Category: Blu-ray

With 2024 coming to a close, I’m looking back on everything that happened with 4K Blu-ray over the past year. Needless to say, it’s been a year of ups and downs. We’ve seen some excellent releases, especially from independent distributors. We’ve also seen brands and retailers exit the 4K Blu-ray market, whether it’s selling discs or players. As one of TechRadar’s TV reviewers, the best 4K Blu-ray players and discs are crucial for testing the best TVs as they provide not only the best picture quality thanks to a higher bitrate than streaming but also better-quality audio for testing a TV’s built-in speakers and the best soundbars. But 2024 really has been a rollercoaster year for us 4K Blu-ray fans. There have been reports of increasing disc sales from major UK retailers, and then elsewhere you read that the state of physical media is in decline and it’s all very doom and gloom. So what did happen in the world of 4K Blu-ray in 2024? Disney and Best Buy sabotage, plus a Sony savior Without Sony, movies like Deadpool & Wolverine wouldn’t have made it to 4K Blu-ray (Image credit: Future) In two of the major news stories for 4K Blu-ray, Best Buy decided to stop stocking 4K Blu-ray discs and then Disney announced its decision to cease 4K Blu-ray releases. Still, 4K Blu-ray remained alive and well thanks to the efforts of smaller distributors like The Criterion Collection and Arrow Video, both of which released superb remasters and gorgeous special editions of classic movies. I bought The Warriors from Arrow Video US and it’s an incredible release. But, these small companies can’t be expected to do all the work and whatever you think of Disney’s current filmography, its back catalog is vast and it owns production companies like Fox. Plenty of critic- and audience-lauded movies, such as All of Us Strangers, would miss out on being presented in the best quality, starving home theater fans of a 4K Blu-ray release. However, an unexpected savior appeared when Sony agreed to take over distribution rights for Disney’s physical media. This meant that movies and TV shows from Disney, Marvel, Fox and others would now get physical releases. It was some much-needed good news for the world of 4K Blu-ray. Retailers and brands come and go Panasonic is one of the few remaining brands offering mid-range 4K Blu-ray players (Image credit: Future) Disney and Best Buy weren’t the only major brands to pull out from 4K Blu-ray, with another blow dealt as recently as December when LG announced it was discontinuing production of 4K Blu-ray players. That leaves Panasonic and Sony as the only remaining mainstream brands providing ‘new’, budget and mid-range Blu-ray players (Oppo and Samsung pulled out of the 4K Blu-ray player market in 2018 and 2019 respectively, and remaining brands like Magentar and Reavon are aimed at the premium end of the market). While some players are still available on the second-hard marketplace, you can expect stock to become increasingly scarce. Despite more woes, some retailers have decided to get on the 4K Blu-ray train. For example, US retailers Fred Meyers and GameStop announced they would stock 4K Blu-ray discs back in May, providing more outlets for 4K Blu-ray fans to get movies. 4K Blu-ray in 2025 My 4K Blu-ray obsession accelerated in 2024, with the best purchase being this stunning 4K Blu-ray Special Edition of The Warriors from Arrow Video. Who knows what I’ll add in 2025? (Image credit: Future) So, what’s the outlook for 4K Blu-ray in 2025? Honestly, I’m hopeful. Here at TechRadar, we’ve noticed an appetite for 4K Blu-ray info, with more readers getting in touch and more eyes on any 4K Blu-ray-related news. So much so that we’ve launched the Blu-ray Bounty, where we look at great 4K Blu-ray releases each month, with our first edition showcasing Double Indemnity, Power of the Dog and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Spending more time with 4K Blu-ray has also fuelled my obsession. Along with The Warriors, I’ve recently added The Crow, The Dark Knight Trilogy and The Lord of the Rings to my collection, among many others that would take too long to list! But, that’s the state of Blu-ray for us here at TechRadar. What about the wider world? Again, signs point to a minor revolution. That may sound exaggerated, but with the best streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video and Disney Plus constantly raising prices people are going to get fed up. Prime Video not only added ads for all users unless you paid $2.99 / £2.99 to go ad-free in January 2024 but it’s set to add even more ads in 2025. This is just one example of streaming services squeezing the pennies out of people, with Netflix also kicking people off its cheapest ad-free tier, forcing an upgrade or a cancellation. I’d list more cases from 2024, but we’d be here all day. Another frustration I’ve found is the constant hot potato that these streaming services play with movies and TV shows. Too many times have I gone to watch a favorite or a classic that’s caught my eye one month to find next month it’s gone. With discs, you own the content and it’s there to watch. I’ll be keeping an eye to see how many other people get fed up with this in 2025 and opt to trust in good ol’ physical media. Final thoughts I’ll be testing the best 4K Blu-ray releases as much as I can in 2025, so expect more Blu-ray Bounty! (Image credit: Future) 4K Blu-ray and physical media in general has faced a year of highs and lows in 2024 and while I’m hopeful for its future in 2025, I know there is still uncertainty. Physical media sales overall remain on the decline and despite rising prices, streaming services are still the main way people watch movies and TV shows. But, 4K Blu-ray is the best way to enjoy movies on your home theater system and the more people get to experience this wonderful format, the more popular it will become. I can recommend two players and five movies that will get you started on your journey if you’re new and, rest assured, I’ll be flying the 4K Blu-ray flag in 2025! You might also like

