Category: Video Games

The best Blu-ray players let you watch the best movies and TV shows in the comfort of your own home and at the highest possible quality this side of a movie theater. While you can easily stream content via streaming services on the latest smart TVs, Blu-Ray players offer a higher level of detail and a more immersive experience. If you’re a collector, it’s also great fun collecting and organizing Blu-Ray discs.

TL;DR – These are the Best Blu-Ray Players

• Panasonic DP-UB9000
• Sony UBP-X700
• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series X
• Sony BDP-BX370

Choosing the best Blu-Ray player can be tricky if you don’t know what you’re looking for. If you’re on a budget, you may feel overwhelmed by the choices, or if you’re searching for the ultimate home entertainment devices, you’ll want the best out there.

The Best Blu-Ray Players:

1. Panasonic DP-UB9000

Best Blu-Ray Player

Pros:

• Excellent image quality
• HDR support

Cons:

• Very expensive

If you’re ready to splurge on the best Blu-Ray player, you won’t be disappointed by the Panasonic DP-UB9000. This premium package all major HDR formats including HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision.

Thinking about upgrading your home entertainment system? You’ll want this in your collection. Not only does it boast excellent image quality, but it also produces some seriously good audio thanks to its DAC, 7.1 audio channel, and two-channel outputs.

Turn the Blu-Ray player around and you’re met with tons of input and output options. This is the best Blu-Ray player on the market if it’s in your budget.

2. Sony UBP-X700M

Best 4K Blu-Ray Player

Pros:

• Decent picture
• Dolby Vision support

Cons:

• No HDR10+ support

Investing in a decent Blu-Ray player that doesn’t cost the Earth can be challenging. But the Sony UBP-X700M hits the sweet spot by offering a more affordable way into the world of Blu-Ray while maintaining decent specs and features. Despite its low price point, you still get 4K and premium audio quality.

You aren’t sacrificing an awful lot; yes, there’s no HDR10+ support, but there’s still HDR10 and the player can handle 24bit/192kHz files and multiple formats. Throw in some smart features and dual HDMI outputs, and you’ve got yourself a winner.

3. PlayStation 5

Best Game Console with Blu-Ray Player

Pros:

• Doubles up as a game console
• Atmos and DTS:X passthrough

Cons:

• Overkill for a Blu-Ray player

Gamers will love the PlayStation 5 and could definitely consider it one of the best Blu-Ray players since it doubles up as a game console. With 4K Blu-Ray support, you can play your favorite games and movies on the same device. And while it doesn’t support Dolby Vision over HDR like the Xbox Series X, it can pass Dolby Atmos via your TV and deliver outstanding picture quality.

The PlayStation 5 upscales HD Blu-Ray discs naturally and offers clean, sharp images when playing movies and TV shows. It’s fun for all the family too. Not only does the PlayStation 5 allow you to play games, but there are loads of apps you can install, including the likes of Netflix, YouTube, and other streaming services.

4. Xbox Series X

Best Alternative for Home Entertainment

Pros:

• Great for families
• HDR10

Cons:

• Not as good as the PS5

If you’ve decided you’re going to use your game console as a Blu-Ray player, the only real conundrum you’ll have is choosing between the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. While the PlayStation 5 does tip the scales in favor of image quality, the Xbox Series X supports Dolby Vision HDR from streaming services.

Put this alongside Dolby Atmos audio, and you’ve got an entire home entertainment system for you and your family. Plus, if you invest a small amount each month on the Xbox Game Pass, there are plenty of games you can enjoy for free. You may have to suffer a small dip in 4K image quality and HD upscaling compared to the PlayStation 5, but unless you’re paying extra special attention and comparing them side by side, you won’t notice the differences too much.

