable. Speaking of discs, it not only supports all Blu-ray formats, but is also generous with its audio disc support, including DVD-Audio and SACD. We have a whole article just to answer the question of whether it's still worth buying movies on 4K Blu-ray. But it depends on you, your preferences and how important your movie library is to you.

The Reavon UBR-X200 is a desirable high-end4K Blu-ray playerthat brings military-grade construction and a stylish finish to the luxury end of the market. The disc support is extensive but not quite universal, and while this player can handle CD, SACD, DVD, or Blu-ray (Full HD, 3D and 4K variants), it can’t play the lossless layer on a DVD-Audio disc. If the disc you're playing isn't 4K, your blu-ray player will upscale it. That uses an algorithm to fill in the gaps between the quality of the source material and what a 4K version would be, and the best 4K players do a superb job of this. They can't work miracles but we think you'll be pleasantly surprised by how much better your older discs can look when they've been upscaled.

That said, HD Blu-ray discs will be upscaled to 3840 × 2160 (4K) resolution by way of filling in the extra pixels, but the quality will appear noticeably lower-grade than Ultra HD Blu-ray discs (which provides a native 4K image). How do 4K Blu-Rays compare to streaming quality?