We here at TechRadar love 4K Blu-ray – the best way to see your favorite movies and TV shows with the highest picture and audio quality – so much so that we’ve created a new regular feature to share the Blu-ray Bounty. To start, we have a trio of 4K Blu-ray discs that will make excellent additions to your existing 4K Blu-ray collection, or even launch you on your 4K Blu-ray journey. When played on one of the best 4K Blu-ray players, these movies will look great on the best TVs, and sound great through one of the best soundbars. For this roundup, we won’t be reviewing the movies themselves; we’re just commenting on the picture and audio quality. This month’s three movies are Double Indemnity, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and Power of the Dog – a classic noir, a modern action blockbuster and a somber, but beautiful drama, so three completely different movies to get us started! For testing, the movies were played on a Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player connected to a Panasonic MZ1500 OLED TV and Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar, predecessor to the Samsung HW-Q990D, one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars. Double Indemnity (The Criterion Collection) Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) Double Indemnity (1944) directed by Billy Wilder, is a classic noir that many argue helped define not only the genre but modern filmmaking in general. It tells the story of an insurance man (Fred MacMurray) who conspires with a woman (Barbara Stanwyck) to murder her husband in order to capitalize on his life insurance using a Double Indemnity clause. Double Indemnity looks stunning in 4K with Dolby Vision, with textures taking on a realistic look. The Criterion Collection’s black and white 4K restoration does a fantastic job defining the film’s light and dark tones, with plenty of gray ones in between. There’s a good amount of film grain present, which movie fans will appreciate, though it’s worth noting that some grain has been cleaned up. Double Indemnity is a great example of a 4K release of a classic movie done right, and it looked fantastic on the Panasonic MZ1500 OLED TV. The soundtrack is monaural – no Dolby Atmos here. Still, the sound has been cleaned up nicely, with clear dialogue and a good balance between the melodramatic, horn-heavy score and other sound effects. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Power of the Dog (The Criterion Collection) Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) Power of the Dog (2021), directed by Jane Campion, is a Western drama that tells the story of a pair of ranch owners and brothers Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) and George (Jessie Plemons) who navigate life after George brings home a new wife, Rose (Kirsten Dunst), and her son. Gorgeous landscapes and natural environments are used throughout the movie, and the wide open spaces, mountains and valleys look simply breathtaking. Criterion’s 4K Dolby Vision treatment brings out plenty of detail in not only these landscapes but also the characters’ facial features, and there is strong contrast in the film’s many night scenes. On the MZ1500 OLED, every aspect of the film’s picture looked incredible. Power of the Dog’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack gives the mournful, string-heavy score a real sense of space and weight. Scenes in nature sounded expansive, with the bird cries, crackling branches, and gravel placed accurately throughout and clearly heard in the Samsung HW-Q990C’s rear speakers. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (Disney / Buena Vista) Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) is the fourth installment in the rebooted Planet of the Apes franchise – following on from Rise, Dawn, and War of the Planet of the Apes, respectively. With the apes now fully in control of the planet, a young ape (Owen Teague) discovers truths that make him question everything he has ever known about the ape world. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ greatest strength lies not in its visuals, but its sound design. Featuring a Dolby Atmos mix, this movie is the definition of an action blockbuster, with a thunderous score, crunching battle scenes and lively, open-sounding environments. From an eagle swooping through large landscapes in the movie’s opening, to the bruising fight scenes between the warring clans of apes, this movie is a perfect test for your sound system. Visually, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes features beautiful natural environments and pretty good CGI creations of the different apes and monkeys throughout the movie. The 4K Dolby Vision transfer is detailed and dynamic-looking and it will show off what your TV and 4K Blu-ray player are capable of. Want to grab the equipment we used for testing? Check out links to that equipment below. In some cases, we’ve provided alternatives that are more current or available in your region. You might also like

