Is 4K Blu-ray dead?
Daniel Foster
Published Apr 28, 2026
Is 4K Blu-ray dead?
4K movies from Netflix and Ultra HD Blu-ray discs aren’t the same quality. From improved picture and sound quality, to the joys of curating a movie collection on a lounge shelf, physical media like Blu-rays still have a valid place in even the most connected smart home.
Is it worth it to buy a 4K Blu-Ray player?
Even at a heavy price point and no special features, if you’re looking to see these movies at the best they’ve ever looked, then the 4K is worth the investment even if (like me) you had already purchased the trilogy on DVD and then Blu-ray.
Does Blu-ray have a future?
From a resolution perspective, the Blu-ray standard is also outdated. Officially only supporting 1080p video, it will soon disappear, as most optical storage will now start using h. 264 or h. 265 encodings at 10 bit, with HDR and wide color gamut; at 4k (2160p) resolutions.
Will 4K replace Blu-ray?
UltraHD Blu-ray do not necessarily replace Blu-ray, they simply are a higher resolution form of Blu-ray, so regular Blu-ray discs will playback just fine on a 4k UltraHD Blu-ray player (i.e. you can use both discs in an UltraHD Blu-ray player).
Who are the manufacturers of Blu ray players?
After the withdrawal of Samsung, the Blu-ray player market will now be dominated by Sony and Panasonic. Sony, above all, because the Playstation can also play Blu-ray. The fact that current models of the Xbox Blu-ray can also play movies (after the aberrations with the HD DVD) does not make the market any easier, especially for Panasonic.
Is the Blu ray player still up to date?
This announcement is particularly remarkable because Samsung produced the first 4K capable Blu-ray player about two years ago! Therefore, the fundamental question is whether a Blu-ray player is still up to date at all.
Which is a better alternative to Blu ray?
Conclusion: Netflix, Amazon Prime & Co. offers are now simply a better alternative to Blu-ray. And further manufacturers are about to leave the Blu-ray market. The next Xbox from Microsoft will probably no longer have an optical drive.
Is the Blu-ray still the Non Plus Ultra?
Of course, a Blu-ray is still the non plus ultra, especially for audio and picture enthusiasts. No other medium currently allows such good picture and sound quality. All streaming services, for example, reduce picture and sound to the smallest possible size to save bandwidth.
Are there any new Blu ray players coming out?
Thanks to the rise of streaming, Samsung is discontinuing its Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray player lines. That’s lousy news for people who love older TV shows and movies.
Who are the leading manufacturers of Blu ray players?
Blu-ray is dead. It’s not often that an industry’s leading OEM quits, but that’s what Samsung has done. Samsung had 37 percent of the market, followed by Sony at 31 percent and LG at 13 percent, according to market research firm NPD Group. On Amazon, Samsung had four of Amazon’s 10 best-selling Blu-ray players including the most popular model.
Is there going to be an end to Blu ray?
The end of Blu-ray. Thanks to the rise of streaming, Samsung is discontinuing its Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray player lines.
When was the first Blu-ray Disc player released?
Samsung has powered-up its Smart TV experience with a ‘One Remote’ control and an upgraded voice recognition feature that will allow consumers to use smart features more smartly, says its development team. Over 10 years ago, Samsung released the first commercial Blu-ray video disc player.