The best 4K Blu-ray players 2024: Ultra HD marvels chosen by our experts (2024)

The best 4K Blu-ray players deliver the ultimate picture quality for watching movies and TV series at home. Although streaming services are popular, Blu-rays deliver video at a higher bitrate, bringing you more detail and realism. There are other benefits to Blu-rays, like the fact you truly own your movie collection, and get stunning box art and behind-the-scenes extras that come on the disc.

It’s no surprise home theater lovers say one of the best 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players is essential – however, with the rise of streaming services, dedicated disc players are less common. This is a shame, considering that these are the ultimate way to show off one of the best TVs, and their uncompressed sound helps make the most of the best soundbars or best home theater systems.

It may not be a very vibrant market now – you'll notice all our top picks are from Panasonic, which dominates this field now, with Sony also still offering some options – but there are models across different budget ranges. We've tested these models, using them with elite TVs to show off their potential. We've also included the latest Xbox and PlayStation consoles in this round-up, because they support 4K Blu-Ray discs too, but we address them separately after the dedicated players.

Written by

Written by

James Davidson

James is TechRadar's TV Hardware Staff Writer, and has reviewed everything from budget 32-inch TVs up to the world’s most elite OLED TVs. Before joining TechRadar, he worked for several years at one of the UK's leading AV retailers, dealing with everything from Bluetooth speakers to custom home theater installations. He recently refreshed this guide based on his own testing and reviews of the products within our labs.

The quick list

Looking for a quick run-down of the best 4K Blu-ray players? Check out the list below which summarizes each entry in this list. If you're looking for a more detailed look at each entry, you can jump down to a more detailed review of each player.

The best Blu-ray players 2024: the list

The best 4K Blu-ray for most people

The Panasonic DMP-UB820 is easily the best 4K Blu-ray player on the market for most people. It offers full HDR support, plenty of connectivity options with up to 7.1 channels of analogue audio output, Wi-Fi capabilities including video streaming, and varied playback functionality. And as an added bonus, it comes at a very competitive price.

Picture quality on the Panasonic DP-UB820 is fantastic, with 4K HDR images looking particularly brilliant. Colors are punchy, textures are sharp and defined, and black tones are accurate. We found during our testing that this was the case across the board, whether it was 4K Blu-ray, standard Blu-ray and even DVD. In our review, we said "Its 4K upscaling is effective, giving regular (non-4K) Blu-ray a whole new level of detail". So for those looking to get that little bit extra out of their Blu-ray picture, the DP-UB820 is here to help.

Audio is another of the UB820's strengths, with excellent Dolby Atmos reproduction in particular. During testing, we found that even through a mid-range Dolby Atmos soundbar, the room-filling effect we were looking for was still present. The UB820 also boasts different external audio connections including a dedicated HDMI audio output and up to 7.1 channels of direct analogue audio output for those with a home theater setup.

The Panasonic DP-UB820 offers stunning picture and audio reproduction at an outstanding price – and on top of this, it provides phenomenal value thanks to its rock-solid design. We've seen one run daily in a demo environment for years without breaking. If you buy this 4K Blu-ray player, it will most definitely give you a long life of entertainment.

Read our full Panasonic DP-UB820 review

Best budget 4K Blu-ray player

One of Panasonic's more budget-friendly 4K Blu-ray players, the Panasonic DP-UB154 gives you real value for money. It may be light on connections, but its picture quality more than makes up for this. As a bonus, it's also very competitively priced, currently sitting around the $169/£159 mark.

One thing that we have noticed is that the DP-UB154 isn't readily available all the time so if you find this to be the case, look out for the Panasonic DP-UB150, which in terms of specs is virtually the same as the DP-UB154.

Contrast and natural textures are the UB154's real picture strengths, making any movie thrown at it look great. Its 4K upscaling really brings something new to non-4K discs, bringing extra detail. In our review we said, when viewing Godzilla vs Kong on 4K, that "the neon streets of Tokyo were bold, vibrant and as eye-wateringly garish as I hoped during the climactic fight scene between Godzilla and Kong".

Admittedly, it isn't all perfect, as the UB154 has no Dolby Vision, no Wi-Fi, its response times can be on the slow side, and its design is fairly safe, if not a bit boring – but the impressive picture and budget-friendly price really do make this a top choice for people looking for a cheap 4K Blu-ray player.