Sony
UPB-X700
review:
One
minute
review

The

Sony
UBP-X700
is
an
affordable

4K
Blu-ray
player
($199
/£199
/
AU$369
at
the
time
of
writing
six
years
on
from
its
release)
that
supports
Dolby
Vision

HDR
and
Dolby
Atmos
and
DTS:X
soundtracks.
It
also
supports
a
wide
range
of
media,
including
3D
Blu-ray
discs,
SACDs,
DVDs
and
CDs
and
has
Wi-Fi
for
streaming
from
apps
such
as
Netflix
and
Prime
Video.

Performance-wise,
the
Sony
UBP-X700
is
an
all-around
brilliant
player.
It
doesn’t
quite
manage
the
jack-of-all-trades
excellence
of
the

Panasonic
DP-UB820,
but
it
delivers
superb
4K
images
with
punchy
color,
accurate
and
refined
textures
and
contrast
up
there
with
the

best
4K
Blu-ray
players,
especially
when
fed
Dolby
Vision
discs.
Upscaling
is
generally
effective
–
more
on
Blu-ray
rather
than
on
the
lower-resolution
DVD
format
–
and
while
it
does
enhance
certain
colors
and
applies
some
artificial
cleaning
to
film
grain,
the
UBP-X700
still
offers
excellent
image
reproduction,
especially
compared
to
the

Panasonic
DP-UB154
–
a
solid,
similarly
priced
player.

The
UBP-X700
effectively
handles
Dolby
Atmos
soundtracks
and
has
balanced
and
accurate
sound
reproduction.
CD
playback
is
also
effective.

The
UBP-X700’s
interface
is
easy
enough
to
navigate,
although
a
little
on
the
plain
side.
A
good
number
of
settings
for
video
and
audio
are
provided.
Design-wise,
the
UBP-X700
is
compact,
making
it
ideal
for
smaller
spaces,
though
its
physical
design
is
plain
–
an
LED
display
with
playback
info
would
have
been
welcome
–
and
its
remote
feels
very
dated.

It’s
tough
to
argue
against
the
value
of
the
UBP-X700
as
it’s
an
overall
fantastic
performer
for
an
affordable
price.
Pairing
this
with
one
of
the

best
TVs,
particularly
one
of
the

best
OLED
TVs
such
as
the

Samsung
S95D
or

LG
C4,
will
lead
to
a
match
made
in
heaven.

The
Sony
UBP-X700’s
home
page
is
a
little
on
the
plain
side

(Image
credit:
Future)

Sony
UBP-X700
review:
Prices
&
release
date

Release
date:
January
2018

Prices:
$199
/
£199
/
AU$369

The
Sony
UBP-X700
is
a
mid-range
model
in
Sony’s
4K
Blu-ray
player
lineup,
sitting
below
the
Sony
UBPX-800MKII.
At
the
time
of
its
release
in
2018,
the
UPBX700
was
priced
at
$249
/
£249
/
AU$399.

Several
years
on
prices
have
dropped
overall,
with
the
UBP-X700
sitting
at
roughly
$199
/
£199
/
AU$369
at
the
time
of
writing,
though
it
has
previously
sold
for
as
low
as
$149
/
£149
/
AU$225.

Sony
UBP-X700
review:
Specs

Swipe
to
scroll
horizontally

HDR
support

Dolby
Vision,
HDR10

Audio
support

Dolby
Atmos,
Dolby
TrueHD,
DTS:X,
DTS-HD

Music
support

CD,
Hi-res
audio
playback
including
DSD,
ALAC,
FLAC

Connectivity

Coaxial
Audio
Output
(s):
1
(Rear),
Ethernet
Connection
(s):
1
(Rear),
HDMI
Output
(s):
2
(Rear),
USB
Input
(s):
1
(Front)

Dimensions

(W
X
H
X
D):
12.5
x
1.7
x
8.5
(inches)
/
320
x
45
x
217
(mm)

