January 2025
Blu-ray Players: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of blu-ray players rankings posted by key online experts, as of January 2025.
Summary
On 9 Jan 2025, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 65 blu-ray player endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
34 blu-ray players were endorsed in total, only 12 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)
As of 9 Jan 2025, Panasonic UB820 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed blu-ray player with 6 expert endorsements. 2 experts out of 6 recommended it as the '#1 blu-ray player' this month.
Brand breakdown
-
Sony: 9 blu-ray players
(#1 is Sony UBP-X800M2)
-
Panasonic: 6 blu-ray players
(#1 is Panasonic UB820)
-
LG: 4 blu-ray players
(#1 is LG UBK90)
-
Microsoft: 2 blu-ray players
(#1 is XBox Series X)
-
Dynastar: 1 blu-ray players
(#1 is LG UBKM9)
Price breakdown
At a glance - January Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Blu-ray Player |
TechRadar
|
Fix the Photo
|
Wirecutter
|
The Master Switch
|
What Hi-Fi
|
IndieWire
|
CNET
|
Digital Trends
|
The Techlounge
|
Crutchfield
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | $386 |
Panasonic UB820
The Panasonic UB820 is a highly recommended Blu-ray player with exceptional picture quality, good audio capabilities, a variety of connectivity options, and additional features like streaming services and voice control.
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
12
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
3
|
7
|
1
|
|
2
|
- | $298 |
Sony UBP-X800M2
The Sony UBP-X800M2 is a high-quality Blu-ray player that delivers exceptional picture and audio quality, with excellent HDR support, multi-channel audio output, and versatile connectivity options.
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
2
|
1
|
-
|
|
3
|
- | $200 |
Sony UBP-X700
The Sony UBP-X700 is a highly rated and versatile 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player that offers excellent upscaling, HDR support, multi-format disc playback, and a range of connectivity options and streaming services.
|
2
|
7
|
-
|
6
|
3
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
4
|
- | Check price |
XBox Series X
The Xbox Series X is a top-notch gaming console with excellent picture and audio quality, smooth gameplay, and a comprehensive range of connectivity options, making it a great choice for gamers and entertainment enthusiasts.
|
6
|
-
|
3
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
|
5
|
- | $965 |
Panasonic DP-UB9000
The Panasonic DP-UB9000 is a high-end 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player that offers exceptional picture and audio quality, a wide range of connectivity options, and support for a variety of disc formats and streaming services.
|
3
|
1
|
-
|
9
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
6
|
- | $380 |
LG UBKM9
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
|
7
|
+1 | $258 |
Sony UBP-X700M
The Sony UBP-X700M Blu-ray player is a versatile and reliable media player that offers excellent picture and audio quality, a variety of connectivity options, and supports Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, CD, and SACD formats, making it a great choice for those with a diverse collection of discs.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
2
|
|
8
|
-1 | $75 |
Sony BDP-S3700
The Sony BDP-S3700 is a versatile and high-quality Blu-ray player that offers impressive picture and audio quality, HDR support, and a range of connectivity options, making it ideal for enhancing the home entertainment experience.
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
9
|
- | Check price |
Sony BDP-S6700
The Sony BDP-S6700 is a versatile and reliable Blu-ray player that offers impressive upscaling capabilities, strong connectivity options, and support for popular streaming services.
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
|
10
|
- | Check price |
PlayStation 5
The PlayStation 5 is a next-generation gaming console that offers impressive picture and audio quality, fast and reliable connectivity options, a customizable and intuitive user interface, and a range of additional features that enhance the overall user experience.
|
-
|
11
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
11
|
- | $248 |
Panasonic DP-UB420
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
16
|
- | Check price |
LG BP175
The LG BP175 Blu-ray player is a good option for those who want a basic player that can upgrade non-4K content to higher definition and dynamic range, with good audio output and a user-friendly interface, and the ability to play media files from a USB flash drive.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
4
|
-
|
We ranked Panasonic UB820 #1 in January 2025 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best blu-ray players” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Panasonic UB820 as #1.