Read our full Panasonic DP-UB154 review

Best premium 4K Blu-ray player

The DP-UB9000 is Panasonic’s flagship 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, and it's the model to buy if you have an elite home theater setup and need something that can really push it to the max. It's beautifully made, enviably specified and unashamedly premium. The heavy metal build and luxe design mean it feels high-end too.

It's not just a pretty face. The DP-UB9000 was the first UHD deck from Panasonic to support all the key HDR formats: vanilla HDR10, its dynamic sibling HDR10+, HLG and Dolby Vision. (The Panasonic DP-UB820 at the top of our list supports all these formats too, though.)

When we tested the DP-UB9000 we were as impressed by its audio as by its image quality. It boasts high-quality DACs, two-channel and 7.1-channel analogue outputs, and Hi-Res Audio support. Toss in a host of smart features, and the UB9000 ticks nearly every box in our book.

Naturally all of these flagship features don’t come cheap. However, for those seeking the best Blu-ray playback around and don't mind about it lacking some audio disc support, look no further.In our review we wrote: "Its picture performance and overall build quality actually make that lofty price tag look like a steal while cinematic imagery, full HDR compatibility and that powerful HDR optimizer, make this player a must-have for videophiles."

Read our full Panasonic DP-UB9000 review

Best 4K Blu-ray player for audiophiles

Magnetar is a relative newcomer to the 4K Blu-ray world, though it's from the same company as Reavon, which has made players for a while – and 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.

The UDP800 is a not just a powerhouse when it comes to picture, which we said in our review "conveys all the luster and near three-dimensional texture you would hope for", but also when it comes to audio, thanks to the built-in Burr-Brown PCM 1795 stereo DAC (32-bit, 192kHz) and balanced XLR stereo outputs.

When we listened to a recording of The Earth Overture by Kosuke Yamash*ta, which was in 96kHz, 24-bit 7.1 (we listened to in linear PCM) we said it "sounds superb, with crystal clarity and hugely dynamic fanfares. It's like sitting amidst the orchestra."

With SACD and DVD-Audio playback as well, this really is an excellent option if you're looking to get just as much from the audio side of things as your movies from your 4K Blu-ray player.

There are no streaming options here, outside of basic file playback over UPnP from a local server – and even for that, you need a wired connection, because there's no Wi-Fi. There two two HDMI outputs – one standard, and one audio only – plus stereo analog outputs.

If you are looking for 7.1 analog audio outputs, sadly you won't find them here. Your best bet if you want this while keeping the SACD playback is the Reavon UBR-X200, however do note that UBR-X200 doesn't have DVD-Audio playback or HDR10+ HDR format compatibility.

Read our full Magnetar UDP800 review

Best games console for 4K Blu-ray

The Sony PS5 Slim 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 Slim'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.

As an all-round media center, the PS5 isn't quite as advanced as the Xbox Series X, largely because it doesn't support Dolby Vision HDR over streaming. However, both consoles can pass Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks through to your TV (with some minor tinkering in the Settings), and neither console supports Dolby Vision HDR or HDR10+ from Blu-rays, so actually the PS5 isn't at any disadvantage for discs compared to the Xbox.

Where it does have an advantage, though, is picture quality. In our tests (done on the original PS5 model rather than the slim, but both have the same tech inside)we found that the PS5's image is cleaner and shaper for native 4K than the Xbox, and it upscales HD Blu-rays with more natural results. So we think of the two consoles the Sony is the better Blu-Ray player – we explain more in our dedicated guide to whether the PS5 is a good Blu-ray player. Just make sure you buy the version that actually plays discs!

Below is a link to our review of the original PS5 console, which carries the same capabilities as the PS5 Slim, just in a bulkier body.

Read our full PS5 review

A games console that's great for home entertainment

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. It supports Dolby Vision HDR, unlike the PS5, but only from streaming services – this 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.)

It supports Dolby Atmos audio (including out to headphones, for a fee), but probably more usefully it passes Atmos or DTS:X soundtracks through to your TV to handle, when set up properly. We did find that it could be picky about passing DTS:X through a TV that doesn't support it to a sound system that does, though.