Weight

3lbs
/
1.4kg

The
Sony
UBP-X700
offers
a
good
number
of
connections,
including
dual
HDMI
and
coaxial
digital
audio
outputs

(Image
credit:
Future)

Sony
UBP-X700
review:
Features

Dolby
Vision
HDR
support

Dolby
Atmos
and
DTS:X
support

Built-in
Wi-Fi
and
streaming
capability

The
Sony
UBP-X700
supports
4K
Blu-ray,
regular
Blu-ray,
DVD
and
3D
disc
playback.
It
also
plays
not
only
audio
CDs
but
SACDs
–
a
disc
format
the
more
premium

Panasonic
DP-UB820
and
many
other
4K
Blu-ray
players
don’t
support.

The
UBP-X700
supports
the
Dolby
Vision
and
HDR10
high
dynamic
range
formats,
but
not
HDR10+.
For
comparison,
the
cheaper
Panasonic
DP-UB150
supports
HDR10+,
but
not
Dolby
Vision,
while
the
pricier
Panasonic
DP-UB820
supports
both
Dolby
Vision
and
HDR10+.

For
audio,
the
UPBX700
supports
Dolby
Atmos
and
DTS:X
soundtracks
(bitstream
only)
and
can
decode
Dolby
TrueHD
and
DTS-HD
soundtracks.
There
is
also
support
for
High-res
audio
file
formats
including
ALAC,
DSD
and
FLAC.

The
UBP-X700
isn’t
as
well
stocked
with
connections
as
more
premium
4K
Blu-ray
players
such
as
the
DP-UB820,
but
has
two
HDMI
ports
–
one
for
video
and
audio
and
one
audio-only
–
as
well
as
a
coaxial
digital
audio
output.
There
is
also
an
Ethernet
port
and
a
front
USB
port.
Built-in
Wi-Fi
allows
access
to
streaming
services
including
Netflix,
Prime
Video
and

YouTube,
and
there’s
BBC
iPlayer
for
UK
customers.

In
terms
of
performance,
navigation
was
easy
enough
without
any
stutter
or
slowdown.
A
good
number
of
settings
are
provided
for
both
picture
and
sound,
including
a
4K
upscaling
setting
with
three
different
modes,
a
Digital
Music
Enhancer,
audio
dynamic
range
control
and
more.

One
frustration
I
had
involved
the
player’s
Dolby
Vision
menu
setting.
With
Dolby
Vision
turned
on,
the
UBP-X700
indicated
it
was
displaying
Dolby
Vision
movies
even
when
it
wasn’t
–
even
leaving
it
on
when
watching
regular
Blu-ray
discs
without
HDR.
I
could
see
no
obvious
related
picture
issues,
but
it
was
still
frustrating
having
to
turn
this
on
and
off
as
there
are
some
SDR-specific
picture
settings
to
improve
quality
which
are
locked
when
Dolby
Vision
HDR
is
activated.
If
you
regularly
switch
between
4K
and
standard
Blu-ray/DVDs,
that’s
something
worth
bearing
in
mind.

Features
score:
4.5
/
5

The
Sony
UBP-X700’s
color
display
is
fantastic,
filled
with
vibrancy
as
shown
here
on

La
La
Land

(Image
credit:
Future)

Sony
UBP-X700
review:
Performance

Short
disc
load
time

Bold,
vibrant
colors

Effective
4K
upscaling

The
UBP-X700
demonstrated
surprisingly
short
load
time
for
a
cheaper
4K
Blu-ray
player.
Loading
a
disc
into
the
disc
tray
to
seeing
the
first
logos
on
screen
took
roughly
30
seconds
–
some
5-10
seconds
faster
than
the
Panasonic
DP-UB820
and
nearly
30
seconds
faster
than
the
Panasonic
DP-UB154.

For
testing,
the
UBP-X700
was
connected
to
a
Panasonic
MZ1500

OLED
TV.

Starting
with
4K
Blu-rays,
the
UBP-X700
demonstrated
excellent
picture
quality.
In

La
La
Land
(HDR10
format)
colors
were
bright
and
vibrant,
with
plenty
of
dynamic
punch
throughout.
Colors
with
the
Sony
had
a
more
vivid
look
than
with
the
Panasonic
UB820
and
UB150,
both
of
which
had
a
more
natural,
subdued
appearance.
This
isn’t
to
say
colors
were
oversaturated
on
the
UPBX700,
but
they
definitely
had
a
glossier
look
than
on
the
Panasonic
players.

