Sony just killed its last 4K Blu-ray player — here are 3 remaining alternatives

Sony has announced the discontinuation of its last 4K Blu-ray player, the UBP-X700/K. The decision was announced on a Japanese blog and confirmed by the Sony Japan website, which states that the player is currently out of stock and will not be restocked. While the X700 is just over a year old, it was the only UHD Blu-ray player Sony sold in the market. Consequently, the future of Blu-ray players in the hands of Sony is uncertain.

However, those who still prefer physical media options have three remaining alternatives to consider. Panasonic continues to manufacture Blu-ray players, offering several models in stock on the Panasonic USA website. The budget-friendly Panasonic DP-UB15P-K retails for $299, while the high-end DP-UB820-K goes for $539 on Amazon. The middle-of-the-line DP-UB240-K, which offers better features than the UB15P and a lower price than the UB820, is currently on sale for $299 at Amazon.

The PlayStation 5, despite Sony's recent decision to stop producing physical game discs, remains a viable option for Blu-ray playback. The console supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+, but lacks a dedicated remote and is priced higher than many of the alternative Blu-ray players. The PS5 disc drive can be purchased for $649, while the PS5 Pro costs over $1,000.

Xbox Series X users can also continue to enjoy Blu-ray playback on their consoles. However, the Xbox player lacks Dolby Vision support for Blu-ray discs and has become increasingly expensive, with the 1TB disc-drive version priced at $798. The Xbox Series X is still a solid choice, offering access to the entire Xbox library, both physically and digitally, along with the Xbox controller and Game Pass subscription for additional games.