The Best 4k Blu-ray Player in 2022

If you’re a big film buff, then having your own Blu-ray player is a great investment. It’s not just because collecting films is a fun and rewarding way to show off your passion for films. It’s also because Blu-ray players give you the best out of your shows if we’re talking about quality alone. Blu-ray technology has come a long way and there are some players that can run 4K.

A good 4K Blu-ray player will help you watch your favorite films in better quality. With so many Blu-ray players to choose from, you might find it hard to pick one that suits your needs. That’s why we’re here to help. On this list, we’re showcasing the top 5 Blu-ray players that can run 4K. After reading this, you’re sure to get your choice ready.

At the top of this list is one of the most tried and tested names when it comes to home media players. That is none other than Panasonic. When it comes to the best 4K Blu-ray players, they have the Panasonic DP-UB820EB.

The Panasonic DP-UB820EB is the next-level version of the flagship DP-UB9000 from Panasonic. It’s one of the best 4K Blu-ray players around right now. What’s even better is that the price of the Panasonic DP-UB820EB is very affordable. What is the Panasonic DP-UB820EB and what makes it one of the best Blu-ray players around?

For starters, the player runs a wonderfully inviting and very immersive picture.  It comes with great color and detail. On top of this, the Panasonic DP-UB820EB also features great, exciting sound that helps create one of the best viewing experiences right now. It’s rare to find a 4K Blu-ray player that allows for amazing audio and video at the same time. Luckily, the Panasonic DP-UB820EB is one of those players that offers amazing quality through and through.

When it comes to HDR, the Panasonic DP-UB820EB supports HDR10 and HDR10+. Surprisingly, the device also works with Dolby Vision, which means that you can get even more out of your 4K content. The Panasonic DP-UB820EB also runs with the best upscaler around, which means it run perfectly well with all types of 4K TVs around. It can be hard to find an all-around machine that’s better than the Panasonic DP-UB820EB.

Pros

• Immersive HDR picture
• Great color balance
• Powerful sound

Cons

• No SACD or DVD-A support

Specification

• Price $497.00
• Connectivity Technology HDMI
• Item Weight 5.3 Pounds
• Item Dimension 8.06 x 16.9 x 2.5 inches

Next up, we have another tried and tested name when it comes to media players. That of course is Sony. They’re one of the key pioneers when it comes to Blu-ray technology. The best 4K Blu-ray player they have right now is the Sony UBP-X700.

One of the common misconceptions when it comes to 4K Blu-ray players is that you need to spend lots of money to get one that’s good. If you want something that’s cheap but great at the same time, you shouldn’t look further than the Sony UBP-X700. It’s a talented 4K Blu-ray player that won’t force you to spend lots of money on the initial investment. That being said, you can get the most out of your money with this 4K Blu-ray player.

For starters, the display of the Sony UBP-X700 is great in detail. The player is able to display a very subtle but strong picture that can be quite pleasing to look at. This shouldn’t be a surprise however as Sony is one of the pioneers when it comes to 4K technology. The Sony UBP-X700 is proof that Sony still has a stronghold on the industry. This amazing display comes with great audio too, so it’s a completely amazing viewing experience.

When it comes to a player of this price, the Sony UBP-X700 does come with what you expect it to have. That includes Dolby Vision and HDR10. Sadly, the player doesn’t have any HDR10+ support. The Sony UBP-X700 can play a lot of audio files in a variety of formats. When it comes to compatibility, the Sony UBP-X700 doesn’t miss out on any important additions as technology advances, so you can expect this player to be full of the latest and best features.

The Sony UBP-X700 is an amazing and cheap 4K Blu-ray player from one of the top names in the industry. Despite its shortcomings when it comes to HDR, the Sony UBP-X700 still does provide one of the best viewing experiences of 4K technology we have right now.

