What are the best 4k Blu-ray Disc players available in 2023? Here is a breakdown of the best Ultra HD Blu-ray players currently available from LG, Panasonic, and Sony.
The best way to view movies and TV shows at home is on 4k Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs. The discs feature top video standards including HDR (Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+) and high-quality audio formats including Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1 and DTS-X. However, you need a 4k Ultra HD Blu-ray player to play the discs! 4k Blu-ray players also feature apps to stream from popular services such as Disney Plus, Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube, so you can still enjoy your favorite movies and shows by streaming through the player. Here’s a list of the best 4k Ultra HD Blu-ray players available in 2023. Please keep in mind that prices and availability may change after the article’s publication date.
1. Panasonic DP-UB820 4k Ultra HD Blu-ray Player (2019)
We rank this the best 4k Blu-ray player of the year (Read Review) based on both function and affordability. The $499 Panasonic DP-UB820 supports HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG for HDR via digital, 4k Blu-ray, and live broadcast applications. For audio, the player’s 192-kHz/32-bit 4-DAC supports both high-resolution audio formats Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. 4K image color signals (4:2:0) are integrated into 4K (4:4:4) by a multi-tap chroma process providing natural textures and depth. The Panasonic UB820 features the HCX Processor (Hollywood Cinema experience), and also works with Alexa voice control. List Price: $499 | Sale: $419.99 Buy on Amazon
2. Panasonic DP-UB9000 4K Blu-ray Player (2019)
It took a while for this Panasonic model to make it to the US, but the UB9000 was well worth the wait for the home theater guru who only buys the highest quality components. The UB9000 is a solid aluminum build compared to the UB820, and because of that construction has less vibration and is much quieter than its inferior, plastic competitors. The reference-class player features a 2nd-gen HCX (Hollywood Cinema Experience) processing engine and supports all the HDR and audio formats you could possibly need. The only reason we rank the UB9000 lower is its $1k price tag. But if you’re serious about your home theater, this is the model you want. MSRP: $1099 Buy from Amazon
3. Sony UBP-X800M2 4K UHD Blu-ray Disc Player (2019)
We did a review of Sony’s X800M2 (an upgrade to the X800) and found it a good value player priced at $299, the X800M2 offers both Dolby Vision and HDR10, Dolby Atmos/DTS:X, DSEE HX audio, and Bluetooth listening on headphones. It’s a standard 19″ width for typical rack systems. You’ve got to overlook the lack of auto-detect for Dolby Vision though (it has to switched to on in Settings if previously off). List Price: $329 | Sale $278 Buy on Amazon
4. LG UBK90 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray Player w/HDR10 & Dolby Vision (2018)
The upgraded LG UBK90 (MSRP: $299) supports both HDR10 and Dolby Vision, making it compatible with all Ultra HD Blu-ray discs regardless of HDR spec. And, while the less expensive UBK80 only has one HDMI port and only Ethernet (no WiFi), the UBK90 features two HDMI outputs (1 for video, 1 for dedicated audio) and built-in WiFi. High-Resolution Audio is supported in Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio, and FLAC formats. It’s a 16.9″ x 8.1″ unit (2″ wider than the Sony X700) that’s just shy of wider 19″ standard rack sizes. MSRP: $299 Buy on Amazon
5. Sony UBP-X700 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player (2018)
Priced $100 less than the X800M2, Sony’s X700 is a great option for the budget-conscious. The player originally didn’t offer Dolby Vision but a firmware upgrade fixed that making this the better, and less expensive option over the older X800. It is, however, a smaller unit and not a standard rack size like the X800M2 or X1100ES. List: $249 | Sale: $178 Buy on Amazon
6. LG UBK80 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray Player w/HDR10 (2018)
The older, LG UBK80 is priced lower than the UBKM9, but you should know it does not support Dolby Vision or DTS:X audio. However, HDR10 is supported as well as Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD Master audio. It’s missing a couple features of the Sony X700, but it’s a 16.9″ width component (2″ wider than the Sony X700) that fits nicely into standard audio/video racks. List Price: $196 Buy on Amazon
7. Panasonic DP-UB150-K 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player (2021)
The Panasonic DP-UB150-K 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player is an inexpensive option if you want to play 4k Blu-ray discs on your 4k TV. The player supports HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG High Dynamic Range specs. Unfortunately, the DP-UB150-K does not support Dolby Vision. However, most 4k Blu-rays include the HDR10 specification which means if your 4k HDR TV model (such as Samsung) doesn’t support Dolby Vision you won’t need it anyway. According to a Panasonic rep the player also supports Dolby Atmos & DTS:X playthrough. The DP-UB150-K has a list price of $199.99. Currently unavailable on Amazon.
8. LG UBKM9 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray Player (2019)
The LG Model UBKM9 (2019) supports HDR formats HDR10 and Dolby Vision as well as audio formats Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, and DTS-HD Master Audio. This is a Region-free player and will playback Region A, Region B, & Region C discs. This is a 17″ x 9.5″ x 1.75″ component that fits nicely into standard audio/video racks. Price: $329 Buy on Amazon
9. Panasonic DP-UB420-K 4K Ultra HD Blu-ay Player (2019)
The Panasonic DP-UB420-K 4K Ultra HD Blu-ay Player supports HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG High Dynamic Range formats but unfortunately not Dolby Vision. The player features the HCX Processor (Hollywood Cinema experience), Voice Assist, and a 192-kHz/32-bit 4-DAC for high-res audio playback. The DP-UB420-K measures 10.63 x 3.74 x 14.88 inches. MSRP: $249.99. Sale: $247 Buy on Amazon
Note: We keep this website running with your purchases from our Amazon links. Thank you for your help!