I
did
notice
during
the
‘A
Lovely
Night’
scene
in

La
La
Land
that
the
UBP-X700
favored
a
cooler
color
palette,
accentuating
the
blues
and
purples
of
the
night
sky
in
the
background.
The
colors
were
still
accurate
and
crisp,
but
it’s
worth
noting.

Moving
on
to

The
Batman
on
4K
Blu-ray
in
Dolby
Vision,
the
UBP-X700
demonstrated
superb
black
levels
and
contrast,
with
the
opening
crime
scene
showcasing
a
great
balance
between
the
lights
in
the
room
and
hallways
and
the
darkened
floors
and
walls.
Shadow
detail
was
also
excellent,
with
details
in
clothing
maintained
even
in
the
darkest
shots.

Moving
onto
standard
Blu-ray,
I
used
the
same
scene
from

The
Batman
to
test
the
effectiveness
of
the
UBP-X700’s
upscaling.
Although
it
was
not
as
good
as
the
Panasonic
UB820,
the
UPBX700
still
did
an
impressive
job.
Textures
were
a
touch
softer
and
contrast
wasn’t
quite
as
good
as
you’d
find
on
more
premium
players,
but
the
Sony’s
upscaling
did
improve
the
overall
sharpness
of
the
picture.

The
UBP-X700
even
did
a
decent
upscaling
job
with
a
DVD
of

The
Amazing
Spider-Man,
improving
textures
and
colors.
It
was
more
effective
here
than
the
Panasonic
UB154
but
not
as
effective
as
the
Panasonic
UB820.

I
also
analyzed
how
much
film
grain
the
UBP-X700
left
intact
with
older
movies.
Watching
a
Blu-ray
of

Thief,
particularly
shots
at
dawn
in
the
opening,
the
UBP-X700
did
maintain
some
grain
but
there
was
less
present
compared
to
the
same
scene
played
through
the
Panasonic
UB820.
I
also
found
this
to
be
the
case
when
watching
4K
Blu-rays
of

The
Batman
and

La
La
Land.
Film
purists
may
want
to
make
note
of
this.

For
audio,
I
had
no
issue
playing
Dolby
Atmos
soundtracks
through
the
UBP-X700.
I
also
tested
a
CD
in
the
UPB-X700
and
found
no
issues
with
stutter
or
load
times.

Performance
score:
4.5
/
5

The
Sony
UBP-X700
has
short
loading
times
of
under
30
seconds
from
when
the
disc
is
inserted
to
first
logos
appearing
on
screen

(Image
credit:
Future)

Sony
UBP-X700
review:
Design

Very
light
and
compact

No
front
LED
display

Old-school,
cheap
remote

The
UBP-X700
is
a
lightweight
and
compact
player
compared
to
the
wider
and
deeper
Panasonic
UB820
and
UB154,
making
it
more
versatile
for
smaller
spaces.
It
feels
less
premium
and
uses
cheaper
materials
than
players
such
as
the
UB820,
but
looks
and
feels
sturdy
enough
for
the
price.

One
thing
to
note
is
there
is
no
front
LED
display
to
notify
of
timing
while
watching
a
movie,
a
feature
found
on
the
Panasonic
UB820.
Timing
and
other
info
can
be
shown
on
your
TV
by
pressing
the
info
button
on
the
remote,
however.

The
UPBX700
features
two
HDMI
ports
and
a
coaxial
digital
audio
output
alongside
an
Ethernet
and
a
front
USB
port.
This
is
a
respectable
number
of
connections
and
while
it
doesn’t
match
up
to
more
premium
players,
it’s
more
than
found
on
the
budget
Panasonic
UB154.

The
small
supplied
remote
feels
a
little
dated
and
cheap.
While
I
wasn’t
expecting
a
premium
remote,
I
found
the
smaller
buttons
to
be
a
little
more
difficult
to
use
compared
to
those
found
on
Panasonic
player
remotes.

Design
score:
4
/
5

The
Sony
UBP-X700
has
a
small,
cheap-feeling
remote

(Image
credit:
Future)

Sony
UBP-X700
review:
Value

While
the
Sony
UBP-X700
isn’t
going
to
beat
the
workhorse-like
Panasonic
DP-UB820,
it
does
offer
great
performance
and
a
good
number
of
features
including
Wi-Fi
for
streaming,
which
is
a
rare
feature
in
an
affordable
player.

