As more viewers embrace the convenience of digital streaming, the demand for physical media like Blu-ray discs has declined. This shift in consumer behavior has led to a decline in the popularity and relevance of Blu-ray technology in today's digital age.

Are Blu-rays being phased out?

Best Buy will stop selling Blu-rays, DVDs in 2024: 'The way we watch movies and TV shows is much different today' It's going to get a little bit harder to get your hands on a physical copy of your favorite movie.

Are Blu-rays still worth buying?

Blu-rays deliver the best picture and sound experience

For example, Netflix maxes out at 17Mbps, while Apple TV+ maxes out at around 41 Mbps. The very best Blu-rays, the 4K Ultra HD versions, can deliver a 4K picture with maximum video bitrate of 128 Mbps.

Do people still use Blu-ray players?

Far from being obsolete, Blu-ray discs still have an important part to play in storage, as long as solid-state drive (SSD) technology remains small and expensive, and internet connection speeds are so much slower than installing something from a disc.

Will Blu-ray make a comeback?

Many Blu-ray and DVD selling stores and collectors are planning to revive more than 700 million discs in the market in 2022. Most of the awaiting customers are 90s kids aged between 25 and 39. This tells us the possibility of DVDs and Blu-rays coming back to the top by the overwhelming responses from their enthusiasts.

Be Prepared! DVD & Blu-Ray: The Return of Physical Media

Why did Blu-ray fail?

First, the product had bad timing. Blu-ray launched in 2006, offering higher quality video and audio than DVDs; then, in 2007, Netflix launched its initial online streaming service. Online streaming was the way of the future, and Blu-ray's demise was only a matter of time. Insufficient marketing also played a role.

Will 4K Blu-rays be discontinued?

Admittedly, there is a strong chance 4K Blu-ray may become less popular as time goes on. Does this mean that 4K Blu-ray is really dying? The answer is no. In fact, I believe there's an exciting future on the horizon, especially for cinephiles and movie fans.

Is Blu-ray still better than streaming?

“In terms of the dynamic range and compression, the 4K Blu-ray will always trump any streaming service out there,” Teoh says. You might not notice the difference from your TV's built-in speakers, he admits, but it should be apparent when played through any half-decent soundbar or AV receiver.

How long will Blu-rays last?

The most concise answer we were able to arrive at was: At least 10-20 years. Ern Bieman, a digital preservationist with the Canadian Conservation Institute, told me that commercially produced Blu-rays—if they're undamaged and stored correctly—should last at least 20 years.

What is the future of Blu-ray?

Put simply, Blu-ray is here to stay for the foreseeable future, and we couldn't be happier about that. But while there's still a steady supply of new discs, the best 4K Blu-ray players have become scarce, with most AV manufacturers ceasing to make new players, or limiting production to a single model.

Are Blu-ray sales declining?

In 2005, DVD sales peaked at $16.3 billion in the United States, while Blu-ray sales hit their peak in 2013 at $2.37 billion. Last year, both formats sold $1.5 billion combined — a drop of 25% from the previous year and a much bigger one from their peak.

Is it better to buy blue ray or DVD?

You won't get high-definition movie viewing on your DVD, just 480 SD. On the other hand, Blu-ray is made for HD, and you'll get the best picture possible, with 1080 HD capability for your Blu-ray movies. So if you are looking for a quality picture, Blue Ray is the clear winner.

Do Blu-rays have resale value?

Each Blu-ray has a different value depending on a few factors, including release date, title, popularity, etc. To find out the value of your Blu-rays with Decluttr, you have two options: Enter the barcode on the back of the Blu-ray case into our valuation engine.

Why is Best Buy not selling Blu-rays anymore?

I'm Leila Fadel. It's the end of an era for Best Buy. The Minnesota-based retailer will stop sales of DVDs and Blu-ray discs later this year. The company says their move is in response to the changing ways its customers are consuming media - these days, mostly through online streaming.

Is Blu-ray still highest quality?

Visual enhancements aside, audio is the defining advantage of Blu-rays over streaming. That's because streaming uses lossy compression to deliver sound, forcing compromises. Blu-rays provide uncompressed audio tracks, ensuring a full dynamic range and the highest sound quality possible.

What happens if you put a Blu-ray in a DVD player?

DVD players use red laser technology (of 650-nm wavelength) to scan that information on the disc. However, the red laser cannot read the vast amount of data compressed onto a Blu-ray disc as that function only requires the blue laser of shorter wavelength.

Will Blu-rays last longer than DVDs?

BD-RE, which is erasable Blu-ray, is estimated for 20 to 50 years while DVD-R and CD-R, which hold a lot less data, can last 50 to 100 years.

Do CDs go bad over time?

Among the manufacturers that have done testing, there is consensus that, under recommended storage conditions, CD-R, DVD-R, and DVD+R discs should have a life expectancy of 100 to 200 years or more; CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM discs should have a life expectancy of 25 years or more.

Are 8K Blu-rays coming?

Back in 2019, executive director of the 8K Association, Chris Chinnock, cast doubt on the possibility of 8K Blu-rays ever happening. He said there was "a low probability" that physical 8K discs would be developed, and that was four years ago; not much has changed since then.

Is there anything better than Blu-ray?

4K streaming vs 4K UHD vs Blu-ray

In terms of contents, 4K streaming is the winner. The 4K resources on streaming media are rich enough, and you can quickly and easily see related content. It is accessed in time.

What is so special about Blu-ray?

Blu-ray is a format created for high capacity data and high definition video. Here are features that Blu-ray discs are capable of that DVDs are not: Increased disc capacity allowing for HD video up to 1080p resolution. 7.1 channels of uncompressed audio.

Is it worth upgrading Blu-ray to 4K?

4K Blu-ray produces the sharpest, most textured picture quality I've seen on a 4K screen. Movies with HDR (High Dynamic Range) are particularly striking – closely matching the vibe of the full theater experience.

Are 4K players obsolete?

Most of the manufacturers known for producing 4K Blu-ray players, such as Oppo, Pioneer, Samsung and LG, have all packed up production and stopped selling 4K players. Another sign of the streaming times? Well, it doesn't seem entirely so. 4K Blu-ray discs have seen record sales figures as of late.

Is 4K obsolete?

Future-proofing: There's a good chance that 8K TVs will be the future – eventually. Even if that won't be any time soon, we know gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X do support 8K gaming – while 4K sets may eventually be viewed as outdated technology.