No self-respecting living room should be without a 4K TV these days. And as the price of 4K TVs has tumbled, there are now more TV series’, movies and games available in 4K than ever. But while it’s great to see Netflix, Amazon Prime and broadcasters like BT and Sky hopping aboard the pixel-packed bandwagon, there’s still only one choice if you want the absolute best from your TV: you really need a 4K Blu-ray player.
There aren’t a huge number of 4K Blu-ray players on the market, but the difference in picture (and sound) quality between the latest 4K discs and even the best quality streaming services is huge. Here you’ll find our pick of the best 4K UHD Blu-ray players you can currently buy in the UK – and with prices starting at a very reasonable £200 for Microsoft’s multi-talented Xbox One S, stretching right up to £650 for Oppo’s feature-laden UDP-203, there’s something for every budget.
If you’re not sure which features you need, and which buzzwords you need to understand, then have a read of our buyer’s guide below. If you’re confident that you know your 12-bit from your True HD, then feel free to skip the guide and scroll down to our bite-size reviews of the best 4K UHD Blu-ray players you can buy in 2017.
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How to buy the right 4K UHD Blu-ray player for you
Do I need a 4K TV? As the name suggests, you’ll need a 4K TV to view content from your 4K UHD Blu-ray player. For example, in the Expert Reviews labs, we use the Samsung UE55KS9000 for our testing, and if you’re looking for the best 4K TVs currently on the market then you’ll find a link to our Best TV article just above.
4K Blu-ray vs a Blu-ray standard player: What’s the difference? This might seem glaringly obvious, but the resolution sets the two apart. A standard Blu-ray player can only playback standard Blu-ray discs in Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) resolution, while you’ll need a 4K Blu-ray player if you want to playback the latest Ultra HD discs in glorious 3,840 x 2,160 resolution.
With four times as many pixels as a standard disc, Ultra HD Blu-rays offer a dramatic increase in detail and colour fidelity which makes movie scenes a lot sharper and refined. There are other differences, too, as Ultra HD discs are also able to store HDR (high dynamic range) data to make most of the latest 4K HDR TVs, which are able to produce brighter, more realistic images than standard TVs. Another benefit is increased colour gamut, which means that movies can be reproduced with a wider, more intense palette of colour.
Can I play a regular Blu-ray on a 4K UHD Blu-ray player? Absolutely! All players will be able to playback 1080p Blu-ray films, and better still, through some nifty wizardry, these players can upscale your regular 1080p film to 4K UHD. Think of it like Photoshop, but for movies – just as you can take a photograph and make it look sharper and more vibrant, the latest generation of TVs and players can work together to give standard Blu-ray an impressive makeover.
Of course, the upscaled version won’t be as good as a proper Ultra HD Blu-ray, but it means that you don’t need to rush out and buy your movie collection from scratch. Well, not straight away.
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What is HDR? Do I need an HDR-ready TV?
HDR, which stands for high dynamic range, is a standard which allows TVs to display the brightest highlights alongside the darkest shadows. Picture a candle in a darkened room – HDR allows a TV to reproduce the searing brightness of the flame more realistically, while also displaying the finest detail in the shadowy, inky black corners of the image.
All but the most high-end, older 4K TVs probably won’t have HDR as standard, but it’s increasingly commonplace on more modern sets – and if you want to get the most from your TV and your Ultra HD discs, then it’s essential.
What is HDR10+, Dolby Vision HDR and HLG? As ever, there isn’t just the one HDR standard – there are several, each with their own names and particularly interpretations of the technology. Below you’ll find the key HDR standards which 4K UHD TVs or Blu-ray players can support.
- HDR10 is the most common form of HDR, which is utilised by Netflix and Amazon to showcase their content.
- Dolby Vision has only recently started hitting shelves, and finding a 4K UHD Blu-ray player and a television that adopts the standard can be tricky. Dolby Vision provides a better representation of HDR, as it processes the raw data on your disk. You shouldn’t worry too much about this, but is worth considering if you want to future-proof your purchase of a high-end player.
- HLG, also known as Hybrid Log Gamma is HDR content that broadcasters will use. Again, it isn’t one to worry about just yet, as HDR content is still being trialled, but it’s a certificate you might start seeing slapped on TVs and 4K UHD Blu-ray players. In fact, I watched the Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Juventus with Dolby and BT. The content was broadcast to a select few in 4K UHD HDR with Dolby Atmos, so HLG is making steady inroads.
- Technicolor HDR, also known as Advanced HDR by Technicolor is a new HDR format that has already picked up a lot of interest from panel manufacturer LG. In fact, some of LG’s latest OLED TVs will use Technicolor’s HDR through a firmware update. There’s currently no content that’s been optimised for this format, but it’s one to keep an eye out for.
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What is HDCP 2.2, and should I care about it? High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) is a copy protection technology which is designed to prevent consumers from illegally copying content. HDCP 2.2 is a standard that has to be met for 4K Ultra HD content, which means to watch a 4K UHD Blu-ray, you’ll need to make sure that all your devices in the chain are HDCP 2.2 compliant. If one isn’t, say your television, or your home cinema amplifier, then it’ll mean that you won’t be able to watch your movie at its maximum resolution.
Do I need HDMI 2.0? HDMI 2.0 is the most up to date HDMI standard, and if you’re hoping to watch 4K content, you’ll want to ensure that your TV and Blu-ray player both have a HDMI 2.0 port - and no, you don’t need to buy an expensive cable, just one that’s rated as being HDMI 2.0 compliant.
HDMI 2.0 brought a few features that are essential for your viewing experience: 50Hz and 60Hz refresh rates at 4K, 10-bit and 12-bit colour depths, up to 32 channel audio at 1,536KHz sample rates, and dual-video streams (for split-screen viewing).