In our tests we also found that the 4K image quality and HD upscaling were both a little weaker from the Xbox Series X than the PS5. So we'd pick the PS5 if you're serious about playing UHD discs, but you can read more about the Xbox's disc support in our dedicated guide to whether the Xbox Series X is a good Blu-ray player.

The Xbox Series X does still serve as a great choice if you're after a 'home entertainment' system, as it gives you Dolby Vision streaming and gaming along with basic 4K Blu-ray playback.

Read our full Xbox Series X review

How to choose the best 4K Blu-ray player for you

If you've decided that you want to watch your movies and TV shows on a 4K Blu-ray player (good choice), what are some of the key things you need to look out for?

A top consideration is price. You do tend to get what you pay for when it comes to Blu-ray players—and we wouldn't consider them an essential piece of kit—but there are cheap(ish) options. For example, the Sony UBP-X700 in our list above brings you all of the basics for only $259.99/£229—or even less during the sales.

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.

It may seem obvious, but you'll also want to think about the design and size of the Blu-ray player. Do you have enough room on your TV cabinet to fit a Blu-ray player? Will it sit underneath your soundbar or be tucked away on a separate shelf? We've included the dimensions of all of the best 4K Blu-ray players above, so it's time to get out your tape measure.

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.

How we test the best 4K Blu-ray players

When it comes to testing the best 4K Blu-ray players, we strive to test every supported disc format, such as 4K Blu-ray, standard Blu-ray, DVD and so on for video playback as well as CD, SACD and DVD-Audio for audio to see how the 4K Blu-ray player reproduces the discs.

We'll not only look at picture quality, such as contrast, textures and so on on every disc, but also how effectively the player's 4K upscaling of lower-res discs, such as standard Blu-ray and DVD, is as well. We'll also test audio quality through CD and so on as well as how it passes through Dolby and DTS audio formats through to either a TV's speakers or soundbar.

Operating system and load times are an important factor to test as well. The last thing you want when you have forked out your money for a 4K Blu-ray player is to find it's sluggish and slow to respond. Watching Blu-ray discs should not be a chore.

It's also important to check out overall design as the more solid and stable your 4K Blu-ray player is, the less likely you are to get vibrations which results in less noise while you're watching your movies.

And of course, there is the factor of value. Are you getting enough features, connections and, of course, a good quality picture for the price you're paying?

New 4K Blu-ray releases to watch

Below are the latest 4K Blu-ray releases we recommend. Some titles haven't been released yet but are coming soon, so we've added a release date for each entry.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024), starring Owen Teague, Freya Allan & Kevin Durand, is the fourth movie in the Planet of the Apes reboot series. The CGI used to create the realistic-looking apes in these movies is sure to come across as glorious in 4K, plus it will undoubtedly have an impressive sound design. Available August 27, 2024.

The Last Unicorn (1982), starring Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow and Christopher Lee, is a family classic that tells the story of a unicorn setting out to discover if she truly is the last of her kind. Two previous versions released on Blu-ray differed in quality, but this new 4K release will hopefully do this film's gorgeous animation justice. Available August 20, 2024.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024), starring Anya Taylor-Joy & Chris Hemsworth, follows the wildly successful Mad Max: Fury Road in delivering thrilling action and spectacular cinematography. Multiple versions are set for release, including a black & white one, but either way, this 4K Blu-ray is a must for home theater fans. Available August 13, 2024.

All of Us Strangers (2023), starring Adam Scott & Paul Mescal, created a lot of buzz during awards season for its heart-wrenching story and superb acting – not to mention its excellent cinematography and direction. This is a release I listed as one home theater fans are starving for, so it's great news to see All of Us Strangers getting the 4K Blu-ray release it deserves. Available September 10, 2024.

For titles with no specified release date for your region, it's worth noting that 4K Blu-ray is region-free, so an imported disc should work with your 4K Blu-ray player.

Latest updates to this guide

31 July 2024
Updated 'New 4K releases' section with new 4K Blu-ray releases from August & September.

2 July 2024
Updated 'New 4K releases' section with new 4K Blu-ray releases from July.

6 June 2024
Updated 'New 4K releases' section with new 4K Blu-ray releases from June.

7 May 2024
Updated the 'New 4K releases' section with upcoming 4K Blu-ray releases to be releases in May.

2 April 2024
Updated the 'New 4K releases' section with some of the 4K current and upcoming 4K releases from march and April.