The Master Switch
|
Incredible audio and picture
|
Highly technical
Streaming options don’t have 4K or HDR
|
Digital Trends
The best Blu-ray player for HDR
|
Beautiful HDR picture
Fantastic 4K upscaling
Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant
Separate HDMI and analog audio outputs
|
Expensive
No SACD support
|
The Techlounge
A Great Value For The Money
|
Super-clear image and audio
Excellent compatibility and support
Great value for the price
|
Streaming services lack 4K and HDR
Average build quality
Not that user-friendly
|
We ranked Sony UBP-X800M2 #2 in January 2025 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best blu-ray players” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Sony UBP-X800M2 as #1.
Fix the Photo
Virtually Silent
|
Dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support
High video quality
Good sound quality
Supports rare formats
|
No Dolby Vision support
No analog audio output
|
The Master Switch
Best of the Rest
|
Added support for Dolby Vision
|
Increased price doesn’t really match the feature set
|
Digital Trends
The best Blu-ray player for music
|
Very strong format support
Great specs for music and audio
Simultaneous Bluetooth transmission
|
A bit more expensive than some picks
|
The Techlounge
Amazing Video And Audio In One
|
Amazing picture quality
Support for 4K Netflix and Amazon
Great sound quality
|
There is no analog stereo output
|
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend blu-ray players.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of blu-ray players, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for January 2025 ranking
TechRadar
Fix the Photo
Wirecutter
The Master Switch
What Hi-Fi
IndieWire
CNET
Digital Trends
The Techlounge
Crutchfield
We ranked Sony UBP-X700 #3 in January 2025 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best blu-ray players” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Sony UBP-X700 as #1.
TechRadar
The best cheaper 4K Blu-ray player
|
Brilliant picture quality
Wi-Fi support in cheap player
Excellent value
|
Some frustrating settings
No HDR10+ support
Dated-looking menus
|
Fix the Photo
Easy to use remote
|
HDR 10 and Dolby Vision support
Perfect sound rendering
Compact form-factor
Small size
|
Can’t be used for streaming
A limited number of features
|
The Master Switch
Perfect for 4K Dolby Vision
|
HDR support
Great picture
|
Sound quality feels middling
|
What Hi-Fi
A brilliant 4K Blu-ray player that rivals the Panasonic in top spot.
|
Crisp, natural-looking picture
Excellent detail and colors
Dolby Vision support
|
Sound could be grander
No HDR10+ support
|
CNET
Best Dolby Vision 4K Blu-ray player
|
The Sony UBP-X700 is a compact powerhouse that offers similar performance and better features than the X800 for a $50 discount. The player includes a host of streaming options, and Dolby Vision support is forthcoming.The time it takes for the player to load Netflix is insanely fast.
|
Only supports streaming 4K HDR from YouTube. Both cheaper competitors and Sony's own X800 offer better DVD performance.
|
We ranked XBox Series X #4 in January 2025 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best blu-ray players” rankings.
TechRadar
Absolutely fine Blu-ray playback, but weaker than the PS5
|
SSD grants super-fast load times
Dolby Vision and Atmos support
Supports up to 4K/120Hz
Best-in-class backward compatibility
|
Exclusives lacking without Game Pass
Minimal UI improvements
|
The Master Switch
Best Blu-ray Player for Gamers
|
Dolby Vision compatibility puts this console over the top
|
Launch-day issues and missing features
|
CNET
Best Xbox for Blu-ray movies
|
Least expensive new Xbox since the Xbox 360
Easy app-based setup
Wide-ranging ecosystem, from cloud gaming to Game Pass
Media can stream at 4K
|
Game resolution tops out at 1440p
Loses the optical audio output
Limited next-gen game library at launch
User interface remains cluttered
|
Digital Trends
The most fun Blu-ray player
|
Very gaming-friendly
4K and HDR support
Plenty of on-board storage
|
May be more than some are willing to pay
|
We ranked Panasonic DP-UB9000 #5 in January 2025 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best blu-ray players” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Panasonic DP-UB9000 as #1.