At
$199
/
£199
/
AU$369
–
even
dropping
as
low
as
$149
/
£149
/
AU$369
–
the
UBP-X700
is
great
value
for
money
and
while
it
lacks
the
full
HDR
support
of
the
Panasonic
DP-UB820,
Dolby
Vision
is
an
excellent
feature
in
a
cheaper
player.

Value
score:
4.5
/
5

Contrast
in
the
Sony
UBP-X700’s
picture
is
also
very
rich

(Image
credit:
Future)

Should
you
buy
the
Sony
UBP-X700?

Buy
it
if…

Don’t
buy
if
it…

Also
consider

Swipe
to
scroll
horizontally

Row
0
–
Cell
0

Sony
UBP-X700

Panasonic
DP-UB820

Panasonic
DP-UB150/154

Reavon
UBR-X100

Price

$239/£219/AU$319

$499/£349/AU$769

$199/£149/AU$299

$799/£799/AU$1,399

HDR
support

Dolby
Vision,
HDR10

Dolby
Vision,
HDR10+,
HDR10,
HLG

HDR10+,
HDR10,
HLG

Dolby
Vision,
HDR10+,
HDR10,
HLG

Audio
support

Dolby
Atmos,
Dolby
TrueHD,
DTS:X

Dolby
TrueHD,
Dolby
Atmos,
DTS:X,
DTS-HD
Master
Audio

Dolby
Atmos,
Dolby
TreuHD,
DTS:X,
DTS:HD
MA

Dolby
Atmos,
Dolby
TreuHD,
DTS:X,
DTS:HD
MA

Connectivity

2x
HDMI,
1x
USB,
1x
optical
output,

2x
HDMI
output
(1x
Audio,
1x
Audio/Video),
Digital
optical
output,
Analogue
audio
LR
output,
Analogue
Audio
7.1
ch
output,
Wi-Fi,
LAN,
2x
USB

1x
HDMI,
1x
LAN,
1x
USB
(2.0)

2x
HDMI,
2x
USB,
1x
optical
output,
1x
coaxial
output,

The
Sony
UBP-X700’s
settings
menu

(Image
credit:
Future)

How
I
tested
the
Sony
UBP-X700

Tested
using
a
variety
of
discs
formats
including
4K
Blu-ray,
Blu-ray
and
DVD

Tested
with
Panasonic
MZ1500
OLED
TV

To
test
the
Sony
UBP-X700,
I
connected
it
to
the

Panasonic
MZ1500
OLED
TV,
which
supports
Dolby
Vision.

For
picture
quality
testing,
I
primarily
used
reference
scenes
from
4K
Blu-ray
discs
I
use
for
testing
TVs
such
as

The
Batman,

La
La
Land,

Top
Gun:
Maverick
and
more.
I
also
used
a
Blu-ray
version
of

Thief
to
test
the
UBP-X700’s
film
grain
accuracy.

I
used
standard
Blu-rays
and
DVDs
to
test
the
UBP-X700’s
upscaling
ability
and
a
CD
to
test
the
UBP-X700’s
audio
playback.

I
also
tested
the
UBP-X700’s
software
by
navigating
through
different
menus,
testing
response
times,
and
exploring
the
level
of
settings.
I
also
streamed
content
via
Netflix
and
BBC
iPlayer
to
test
the
UBP-X700’s
streaming
capabilities.

The
release
of
a
cheaper,
discless
Xbox
Series
X
model
is
another
small
blow
to

4K
Blu-ray
and
its
future
accessibility
to
a
wider
audience.
With
the
new
digital
edition
serving
as
the
cheapest
entry
into
the
lineup,
there’s
a
good
chance
it’ll
become
the
most
popular
model,
meaning
that’s
fewer
people
who
will
stumble
upon
the
discovery
that
physical
media
offers
far
higher
quality
than
streaming
and
become
converts.

The
latest
version
of
the
Xbox
Series
X
–
the
1TB
Digital
Edition
–
has
been
released
and
is
priced
at
$450/£430
–
roughly
$50/£50
cheaper
than
the
standard
model.
The
Digital
Edition
comes
without
a
disc
drive
whereas
the
‘standard’
model
–
which
may
not
be
one
of
the

best
4K
Blu-ray
players
for
pure
quality,
but
does
a
good
job
–
has
one
built-in.