What is Dolby Digital TrueHD, DTS HD Master Audio, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Bitstream? These are the different standards of surround sound audio which can possibly be supported by a player – or indeed by any device. All except bitstream that is, which simply means that the player is capable of passing the untouched digital audio stream directly to another device further down the chain, such as a soundbar or a compatible home cinema amplifier.
Not all Blu-ray discs carry every type of audio stream, and your Blu-ray player and sound bar will need to be able to support the type of stream in question if you want the best quality possible. So even if you have a Blu-ray player that can output Dolby Atmos, and a disc with an Atmos soundtrack, you’ll need a compatible surround sound system or soundbar to take advantage of it.
Is it important to update the firmware on a Blu-ray player? No matter the device, it’s always best being up-to-date with the manufacturer’s latest firmware, be it a Google Pixel smartphone or a Blu-ray player. With Blu-ray players, it’s important to stay up-to-date, as firmware updates enable the content to be played on your device. For example, the Oppo UDP-203’s enables Dolby Digital HDR through a new firmware, this means you’ll be able to enjoy a new HDR format through an update.
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Best 4K Blu-ray player you can buy in 2017: Our top 5 Blu-ray players
Xbox One S: The cheapest 4K UHD Blu-ray player
Price when reviewed:£200
The Xbox One S is quite simply the cheapest, most affordable, multi-functional 4K UHD Blu-ray player you’ll ever buy. Primarily designed as a console, you’ll be able to play games, browse popular streaming apps like Netflix and most importantly watch your favorite films in a glorious resolution. It won’t provide you with all the bells and whistles of a full-blown player, but for the average joe, will be the most sensible option out of the bunch.
Read our full Xbox One S review for details
Specs - Maximum resolution: 3,840 x 2,160, UHD Upscaling: Yes, Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Ethernet, 3D support: Yes, Dimensions: 295 x 230 x 64mm, Weight: 2.9 kg.
Oppo UDP-203: The best 4K UHD Blu-ray player
Price when reviewed:£650
The UDP-203 is a class-leading 4K UHD Blu-ray player that provides both a fantastic image and sound. Oppo doesn’t bother with in-built streaming apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime video, but all the key features are present and correct – there’s support for Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital and DTS, and support for both HDR10 and Dolby Vision HDR (through a firmware update). It’s safe to say that this player does it all. Its Blu-ray drive is silent, too, which means you can enjoy your films without being disturbed – the Xbox One S is significantly noisier.
There is also the UDP-205 that provides some swanky high-end features and uprated specifications for an eye-watering £1,400. Both players are expensive, and it might be hard to justify for non-videophiles to shell out a lot of money on a device that just ultimately plays 4K UHD Blu-ray films. However, those looking for every single feature under the sun, the Oppo UDP-203 and 205 are the way to go.
Read our full Oppo UDP-203 review for details
Specs - Maximum resolution: 3,840 x 2,160, UHD Upscaling: Yes, Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Ethernet, 3D support: Yes, Dimensions: 430 x 311 x 79mm, Weight: 4.3 kg.
Panasonic DMP-UB900: A great value 4K UHD Blu-ray player
Price when reviewed:£600
While we thought the DMP-UB900 was a great buy at £600, it’s now even better value – you can now find it for below the £400 mark. Its sleek design combines with a friendly user interface to make for a highly capable player. One nice touch is that as the Panasonic has built-in support for Amazon Prime video and Netflix, you can watch HDR10 content straight away. In fact, the only reason you’d choose the Oppo UDP-203 over the Panasonic, is if you were looking for Dolby Vision HDR support and aren’t swayed by the Oppo’s long list of videophile-friendly features.
Read our full Panasonic DMP-UB900 review for details
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Specs- Maximum resolution: 3,840 x 2,160, UHD Upscaling: Yes, Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Ethernet, 3D support: Yes, Dimensions: 435 x 199 x 68mm, Weight: 2.4 kg.
Samsung UBD-K8500: The cheapest standalone 4K UHD Blu-ray player on the market
Price when reviewed:£430
When we first looked at the Samsung UBD-K8500, we found it to be a capable player that competed with the Panasonic DMP-UB900, a player that was £160 dearer at the time of writing. Now the UBD-K8500 can be found for £230, it’s the cheapest standalone 4K UHD Blu-ray player on the market. It might have very limited connectivity, and have an unattractive design that comes without a display, but it’s still a player that’ll output a good image and sound. If you want a small step-up over the Xbox One S and don’t need the extra gaming features the Microsoft console provides, the Samsung UBD-K8500 is a great choice.
Read our full Samsung UBD-K8500 review for details
Specs - Maximum resolution: 3,840 x 2,160, UHD Upscaling: Yes, Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Ethernet, 3D support: Yes, Dimensions: 405 x 44.7 x 230 mm, Weight: 1.9 kg.
LG UP970: A slim 4K UHD Blu-ray player for sensible money
Price when reviewed:£330
If you’re looking for a slim, affordable standalone player that’ll get the job done, then this is a solid choice. The LG UP970 is a slim, low-profile player that packs in in-built streaming apps, such as Netflix and Amazon Video, and the only downside is that it has limited inputs and outputs, which means it isn’t ideal for aspiring videophiles who are looking to build a serious home cinema surround sound setup. At this price bracket, though, it’s good to see support for both HDR10 and Dolby Vision HDR.
Specs - Maximum resolution: 3,840 x 2,160, UHD Upscaling: Yes, Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Ethernet, 3D support: Yes, Dimensions: 430 x 205 x 43 mm, Weight: 1.63 kg.