5. Sony BDP-BX370

Best Budget Blu-Ray Player

Pros:

• Good value for money
• User-friendly

Cons:

• 1080p

Sometimes all you need is a Blu-Ray player that will play your discs, display decent image quality and audio, and have none of the frills more expensive models offer. That’s what the Sony BDP-BX370 does well. It’s limited to 1080p, but in full HD, this might be what you’re after. If you have older DVDs lying around, it also upscales DVDs to near-HD quality.

With support for screen mirroring from your phone, this Blu-Ray player offers more than you might expect. It’s incredibly easy to set up too thanks to the included HDMI cable and super quick start mode.

If you are looking for an affordable Blu-Ray player, Sony does not let the side down. It’s simple, effective, and will look great in any home.

How To Choose the Best Blu-Ray Player

Choosing the best Blu-Ray player can enhance your home entertainment experience by delivering stunning picture quality and immersive audio. When selecting a Blu-Ray player, it’s essential to consider certain features and specifications to ensure that it meets your needs.

Let’s look at it this way; if you were stood in a shop deciding between two Blu-Ray players, the first thing you’re going to want to prioritize is picture quality. At the very least, you want HD playback, but if you want a future-proof device, opt for 4K UHD, as well as features like HDR support.

Next up is audio quality. If you’re adding to your home entertainment setup, support for audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X adds to the immersive experience. On a similar note, you’ll want to consider what connectivity options the Blu-Ray player offers, like HDMI, digital audio outputs, USB, and so on. If you have a projector at home, a smart TV, or something else, your new Blu-Ray player has to be compatible.

While streaming apps and smart features aren’t the be-all and end-all, these things are nice to have. If you are faced with two similar Blu-Ray players, having Netflix built-in or smart capabilities might tip the scales.

Upcoming Blu-Ray Players

There are no significant upcoming Blu-Ray players or planned releases, but it does look like there may be new ones at some point. Blu-Rays are having somewhat of a resurgence thanks to film studios and filmmakers investing resources into specific Blu-Ray releases. These are mostly targeted at collectors, or users who enjoy purchasing limited edition discs. This might, however, turn the tide on the Blu-Ray market.

Blu-Ray Player FAQ

Are Blu-Ray Players Still Worth Buying?

Blu-Ray players are a great addition to movie night. While it’s easy to stream movies and such directly from services like Netflix, you don’t get the same level of image and audio quality as you do from a high-end Blu-Ray player.

Some Blu-Ray players are also lightweight enough that they become more portable. For example, if you’ve booked a stay at an Airbnb with the family, some extra entertainment might prove useful.

Can You Play Blu-Ray Discs on a Normal DVD Player?

Blu-Ray discs only work on Blu-Ray players. You couldn’t put a Blu-Ray disc into a DVD player or CD player. The formats are different and therefore require specific drives to play them.

What Are the Advantages of a Blu-Ray Player?

Blu-Ray discs can hold large amounts of data. Not only are Blu-ray players great for the home, they are also great in workplaces. But, aside from being useful, Blu-ray players offer excellent sound and picture quality.

With many people opting to ditch Blu-Ray discs and move to online streaming services, Blu-Rays can often be picked up relatively cheaply. And if you invest in something like a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, you can enjoy games as well as movies and TV shows on the same device.

Kegan is an avid gamer who has been playing games since his Atari days. From a young age Kegan was tinkering with PCs and now has a passion for building custom gaming computers.

Expanding your Xbox Series X storage with the best external SSDs can be a cheaper option than investing in an official expansion card. You may also find external SSDs offer larger storage capacity options, making them more suitable for a wider range of gamers.

Since the Xbox Series X comes with 1TB of storage, but only around 800GB is usable, you’ll likely want to invest in an external SSD to store more of your installed games. Once installed, you can get back in on the action faster.