TechRadar
The best 4K Blu-ray for home theater enthusiasts
|
Sensational image quality
Four types of HDR support
Powerful HDR display optimizer
|
No SACD or DVD-Audio playback
CD playback is acerbic
|
Fix the Photo
Our Choice
|
Four types of HDR support
Powerful display optimizer
New-generation processor
High-quality components
|
None
|
The Master Switch
|
Unbelievable picture quality
|
Can be tough to find in the US - you'll need to order from overseas
|
What Hi-Fi
The best premium 4K Blu-ray player for home cinema enthusiasts.
|
Crisp, insightful picture
Dynamic expressive sound
Good selection of features
|
No SACD or DVD-Audio support
Menu options can be confusing
|
We ranked LG UBKM9 #6 in January 2025 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best blu-ray players” rankings.
Fix the Photo
4K Content Streaming
|
Supports many audio formats
Backward compatibility
Low price
Multi-HDR support
|
Doesn’t support DTS: X
Dated design
|
The Techlounge
Solid Blu-Ray For The Money
|
Feature-rich
Dolby Vision
HDR10 compatible
Streaming ready
Good value for money
Solid Ultra HD 4K image quality
|
None really at this price
|
We ranked Sony UBP-X700M #7 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best blu-ray players” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Sony UBP-X700M as #1.
Digital Trends
The best overall Blu-ray player
|
Effective upscaling for older media
HDR10 and Dolby Vision support
Affordable
|
Not as good as some of our other Sony picks
|
We ranked Sony BDP-S3700 #8 in January 2025 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best blu-ray players” rankings.
Fix the Photo
Compact design
|
Direct access to servers
Quick performance
Simple to navigate interface
High-quality sound
|
No video indexing
No RCA outputs
|
The Master Switch
Best Blu-ray Player for Streaming
|
An intuitive
Accessible way to get digital streaming
|
You definitely miss out on some options
|
CNET
Best 1080p Blu-ray player
|
The Sony BDP-S3700 Blu-ray player demonstrates good features and performance for the money. The number of streaming apps is solid, and disc loading times are fairly respectable.
|
Entering text in apps is laggy and frustrating. The implementation of the PlayStation Now gaming app is relatively poor.
|
We ranked Sony BDP-S6700 #9 in January 2025 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best blu-ray players” rankings.
Fix the Photo
Control by smartphone
|
Powerful Wi-Fi chip
Quick streaming
High-res audio format support
Wireless sound transfer
|
Doesn’t support Bluetooth
|
The Master Switch
Best Budget Blu-ray Player Under $100
|
Strong feature set
Solid picture quality
|
Poor design
App implementation
|
The Techlounge
A Cheap,But Super-Efficient Blu-Ray Player Packed With Features
|
Great access to streaming services
Cheap
Strong image quality
|
It lacks the HDR support
Poor design
No UHD disks support
|
We ranked PlayStation 5 #10 in January 2025 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best blu-ray players” rankings.
Fix the Photo
Stylish
|
Impressive RAM
High-speed drive
Powerful CPU
A lot of accessories
|
Expensive
Weighs too much
|
The Master Switch
|
Solid picture quality
|
Lack of Dolby Vision features make this a poor choice
|
CNET
Best PlayStation for Blu-ray movies
|
Fantastic new controller
Streamlined UI puts games first
Great exclusive game lineup
Included Astro's Playroom game is fantastic
|
The bold design is borderline impractical for small spaces
Syncing up cloud saves can be a pain
I don't love the clunky-feeling plastic stand
|
We ranked Panasonic DP-UB420 #11 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best blu-ray players” rankings.
The Master Switch
A Great Player for Listening to Music
|
High-res audio support
Excellent audio quality
|
Build quality issues
|
We ranked LG BP175 #12 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best blu-ray players” rankings.
Digital Trends
The best Blu-ray player on a budget
|
Excellent price
Supports Blu-ray, DVD, and CD playback
Has built-in streaming apps
|
No Wi-Fi (Ethernet only)
No 4K Blu-ray support
No HDR support
|
The Techlounge
It Just Works!
|
Good image quality
Well implemented 1080p upscaling
Easy to use
Versatile player
Amazing value for money
|
None
|