Pros

• Affordable
• Great detail and colors
• Dolby Vision support

Cons

• No HDR10+ support

Specification

• Price $177.87
• Connectivity Technology HDMI
• Item Weight 3.1 Pounds
• Item Dimension 12.6 x 8.5 x 1.8 inches

Next up, we have another iconic and memorable 4K Blu-ray player. This time, it’s the Panasonic DP-UB9000. The Panasonic DP-UB9000 is one of the most popular iterations of Panasonic’s line of 4K Blu-ray players. It’s only made a lower place on this list because of its price.

The Panasonic DP-UB9000 is a high-end 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player. It’s one of the best out right now thanks to its updated technology; it’s easy to see why this remains to be one of the most popular options around. It’s great when it comes to display and overall features. Panasonic pulled no punches when creating this amazing player. If you have the budget for it, it’s the 4K Blu-ray player that we suggest you get as soon as possible.

Pros

• Great image quality
• Four types of HDR supported
• Powerful HDR display

Cons

• No SACD or DVD-audio playback

Specification

• Price $997.00
• Connectivity Technology HDMI
• Item Weight 17.2 Pounds
• Item Dimension 11.8 x 16.9 x 3.2 inches

The last two entries on this list are going to be a bit different. We’ll start off with Microsoft’s Xbox Series X. While it’s primarily built as a gaming console, this latest Xbox entry can be one of the best 4K Blu-ray players your money can buy.

The Xbox Series X is indeed a console and not solely a 4K Blu-ray player. However, the console does have a built-in Blu-ray player. As a gaming console, the Xbox Series X does provide a lot of opportunities for gaming as it’s easily one of the best consoles out right now. Thanks to Microsoft’s growing library of games, you’ll always have your fill of games with the Xbox Series X.

But of course, you’re here to look for a Blu-ray player as well. The Xbox Series X supports Dolby Atmos audio and Dolby Vision HDR. This is unique to the Xbox Series X as compared to the PlayStation 5. Keep in mind, however, that the Dolby Vision support does not affect the console’s disc drive. Instead, it only works on the streaming services that are available on the platform, which is why it’s not higher on this list right now.

If you want a Blu-ray player and a console at the same time, the Xbox Series X is obviously the best option. Despite its limitations, it’s a console that will let you do more than just play games.

Pros

• Good for gaming too
• Powerful next gen console
• Good 4K scaling

Specification

• Price $583.00
• Connectivity Technology HDMI, USB
• Item Weight 9.8 pounds
• Item Dimension 15 x 11.5 x 8.5 inches

Last but not least is the counterpart of the Xbox Series X. We are, of course, talking about the Sony PlayStation 5. Like the Xbox Series X, the PlayStation 5 is an excellent stand-in for a Blu-ray player. It offers a few more things than the Xbox Series X too.

The PlayStation 5 is dubbed the best gaming console right now. Aside from being able to run games in high fidelity, the console also features a lot of mechanics and upgrades that you can’t find anywhere else. As a gaming console, the PlayStation 5 is well-loved by gamers. The only problem is that like the Xbox Series X, the PlayStation 5 is hard to source as well because of the global shortage in chips that are needed to develop the console.

The PlayStation 5’s disc drive can play 4K Blu-ray. This is not really surprising though as Sony is one of the key companies that have helped launch the Blu-ray technology into popularity thanks to the PlayStation 3 several years ago. As they are one of the pioneers, the PlayStation 5 is easily one of the best examples of what the technology is capable of. That means that this console is far from being your run-of-the-mill gaming station.

The PlayStation 5 isn’t as advanced as the Xbox Series X when it comes to being a media center. It doesn’t support Dolby Atmos audio, and it doesn’t support Dolby Vision HDR either. However, as an added bonus, you’re getting an amazing gaming console with a standout library of games as well.

While not perfect as a 4K Blu-ray player, the PlayStation 5 still has a lot of features that make it worth getting for media purposes. Its shortcomings are easy to overlook thanks to the fact that it’s one of the best consoles that your money can buy right now.

Pros

• Native 4K
• Great gaming console

Cons

• Hard to find at retail price

Specification

• Price $771.50
• Connectivity Technology HDMI, USB
• Item Weight 13.97 pounds
• Item Dimension 18.5 x 16.78 x 7 inches