Overview
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Oppo BDP-103
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LG BP730
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Panasonic DMP-BDT230
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Sony PlayStation 3 (2012)
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Samsung BD-F7500
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Oppo BDP-103
Bottom Line:
For a hefty price, the Oppo BDP-103 offers top-notch performance along with every feature you could want in a Blu-ray player—and then some.Pros
- Excellent performance.
- A plethora of high-end features.
- Sturdy construction.
Cons
- Very expensive.
- Many features are unnecessary for a simple home theater setup.
Learn MoreOppo BDP-103 ReviewLG BP730
Bottom Line:
With fast disc loading times and tons of features, the LG BP730 is a great Blu-ray player for your home theater.Pros
- Very fast.
- Tons of features.
- Good video processing.
Cons
- Magic Remote is tricky to get used to.
Learn MoreLG BP730 ReviewPanasonic DMP-BDT230
Bottom Line:
The Panasonic DMP-BDT230 Blu-ray player packs great performance and tons of features into an affordable package.Pros
- Lots of features.
- Fast performance.
- Inexpensive.
Cons
- Sluggish, uninspiring menu system.
Learn MorePanasonic DMP-BDT230 ReviewSony PlayStation 3 (2012)
Bottom Line:
The new Sony PlayStation 3 packs the same excellent gaming and media features and almost double the storage capacity into an even smaller case.Pros
- Smaller size.
- Larger hard drive.
Cons
- Overall, feels slightly flimsier than the previous PlayStation 3.
- Sliding-door optical drive doesn't feel sturdy, and it feels like a step backward.
Learn MoreSony PlayStation 3 (2012) ReviewSamsung BD-F7500
Bottom Line:
The Samsung BD-F7500 looks great and has tons of features, but a few quirks and a high price tag hold this Blu-ray player back.Pros
- Lots of features.
- Attractive design.
Cons
- Expensive.
- Video processing quirks.
- Screen mirroring is limited.
Learn MoreSamsung BD-F7500 Review
Buying Guide: The 5 Best Blu-ray Players
If you want the best movie content and picture quality on your HDTV, you need a Blu-ray player. Not only do they play Blu-ray discs, which offer movies in full 1080p video, but they can support 3D video, stream content from the Web, and serve as a hub for entertainment in your home.
Blu-ray players have gotten much better in the last few years than they were when they first came out. They load discs much faster across the board, and their prices have gone down far enough that you can pick up a solid, full-featured player like the Panasonic DMP-BDT230 for less than $150. Even with budget Blu-ray players you can get online services, Web browsers, and 3D support.
The midrange LG BP730 is even quicker and has a few unique tricks for streaming media to and from mobile devices, justifying its higher price tag over the DMP-BDT230. It's the best midrange Blu-ray player we've seen yet. But if you have a really complicated home theater set-up you need to look to the much higher end with the Oppo BDP-103. At $500 this is one of the most expensive Blu-ray players on the market, but its two HDMI ports, analog surround sound audio output, and RS232C remote support makes it one of the few that can handle a dedicated, custom-installed home theater.
The Sony PlayStation 3 is still on our list of top Blu-ray players after two iterations because it's so full of features. It can play Blu-ray discs and access online services like the other players, and has a full range of PlayStation 3 games (and PSOne and PS2 Classics) available both as physical discs and downloadable games, making it the ideal (and only, until the next generation of game systems) combination Blu-ray player and game console.
For more information on how to find the Blu-ray player that's right for your home theater, check out How to Buy a Blu-ray Player.
SUBHEAD
Oppo BDP-103
$499
For a hefty price, the Oppo BDP-103 offers top-notch performance along with every feature you could want in a Blu-ray player—and then some.
Read the full review ››
LG BP730
$199.99
( at Amazon)
With fast disc loading times and tons of features, the LG BP730 is a great Blu-ray player for your home theater.
Read the full review ››
Panasonic DMP-BDT230
$129.99
($39.88 at Amazon)
The Panasonic DMP-BDT230 Blu-ray player packs great performance and tons of features into an affordable package.
Read the full review ››
Sony PlayStation 3
$269.99
($221.49 at Amazon)
The PlayStation 3 is still one of the best, albeit more expensive, Blu-ray players even after over half a decade and two hardware iterations. Read the full review ››
Samsung BD-F7500
$279.99
($79.88 at Amazon)
The Samsung BD-F7500 looks great, thanks to a striking aluminum design, and it also has plenty of features that help offset a few video-processing-related quirks. Read the full review ››
Further Reading
- Redbox Secures Same-Day Kiosk Rentals From Universal
- AnyDVD Now Rips UHD Blu-rays With 'Unbreakable' AACS 2.0
- LG's New 4K Blu-ray Player Supports Dolby Vision HDR
- What You Need to Know About Ultra HD Blu-ray
- More in Blu-ray Players
