I’ve been thinking about buying a good 4K Blu-ray player for a while now. Here at IGN we regularly cover new 4K movie releases, and I myself have started my own modest collection. As I was browsing Labor Day sales this week looking for a discount, I was unpleasantly surprised by what I found.
I knew a dedicated 4K player was going to be an expensive purchase, but it seems it’s gotten even more expensive this year specifically. Prices have skyrocketed on some brands, while some of the best Blu-ray players IGN has been recommending for years are just completely out of stock. It’s apparently not the best time to be buying a 4K Blu-ray player.
So what exactly is going on here? Why is there suddenly such a high demand for these seemingly niche devices? Well, the most plausible answer can be found in the market for physical media. There was a bit of a resurgence in the 4K Blu-ray market last year, with the 4K category actually seeing growth for the first time in years. Fast forward to this year, and actually owning your media is becoming quite popular again across multiple generations. Even Pokémon is cashing in on the upward trend in 2026.
More people buying 4K and Blu-ray discs doesn’t necessarily translate to more Blu-ray players being manufactured. On top of that, the fact that Sony has made the decision to go entirely digital by 2028 has only exacerbated the problem. For many folks, a PlayStation 5 or an Xbox Series X was an easy way to access their 4K collection. With console prices rising and the need to purchase a disc drive separately, a dedicated 4K Blu-ray player is still the most affordable option right now.
Like any economic market, high-demand and low supply is going to mean higher prices. Panasonic and Sony are two of the only companies still making 4K players for average consumers, and unlike TVs, they rarely release new models. Popular 4K players like the Panasonic DP-UB9000 and the Sony UBP-X700M have been around for years and were the first to start going out of stock this year.
Sony UBP-X700M
For a feature-rich Blu-ray player offering 4K, Wi-Fi, and HDR, look no further than the Sony UBP-X700M.
All-in-all, it’s not a very good time to buy a 4K Blu-ray player at a good price. Considering the upward trend of 4K movies, I’d expect Blu-ray players to eventually become more of a commodity item in the next few years as new companies flood the market. Until then, don’t expect prices to drop at all.
With that being said, right now is a good time to buy 4K Blu-ray discs. Major retailers are regularly discounting movies and box sets throughout the year and you can usually find a great price if you’re patient. If you already have a way to play 4K discs, it’s a great time to be a collector.
Jacob Kienlen is a Senior Audience Development Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor’s degree in communication and 10 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different pop culture topics — from TV series to books and the latest LEGO sets.