With
this
new
Xbox
Series
X
Digital
Edition
being
released
at
a
cheaper
price,
and
it
will
most
likely
see
discounts
and
price
drops
over
Black
Friday,
this
could
lean
people
towards
opting
for
it
over
the
disc
model
–
and
this
would
be
bad
news
for
4K
Blu-ray.

During
its

release
announcement
in
June,

Microsoft
said
the
three
new
models
–
which
include
the
Xbox
Series
X
Digital,
Xbox
Series
S
with
1TB
storage
and
the
Xbox
Series
X
Galaxy
Edition
2TB
–
would
“join
its
current
lineup”,
suggesting
that
Xbox
Series
X
disc
model
will
remain
an
option,
but
with
a
cheaper,
discless
model
available,
will
the
disc
version
suffer?

The
PS5
already
took
the
approach
of
having
a
cheaper
discless
model,
and
then
dropped
the
built-in
disc
drive
totally
on
the
PS5
Slim
and
new
PS5
Pro.
Now
that
Microsoft
is
seemingly
moving
towards
going
discless
–
though
we’ve
no
idea
what
the
future
holds
for
the
next
console
generation
yet
–
it’s
another
avenue
where
4K
Blu-ray
has
taken
a
hit,
because
these
consoles
provide
a
chance
to
test
the
format
without
splashing
out
on
expensive
player.

It’s
worth
noting
there
are
optional
disc
drives
for
an
extra
$99/£99
for
the
PS5,
but
this
obviously
only
will
be
bought
by
more
hardcore
physical
media
believers
anyway,
so
doesn’t
help
with
the
casual
buyer.

More
4K
Blu-ray
woes

While
the
Panasonic
DP-UB820
(pictured)
is
a
better
standalone
4K
Blu-ray
player,
the
Xbox
Series
X
and
PS5
offer
4K
Blu-ray
playback
to
a
wider
audience.

(Image
credit:
Future)

Both
the

PS5
and

Xbox
Series
X
are
an
excellent
alternative
to
a
standalone
4K
Blu-ray
player
and
although
they
don’t
offer
the
same
level
of
features
as
said
regular
4K
Blu-ray
players,
such
as
the

Panasonic
DP-UB820
which
offers
Dolby
Vision
playback
on
4K
Blu-ray
discs
(the
consoles
don’t),
they
do
provide
access
to
4K
Blu-ray
playback
for
a
wider
ranging
and
more
casual
audience
than
just
the
dedicated
home
theater
fan.

Sign
up
for
breaking
news,
reviews,
opinion,
top
tech
deals,
and
more.

People
buying
elite
consoles
will
often
have
a
good-quality
TV
because
they
want
the
latest
features
–
the

best
gaming
TVs
tend
to
look
great
as
well
as
supporting
4K
120Hz
–
and
a
good
sound
option
to
immerse
themselves
in
games.

One
day,
they
might
try
a
4K
Blu-ray
since
they
already
have
the
tech
built
into
their
consoles,
and
discover
the
better
picture
quality,
and
the
even
more
clearly
better
sound.
Maybe
that
leads
them
pick
up
more
4K
Blu-rays,
helping
to
keep
the
industry
in
good
health.

But
if
they
don’t
have
the
disc
drive
because
they
wanted,
very
reasonably,
to
save
a
bit
more
cash,
then
they’ll
never
make
this
discovery.

The
world
of
4K
Blu-ray
has
been
tumultuous
in
the
last
12
months,
with
signs
pointing
towards
its
death.
Disney
and
Best
Buy
made
the
move
to
stop
selling
4K
Blu-ray,
although

Sony
has
since
come
in
and
taken
over
4K
Blu-ray
distribution
on
Disney’s
behalf,
and
many
retailers
signalled
a
decrease
in
physical
media
sales,
with
customers
moving
towards
the

best
streaming
services
such
as
Netflix
instead.
But,
things
have
taken
a
turn.

The
efforts
of
companies
such
as
Arrow
Video,
Criterion
Collection
and
more
have
aimed
to
stop

4K
Blu-ray
from
dying
despite
Disney
and
Best
Buy’s
efforts
and
there’s
been
more
positive
news
in
recent
months
with

2
major
stores
in
the
US
agreeing
to
stock
more
4K
Blu-ray
and
a

major
UK
retailer
saying
4K
Blu-ray
sales
are
on
the
rise
as
the
price
of
streaming
sites
across
the
board
continue
to
rise.