TL;DR – These are the Best External SSDS for Xbox Series X:

• WD Black P50 Game Drive
• Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD
• Crucial X8
• Adata SE800
• Crucial X6

WD Black P50 Game Drive

Best External SSD for Xbox Series X

Capacity: 1TB | Interface: USB 3.2 | Max Transfer Speed: 2,000MB/s | Weight: 0.25 pounds | Size: 4.65″ x 2.44″ x 0.55″

Pros

• Durable design
• Fast transfer speeds

Cons

• Expensive

With speeds of up to 2,000MB/s, the WD Black P50 Game Drive is one of the best external SSDs for the Xbox Series X. It might be expensive, but the investment is worth it if you can get past the cost.

Utilizing a USB 3.2 interface, you can easily plug this external SSD into your Xbox Series X and install plenty of your Xbox games straight onto it. Plus, if you want to transport it to a friend’s house or for any other purpose, its shock-resistant design adds extra durability.

The WD Black P50 Game Drive is compatible with a wide range of devices, so not only can you expand your Xbox Series X’s storage, you can use it on your PS5, PC, Mac, and more.

Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD

Best Rugged SSD for Xbox Series X

Capacity: 4TB | Interface: USB 3.2 | Max Transfer Speed: 1,000MB/s | Weight: 0.21 pounds | Size: 3.39″ x 2.24″ x 0.49″

Pros

• Great value for money
• Up to 4TB of storage

Cons

• Slower read/write speeds

This external SSD for the Xbox Series X is water, dust, and drop resistant. It’s a great companion if you travel a lot and use your external SSD for more than your Xbox games. It also comes in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB storage capacities, giving you plenty of options when choosing the best external SSD.

With an IP65 rating, the Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD is a reliable drive that won’t let you down. You can store all the games you want on this portable SSD and still have room for more. It’s compatible with other devices too, thanks to its USB 3.2 interface.

However, if you are using it to transfer lots of data between other devices, you may notice slower transfer speeds compared to the likes of the WD Black P50 Game Drive.

Crucial X8

Best Portable SSD for Xbox Series X

Capacity: 1TB | Interface: USB 3.2 | Max Transfer Speed: 1,050MB/s | Weight: 0.22 pounds | Size: 4.33″ x 2.09″ x 0.45″

Pros

• Affordable
• Variety of capacities

Cons

• Slower read/write speeds

This pocket-sized SSD is great for the Xbox Series X thanks to its small form factor and storage capacity options. It works with a range of devices, so you can make use of its storage across your PC, Mac, PS5, and so on. Like the Samsung T7 Shield, the Crucial X8 is also dropproof, and can withstand extreme temperatures.

The speeds are a little slower, but if you want to store your Xbox Series X games in one place, this is a handy and affordable way to do it. And with a 500GB option available too, you can save yourself even more money.

If you’re concerned about speed, you could always use the Crucial X8 to store the games you play the least, but still want installed.

Adata SE800

Best Compact SSD for Xbox Series X

Capacity: 2TB | Interface: USB 3.2 | Max Transfer Speed: 2,000MB/s | Weight: 0.24 pounds | Size: 2.55″ x 1.38″ x 0.48″

Pros

• High read/write speeds
• Ultra compact

Cons

• Peak speeds require a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port

Perhaps less well-known as other brands, the Adata SE880 shouldn’t be overlooked as one of the best external SSDs for Xbox Series X. This bad boy is super compact, yet offers speeds of up to 2,000MB/s. It’s not expensive either, given that you can spend less than $150 and get 2TB of additional storage for your Xbox.

However, if you want to make use of those peak speeds, you will need to connect this SSD to a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port. Still, this is a great consideration if you want to expand your console’s storage in an affordable way. The pocket-sized SSD is easy to carry around, too, so you can use it for other purposes as well as gaming.

Crucial X6

Best Affordable SSD for Xbox Series X

Capacity: 2TB | Interface: USB 3.2 | Max Transfer Speed: 800MB/s | Weight: 0.09 pounds | Size: 2.72″ x 2.52″ x 0.43″

Pros

• Up to 4TB capacity
• Reliable and compact

Cons

• Max speeds up to 800MB/s

The Crucial X6 SSD is another affordable option if you’re looking for an external SSD for your Xbox Series X. 2TB of storage for under $100 is a bargain, with the option of spending even less on a 1TB or 500GB model. However, you do sacrifice speed, running at a max of 800MB/s.

