If you have a massive collection of DVDs gathering dust, or your old DVD player has finally given up the ghost, our pick of the best DVD players is exactly what you need to get movie nights going again.

After all, streaming services are all well and good, but there's something in the nostalgia of putting a proper disc into a player - not to mention that you can't always rely on streaming services having the movies or old TV shows you want to watch.

We do have to mention here that most DVD players are getting a little long in the tooth now - most manufacturers stopped making them years ago in preference for Blu-ray players - a couple of which I have included here. That's because they're often not that much more expensive, and give you the flexibility to being able to play back full HD and 4K discs too - while still being backwards compatible with older DVD discs.

Of course, if you have a movie collection that's only made up of DVDs and you have an older TV that couldn't make the most of the picture improvements a Blu-ray player can offer anyway, then you will save a bit of money by keeping it simple. Just be aware of the lack of futureproofing offered by these devices now, and if your budget has some flex, consider where your money might best be spent.

Our Top Pick: Best DVD Players

Sony DVPSR510H
Sony DVPSR510H
1. Best DVD player overall

A simple but great DVD player that offer HDMI connectivity.

Pros
  • Good, compact design
  • Strong picture performance
  • Good connectivity
  • Plays back CDs
Cons
  • Complicated remote
  • Occasionally slow load times

Sony, as you'll tell from this list, makes some of the best DVD players you can buy. This is a solid choice, that offers 1080p upscaling, CD playback and an HDMI connection for connecting to newer TVs, that you won't find in some cheaper models.

You won't get any smart functionality here, but at this price what you're looking for is a good design and solid picture playback. You can tick the boxes on both with this player, and the compact footprint also makes it easy to squeeze onto the busiest of TV stands.

There are also nice touches like parental controls, to stop children opening the DVD tray mid-movie. The remote is perhaps a bit fiddly though, with smaller-than-ideal buttons, and sometimes load times are a little on the long side. But for a model that's been going for over 10 years, this is a fantastic player that will do good by your DVD collection.

Sony DVPSR210P DVD Player
Sony DVPSR210P
2. Best DVD player on a budget

Super affordable

This is a really impressive DVD player from Sony, offering all the basics in an inexpensive and sleek package.

Pros
  • Super affordable
  • Up to 1080p resolution
  • Easy to use
Cons
  • No HDMI input
  • Slightly flimsy design

This sleek DVD player from Sony is one step down from our top pick, and looks just as good, with a glossy front and super compact design. Best of all, it's really affordable and offers a solid performance for the price.

It'll work with both DVDs and CDs, so if you hook up a sound system you could have a multi-use box. Unfortunately, it won't play Blu-rays though - as is the case with its big brother - so your collection will have to be a little older to make the most from this player.

There's an included remote for easy controls, and it's simple to get it controlling your TV as well, making for an easy-to-use package. However, there is no HDMI input, so you will need an older RCA connection - which shouldn't be a problem for older TVs.

Panasonic DVD-S700 copy
Panasonic DVD-S700
3. Best DVD player for versatility

Solid pick

A quality DVD player from a trusted name that won't empty your wallet.

Pros
  • Clean design
  • Clear images thanks to oversampling
  • Great for music too
Cons
  • Can be unstable in playback

The Panasonic DVD-S700 Player gives you smooth viewing without any trouble, with a dustproof design that helps counter any sort of household negligence that could cause the player to malfunction.

Thanks to some nifty tech, it offers playback up to 1080p, which is pretty much par for the course for DVD players these days.

It will even let you rip your favourite music onto discs, keeping a hard copy for when the internet goes down. Some users have noted that this player struggles with multi-region discs, with some drop outs during playback, so do bear that in mind if your DVD collection is international.

Sony S6700
Sony BDP-S6700
4. Best DVD player for futureproofing

Superb performance

Alongside playing DVDs at their best possible quality, you can use this to turn your TV smart.

Pros
  • Potential for 4K visuals
  • Turns your TV Smart
  • Fast loading
Cons
  • Pricier than many
  • Noisy playback

The Sony BDP-S6700 is a Blu-ray and DVD player, so if you've realised your setup might benefit from a bit more functionality then this player could offer it.

First off, it basically turns your TV into a Smart TV. Which, for some of us who don't already have that functionality, is actually pretty nifty. So, that means it connects to Wi-Fi and allows you to browse your favourite sites and streaming services.

Some downsides are that it's a fair bit more expensive than simpler DVD players, and it is fairly noisy during playback, which can get distracting. But if you're looking for a great player that'll make your old discs look good as new, as well as play nicely with newer ones, we think this is a great choice.

LG BP350 copy
LG BP350 Blu-Ray Disc Player
5. Best DVD player for upscaling

Straightforward quality

$79.99 $99.99 Save $20

A top quality and stylish DVD player that plays both DVDs and Blu-Rays.

Pros
  • Full HD upscaling
  • External hard drive playback
  • Compact size
  • Plays Blu-rays too
Cons
  • No audio jacks for surround sound systems
  • Out of date remote controller
  • Wi-fi can be patchy

This LG BP350 can playback both Blu-rays and DVDs, meaning you should find your whole collection served and futureproofed by this super-compact player.

Its muted style will blend in nicely in your lounge too, only coming to life when you need it. It supports up to 1080p natively, and will upscale lower quality video too. There's an HDMI cable in the box, so you are all sorted on that front as well.

One potential major drawback is the fact that it doesn't have the audio jacks to connect to a surround sound system, if you have one. We also have seen a lot of owners mentioning patchy Wi-Fi playback, meaning that some of the built-in streaming apps can be hit and miss on reliability. If possible, plan to hardwire this to your router via ethernet, if you want to make use of this functionality.

How we chose the best DVD players

With new DVD players being rarely released now, I took to the internet to read hundred of user reviews, combining that with mine and the team's knowledge and experience of the brands featured, consider things like it overall performance, features, reliability and value.

Should I buy a DVD player?

If you have an older disc collection made up mostly of DVDs instead of Blu-rays, then you may save yourself a little bit of money by opting for a simple DVD player. However, even Blu-ray players can be picked up reasonably cheaply now, and will give you the flexibility to build your movie collection in the future too. That's because DVD players cannot play Blu-rays, but Blu-ray players can play DVDs. Blu-ray players will also offer better upscaling technology to make your DVDs look better, so it's worth considering which is going to suit your situation better, both now and in the future.

What should I consider when buying a DVD player?

On the whole, DVD players are very simple and low on bells and whistles, but there are still a few important factors to think about. For example, do you want it to connect to the internet, and would you like it to have a smart interface for streaming services? Also check that it has the connections you need to hook it up to your TV - not all have HDMI ports so do double check first if you have a newer TV.