After
lots
of
good
news
and
hard
work
by
4K
Blu-ray
publishers,
this
move
away
from
disc
drives
in
its
consoles
as
standard
by

Sony
Microsoft
could
not
have
come
at
a
worse
time.
Not
everyone
has
the
money,
space
or
even
a
need
for
a
dedicated
4K
Blu-ray
player,
and
games
consoles
provided
an
avenue
for
casual
4K
Blu-ray
collectors
to
own
and
play
their
favorite
movies.

Fingers
crossed
that
this
isn’t
the
death
knell
for
4K
Blu-ray
in
consoles,
because
that
really
would
be
a
blow
to
the
future
of
people
getting
into
discs.

You
might
also
like

Dolby
Vision

HDR
support
is
finally
coming
to
Disney’s
future

4K
Blu-ray
releases,
as
reported
by

Forbes
–
and
the
first
two
releases
to
include
this
are
both
summer
blockbusters.

Disney
has
announced
that

Deadpool
&
Wolverine,
set
for
release
October
22,
and

Alien
Romulus,
set
for
release
on
December
3,
will
both
support
Dolby
Vision
HDR,
marking
the
first
Disney
releases
(other
than
some
James
Cameron
titles)
since

Star
Wars:
The
Last
Jedi,
which
was
released
in
2018,
to
support
Dolby
Vision.

Dolby
Vision
is
a
popular
HDR
format
that
is
seeing
increasing
support
in
the

best
TVs
available
–
even
budget
models
such
as
the

Amazon
Fire
TV
Omni
QLED
support
it.
Dolby
Vision
improves
picture
quality
on
Dolby
Vision
compatible
displays
by
improving
color,
contrast
and
brightness
to
give
a
wider
dynamic
image
and
better
handling
of
highlights
and
dark
tones
in
difficult
scenes
depending
on
what
your
TV’s
capable
of.

Disney
initially
only
used
the
standard
HDR10
format
on
its
Blu-rays,
and
it’s
not
entirely
clear
why
it
has
now
decided
to
support
Dolby
Vision
(considering
it
supports
it
on
the
Disney
Plus
streaming
platform
already)
–
although
it’s
possible
that

Sony’s
acquisition
of
Disney’s
physical
media
production
may
have
something
to
do
with
it,
as

Sony
itself
is
a
big
user
of
Dolby
Vision
in
its
TVs,
including
the
Sony
Bravia
9,
and
some
of
the

best
4K
Blu-ray
players.

Whatever
the
reason
why,
it’s
great
news
for
home
theater
fans.

More
4K
Blu-ray
good
news

(Image
credit:
Future)

It’s
no
secret
that
the
state
of
4K
Blu-ray
and
physical
media
has
been
looking
bleak
in
recent
years,
with
Disney
all-but-signaling
a
shift
away
from
it
when
it
announced
it
would

no
longer
sell
4K
Blu-ray
in
Australia
last
year.
It
came
down
to
the
efforts
of
publishing
houses
such
as
Arrow
Video,
Criterion
Collection
and
more
to
keep

4K
Blu-ray
from
dying.

However,
earlier
this
year,

2
big
stores
in
the
US
announced
they
would
stock
discs
and
in
the
UK,
HMV,
a
major
AV
retailer,
announced
that

its
physical
media
sales
were
on
the
rise.

Sign
up
for
breaking
news,
reviews,
opinion,
top
tech
deals,
and
more.

With
the
arrival
of
Dolby
Vision
on
Disney’s
4K
Blu-rays,
it
hopefully
signals
even
more
investment
into
the
field
that
seemed
to
be
in
its
‘dying
days’
not
too
long
ago.
Starting
with
a
major

Marvel
release
in

Deadpool
&
Wolverine
could
bring
more
exposure
into
the
benefits
of
Dolby
Vision
in
home
media,
and
in
turn
lead
to
a
further
resurgence
in
the
physical
media
sector
–
showing
streaming
sites
such
as
Netflix,
Prime
Video
or

Disney
Plus
and
Hulu,
both
of
which
recently
announced
further
price
hikes,
that
making
streaming
platforms
more
expensive
is
not
a
good
look.

You
might
also
like