Is the PS4 a great Blu-ray player?

A PlayStation 4 Pro
A PlayStation 4 Pro (Image credit: Android Central)

Best answer: Yes, but it depends on what you want. The PS4 has a Blu-ray disc player, and while it's great if you're watching regular Blu-rays in 1080p, users will need to grab a dedicated Blu-ray player or a new PS5 for 4K UHD Blu-rays.

  • Pick one up: PlayStation 4 1TB Console $300 at PlayStation
  • A more traditional route: Sony 4K Ultra HD Blu Ray Player $211 at Amazon

Not all Blu-rays are created equal

Patriots Day Blu-Ray

Source: Lionsgate (Image credit: Source: Lionsgate)

Regular Blu-ray brought physical media from 480p to 1080p so everyone could enjoy HD movies with better sound. Ultra High Definition, or UHD Blu-rays, bring the resolution up to 4K and frequently include extras like HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio support.

Put plainly, the difference between watching a Blu-ray and a UHD Blu-ray on a 4K UHD TV with a decent sound system is noticeable. It's also worth pointing out UHD Blu-rays are frequently more expensive than normal ones. Still, many releases often include a standard Blu-ray for those interested in future-proofing their movie collection.

You'll need something more for 4K

PS4 Controller

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

For those asking if the PS4 is a good Blu-ray player, the answer is yes. The Blu-ray player in all versions of the PS4, from the original released in 2013 to the 4K-ready Pro model released in 2016, is a standard 1080p Blu-ray player. Because it uses the same processor to play visually intense games, it's one of the faster Blu-ray players you can buy. The control interface uses the PS4 controller by default, but you can pick up a PlayStation 4 Universal Media Remote if you'd rather have a traditional remote. Your PlayStation also has access to basically every streaming app ever, so if you use your PS4 as a Blu-ray player, you can also use it to stream everything else. You can even watch live TV on it with a PlayStation Vue subscription.

If you're after 4K Blu-rays, you're looking at a standalone player or a PS5.

This is an excellent Blu-ray player for an HD TV, offering a ton of features with room for expansion, but if you use a 4K TV, it's not quite 100% anymore. This console lacks UHD Blu-ray support, even in the 4K-enabled PlayStation 4 Pro, which means you won't be able to play UHD Blu-rays and enjoy things like Dolby Atmos audio support with your 4K HDR video. While you can use the PS4 Pro to stream 4K, the lack of UHD Blu-ray support makes it less than ideal for getting the best possible picture on your 4K TV.

So how good is the PS4 at playing Blu-rays? It depends on what you want. If you have a 4K TV with a killer sound system, you're better off getting a standalone UHD Blu-ray Player or trying your hand at finding a PS5. For those just looking for something to play movies, the Xbox One X also supports 4K Blu-rays.

But if you haven't made the upgrade to 4K and aren't planning to anytime soon, the PS4 Blu-ray player is fantastic. You'll be able to watch your 1080p Blu-rays with their full sets of features, and because Sony constantly updates the PS4, you can rest assured that it will remain a solid player throughout the life of the Blu-ray format.

Quentyn Kennemer