In the last year or so, there's been a big increase in the amount of support for 4K Ultra HD resolutions. That is, a resolution of 3840x2160, four times more than standard HD (hence the “Ultra HD” part of the name).

It's been pushed by providers like Netflix, giving the consumer a wealth of content to watch in this glorious definition. For example, some Netflix original shows, 'Stranger Things' and 'Narcos,' are filmed in 4K UHD. Outwith Netflix, some recent films, like 'The Revenant,' have been released on Blu-ray in 4K UHD.

To get the most out of shows and films like these, the first thing you will need is a 4K-ready TV. But in addition to this, buying the best 4K Blu-ray player is instrumental in helping you play 4K UHD content.

All of the models on this list support 4K UHD in some way, and will go well with the 4K TV of your choice. In addition, most of them also support High Dynamic Range picture quality, allowing for the best, most life-like color and contrast.

Despite them all having these basic qualities, they all have individual features, and it's important that you find the best 4K Blu-ray player for yourself. We can hopefully help you do that with this list.

Top-Rated 4K Blu-Ray Players

Best 4K Blu-Ray Player Reviews

1. Sony UBP-X800 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player (2017 Model)

The most up-to-date model on this list, the Sony UBP-X800 offers everything one might expect from a Blu-ray player in terms of visual resolution. But it also strives for the perfect audio experience, coming with the high-quality Dolby Atmos and DTS:X object-based surround sound systems.

It also supports Hi-Res Audio, to match the high quality of the visual side of things. The UBP-X800 also supports a wide range of disc and file formats, claiming to play “almost any.” For this reason, it may be worth considering if you are planning on playing various types of video files on your new Blu-ray player.

Features at a Glance:

2. Xbox One S

Though not a Blu-ray player as its primary function, the Xbox One S holds up fairly well against other devices built solely for video-watching. It's the only games console that supports 4K UHD video, so if you want something multi-functional, this might be the best 4K Blu-ray player for you.

In addition to supporting 4K UHD, the Xbox One S's use of High Dynamic Range translates into the gaming experience as well, meaning games look a lot nicer than they might otherwise.

While it may not have some of the more intricate features of the dedicated Blu-ray players on this list, it functions well as both a games console and a Blu-ray player and must be given props for that.

Features at a Glance:

3. Sony BDPS6700 4K 3D Streaming Blu-Ray Disc Player

As the “upscaling” part of the name may suggest, one of the Sony BDPS6700's draws is its ability to bring lower-quality video to a higher quality. For example, Blu-ray to near-4K quality, or non-HD DVDs to close to HD quality.

This is pretty commendable, as even if it does not support full 4K UHD video, it comes pretty close to it.

It also has Miracast built in, allowing you to mirror the screen of any Android device, which is pretty handy for streaming from your phone or tablet, or if you simply want to look at Facebook on your TV (in HD).

Features at a Glance:

4. Philips BDP7501 4K Ultra HD Wi-Fi Blu-Ray Player

Like the BDPS6700, the Philips BDP7501 also has an upscaling feature, but is built on a platform specifically designed for 4K UHD, and for that reason has the edge on the other product. This platform also ensures forwards-compatibility thanks to its decoders and compatibility with HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2.

Getting a bit more technical, it also has 100 Mbps peak bit-rate, which in layman's terms means you will be able to see things in better detail when watching a fast-paced scene in a film or TV show, for example, one with lots of action.

This is a pretty technically astounding machine that allows for the best picture and color quality possible.

Features at a Glance:

5. Samsung UBD-K8500 3D Wi-Fi 4K Blu-Ray Player

In addition to supporting 4K UHD video, the Samsung UBD-K8500 also features HD audio. Though not as up-to-date as the Hi-Res Sony UBP-X800, its Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD system matches the Dolby sound integrations of many the other players on this list, so it's pretty competent regarding sound.

Design-wise, it's designed to aesthetically match with Samsung SUHD TVs, which might be something to consider if you are a fan of Samsung products in general. It may not have the upscaling of the Philips BDPS7501, but it's still a pretty solid choice for a 4K Blu-ray player.

Features at a Glance:

6. Panasonic DMP-BDT270 Smart Network 4K 3D Blu-Ray Player

In addition to the upscaling feature noted in earlier products, the Panasonic DMP-BDT270 also can convert 2D video to 3D, which is pretty neat.

It also has Miracast built in, so like the BDPS6700 mobile devices can be cast onto your TV screen.

In addition to this, the DMP-BDT270 can access content that stored on external hard drives. This means that, similar to the set-ups that have USB slots, the DMP-BDT270 can play this content directly, but the external hard drives allow for a higher capacity of content.

Features at a Glance:

Conclusion

And there you have it, the summation of some of the best 4K Blu-ray players out there at the moment. They are all pretty similar, and all of them bar the Sony BDPS6700 support nearly any 4K Ultra HD video (and even the BDPS6700 is somewhere close to that).

But the subtle differences noted here, and all these products' individual features should help you come to some sort of decision as to what you would like to spend your money on. Whether you are more interested in gaming, mirroring mobile devices, or upscaling older, low-quality videos to today's standards, I am sure this list will help you find the best 4K Blu-ray player that suits your needs.