While online streaming certainly has the popular vote, those seeking the absolute pinnacle of quality will still be sticking with physical media.

Blu-ray discs give your entertainment a big leap forward in terms of picture quality, taking things from SD to HD and even 4K UHD. However, while picking up a dedicated box may seem like a simple way to get the most out of your collection, there's plenty to understand before you buy as not all Blu-ray players are created equally.

Some will come with the ability to upscale DVDs, others stick to the very basics and a select few double up as a streaming box. It can get a little twisted, so to help you avoid getting stung, we've detailed some of the top Blu-ray players right here.

Panasonic DP-UB820-K
Panasonic DP-UB820EB-K
1. Best Blu-ray player overall
$424.95 $499.99 Save $75.04

High fidelity 4K performance, Dolby Vision support and HDR optimisation, all for a reasonable price.

Pros
  • Excellent HDR optimisation
  • Analogue 7.1 output
  • Superb audio delivery
Cons
  • No support for DVD-A or SACD

Home to many of the features of Panasonic's flagship DP-UB9000 but at less than half the price; we think the DP-UB820EB is the best purchase for those looking to get serious with their Blu-Ray experience.

Panasonic's impressive HCX (Hollywood Cinema Experience) processor optimises HDR content, taking into account the brightness limitations of your screen to deliver the best possible results.

Audio performance is impressive, too, with support for all the latest spatial formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD Master Audio.

Sony BDP-BX370
Sony BDP-S3700
2. Best smart Blu-ray player

An excellent Blu-ray player for those who also want streaming powers.

Pros
  • Multi-region playback
  • Affordable price
  • Smart features
Cons
  • No support for Prime Video

Sony's BDP-S3700 sits more in the mid-range, offering the bonus of being able to operate like a streaming box, not just a simple Blu-ray player.

You're able to stream 1080p HD quality using Wi-Fi, or by casting from mobile devices, and those with more of an extensive DVD collection will also see their movies or shows upscaled, too.

Just be aware that while you can access plenty of the most popular streaming services through the Wi-Fi, Amazon Prime Video is currently not available.

Sony UBP-X700
Sony UBP-X700
3. HDR Blu-ray player

A top pick for those who want to experience the rush of 4K HDR.

Pros
  • HDR10 and Dolby Vision support
  • Access to 4K streaming services
  • Good connectivity options
Cons
  • UI can sometimes feel sluggish

Sony's high-end UBP-X700 takes things a step further than much of the competition, acting as a home for DVD and Blu-ray discs (regular and 4K Ultra HD), as well as offering streaming capabilities over Wi-Fi.

Everything you watch is upscaled to 4K, with HDR10 and Dolby Vision also working to give you the best possible picture - even for those watching on non-HDR TVs.

It's perhaps overkill for people looking for a simple Blu-ray player, but those who want something that can deliver the highest quality available right now needn't look any further.

LG BP250
LG BP250
4. Region-free Blu-ray player

A budget-friendly pick that's ideal for most Blu-ray owners.

Pros
  • Full HD upscaling for DVDs
  • External HDD compatibility
  • Compact design
Cons
  • No display on the unit itself

If you just want a place to play your Blu-ray discs without spending over the odds, LG's budget BP250 is the one to consider.

There are absolutely no bells or whistles here, which is to be expected for the price, but it does handle the basics with ease. Plus, this one's region-free, so you can enjoy international titles with ease.

You won't get the ability to play 4K options, and the BP250 doesn't double up as a streaming box, but it's one of the most cost-effective choices out there for people who just want a home for their discs.

Panasonic DP-UB420
Panasonic DP-UB420
5. Excellent 4K Blu-ray player
$219.99 $249.99 Save $30

An excellent player for those with a wide 4K Blu-ray collection.

Pros
  • 4K HDR playback
  • HDR10+, HLG and Dolby Atmos support
  • Dual-band Wi-Fi for 4K streaming
Cons
  • No Dolby Vision support

The cheaper cousin of our top player, Panasonic's DP-UB420 offers plenty of functionality at a more wallet-friendly price.

It's able to support HDR10 playback, 4K UHD for your compatible Blu-ray discs, and it can even upscale SD DVDs, giving you a wide range of choices from your library.

You still get dual-band Wi-Fi and access to all of the top streaming services, the main thing you lose out on is Dolby Vision support, and you get fewer audio connectors, which may or may not matter depending on your TV setup.

How we chose these Blu-ray players

We consider many factors before adding a Blu-ray player to our guide and the most important is audio-visual quality. Blu-ray discs still offer an advantage over streaming, with both picture quality and surround sound decoding, so we've only chosen top players that will reflect this. Of course, reliability and value for money also play into our decisions.

You won't find any cheap no-name brands on this page, just quality products from the best Blu-ray player manufacturers in the business. We've relied on expert opinions, as well as consumer feedback, to help make our selections, so you can rest assured that every product on this page is a quality piece of equipment.

How to choose a Blu-ray player

There are loads of Blu-ray players on the market, all flaunting different features and at a wide range of price points. With such a variety of players to choose from it can be easy to get overwhelmed. So, to help you find the perfect player for your setup, here are a few things worth considering.

Do you need HD or UHD?

If you don't have a 4K TV, then there is little benefit in going with a UHD Blu-ray player. Sticking with an HD player can save you a serious chunk of change, too.

However, if you have plans to upgrade to 4K, or if you're already invested, then UHD is clearly the way to go.

Will you use smart features?

Many of our top picks have some level of smart functionality, allowing you to stream content from services like Netflix, YouTube and Prime Video.

While these features are nice to have, most TVs, set-top boxes and consoles already have the same services available, which could make them redundant.

So, unless there's a particular service that's missing from your current setup, it's often wise to ignore the smart features in favour of picture quality or audio fidelity.

What about surround sound?

One of the best things about watching Blu-ray movies is the wide range of surround sound codecs available. If you'll be using your Blu-ray player as part of a surround sound system, then you'll want to pay particular attention to the audio decoding on offer, as well as the connectivity.

Some of the players on our list have full 7.1 analogue output for compatibility with older or more niche AV equipment. Many will have optical audio output too, though most modern AV receivers will be best used with an HDMI connection.