If you want to install smaller games to your Xbox Series X, or you’re not too worried about time, then this cheaper alternative is worth considering. But, if speed is the name of the game, you might want to look at the X6’s bigger brother(s).

Compatible with USB 3.2 interfaces, you can use the Crucial X6 SSD on your PS5, PC, Mac, etc. Even if you were to purchase a more expensive external SSD for your Xbox Series X, you could always invest in one of these as a backup option.

How we picked the best external SSDs for Xbox Series X

There are lots of external SSDs that are compatible with the Xbox Series X, but that doesn’t mean they’re all suitable. When choosing the best external SSDs for the Series X, we have taken into account several factors that are incredibly important.

For starters, an external SSD for your Xbox should be fast; transferring games shouldn’t be a tall order. Similarly, reliable hard drives ensure that they won’t fail, which is imperative considering how much they cost. We’ve picked a range of external SSDs to suit every budget, so you will find some that are more portable than others, and have larger capacities than others, but they are all compatible with a USB 3.2 connection.

FAQ

Can I use any external SSD for Xbox Series X?

While you can use many different external SSDs for the Xbox Series X, you will need to find one that’s compatible and offers USB 3.0 or faster. Ideally, you’ll want one with plenty of storage space, and fast read/write speeds.

Can you play Xbox Series X games from an external SSD?

You can only play Xbox Series X games from the internal NVMe SSD. So, if you have an external SSD drive connected, you can only store games here, not launch them directly from the SSD. You can purchase an optional expansion drive for the Xbox Series X which can easily be installed, but it does come at a steep price.

How many games can I install on my Xbox?

The Xbox Series X comes with just over 800GB of usable storage. Some games, however, require over 100GB of storage when installed, but not all of them. On average, you can probably install 10+ games on the Xbox Series X before you need to consider additional storage options.

Kegan is an avid gamer who has been playing games since his Atari days. From a young age Kegan was tinkering with PCs and now has a passion for building custom gaming computers.

A developer at Avalanche Software has taken to X/Twitter to “set expectation” for the incoming Hogwarts Legacy update.

Community manager Chandler Wood told fans of the game that Avalanche’s original wording was “very intentional” when it promised “additional updates and features” back in January 2024.

“We are thrilled that you are all excited for the free update to Hogwarts Legacy this summer,” Wood said. “We love seeing all the guesses and hopes for what will be part of this update, and while we are not ready to talk about it yet, I do want to set some expectations for what we are working on.

Hi everyone! We are thrilled that you are all excited for the free update to Hogwarts Legacy this summer. We love seeing all the guesses and hopes for what will be part of this update, and while we are not ready to talk about it yet, I do want to set some expectations for…(1/2)

— Chandler Wood (@FinchStrife) March 7, 2024

“Our original wording of ‘additional updates and features for the game’ was very intentional. This update is a small way of showing appreciation to our players for the amazing reception to the game.”

It’s still very hard to determine what the new content might be, as implementing “additional updates and features” could essentially mean anything, but Wood is seemingly trying to let Hogwarts Legacy fans know that a major expansion or anything too complex or vast is on the way.

Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PC players will at least be getting a new mission, however, as content previously exclusive to PlayStation is arriving alongside the extra content coming to all platforms. This includes the Haunted Hogsmeade quest which, upon completion, grants access to the Hogsmeade Shop as well as the Shopkeeper cosmetic set.

Hogwarts Legacy was the bestselling game in the U.S. in 2023 and sold 22 million copies worldwide. Its success has been mixed with controversy due to its connection to Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling though, who has been outspoken in her anti-transgender views.

In our 9/10 review, IGN said: “In almost every way, Hogwarts Legacy is the Harry Potter role-playing game [we’ve] always wanted to play.”

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.