This blog contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on these links and make a purchase, We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the site and allows us to continue providing helpful content. Thank you for your support!
This blog contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on these links and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the site and allows us to continue providing helpful content. Thank you for your support!
You might be thinking to yourself after reading the title, “Why would I want or need Blu-rays when I’ve got Netflix on my smart TV?”. It might feel like you’ve got every show or film you’d ever want at your fingertips, but how often do you spend an entire night searching for what you want but you still can’t find it? This is where owning things like physical Blu-rays comes in handy. You might still not be sure about it but don’t worry, we here at Systems Insights will dive into why Blu-rays are still worth it, what to watch them on and then some of the latest releases that might grab your attention.
Why use Blu-rays still?
Blu-rays might feel a bit old-fashioned now when streaming services are available, but it’s still your surest way of keeping hold of your favourite shows and films. Sure, streaming services on your Smart TV might feel easier to use to find your them but it can keep difficult to keep up with where to find them in the first place. These days, there’s so many different streaming services available that you don’t know where to find your favourite shows or films in the first place. You might end up searching all night to try and find them in the first place! Worse, the rights to show them might change hands so suddenly it disappears and you might not find it again. So, if you don’t want to have to pay for every streaming service or search all night, why not buy yourself a physical copy Blu-ray so you’ll always have access to your favourites whenever you want?
Blu-rays are also good if your internet struggles with streaming content at high quality. We’ve all been there, you’re immersed in the action when all of a sudden it starts buffering. And then, when it starts again after what feels like an eternity, the quality’s dropped so everything’s a bunch of blurry pixels and you can’t see what’s going on. It can be frustrating, especially when you’ve paid all that money for a smart TV with 4K picture quality. If you want to avoid this, especially if you live with others who put a heavy strain on the internet in the house, then picking up Blu-rays might be a good idea. These won’t suffer from internet problems like buffering or drops in quality. So if you want the best performing and consistent way to watch content, picking up the Blu-ray version is a good idea.
Blu-rays are also worth it for all the extra goodies they’ll have on the disc. If you’ve got a favourite comfort show or film that you’ve seen dozens of times, then buying the Blu-ray version means that you can get access to all sorts of extras that you’ll have never seen before. These might range from behind-the-scenes footage, deleted scenes, bloopers, commentary tracks from the director or cast to even short films and pilots of other similar shows or films released at the time. These can keep you busy for many more hours so if you’ve always wondered “how did they do that?”, the bonus features on the Blu-ray edition can give you that extra insight into how they made your favourite show or film over streaming services.
What could I watch Blu-rays on?
The easiest way is to get yourself a Blu-ray player. Sounds simple, right? It’s worth looking at what version you’re going to need. If you’re buying just regular Blu-rays, then these players can be found rather cheap. We’d recommend Sony’s BDP-S1700, as it’s one of the cheaper options available currently. It’s compact design also means it won’t take it much space in your setup, making it an even better purchase.
However, if you’re looking at buying 4K Blu-rays, then you’ll need to find a player that these are compatible with. These also will be more expensive as well due to the extra processing power they’ll need to handle 4K picture quality. We recommend Panasonic’s DP-UB450EB-K player, as it’s one of the more affordable 4K players on the market. Even better, it makes use of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos technology to give you the best picture and sound quality possible. Once you’ve found the right player for you, just connect to your smart TV with an HDMI cable and it’ll be ready to play.
Or you could also make use of a games console you already own rather than having to buy an expensive new player. That’s right, you might not have realised it but your Xbox One S or your PS5 uses Blu-rays as the standard for video game discs if it has a disc drive. This means that it can also play any Blu-rays including films and tv series. So, if you’ve already got a console then it’ll double as a Blu-ray player for you, meaning you don’t need to spend extra money on a new player. If you don’t want to use a clunky games controller to pause and scroll menus, then get yourself a PS5 Media Controller or an Xbox Media Remote to transform your games console into the ultimate Blu-ray player.
Latest Releases
You might be used to finding the latest films on Netflix or Prime Video, but they do indeed still release them on Blu-ray. If you’ve just missed something in the cinema or want to rewatch it, then picking up the Blu-ray when it releases is always a good idea. This way, you can avoid the expensive pay-per-view options when these films first release digitally and can watch it as many times as you like. One recent release we recommend is Ballerina to see some breathtaking action from the world of John Wick.
Or if you’re looking for something a little different, the Criterion Collection releases old classics and rare gems on a monthly basis. Find some old favourites that you might not have seen in a long time like Thelma and Louise or discover niche finds like After Hours.This rare comedy by legendary director Martin Scorsese might not be one you recognise, but trust the team at Systems Insights to also double as movie nerds! Better yet, both of these releases come packed with extras like short films, making-of documentaries and commentary tracks to give you all the behind-the-scenes insights you could ever want. So if you’re looking for the latest releases or rare gems to build out your collection, there’s still plenty of Blu-rays coming out every month to keep your eyes out for.
So even if you own a smart TV with access to all the streaming services you might want, a Blu-ray player with your favourite films and shows on Blu-ray is still a good option to invest in. With so many streaming services popping up lately, avoid overspending on monthly subscriptions and scrolling endlessly by picking up your favourites on physical formats. Even better, the extras on these can show you extras and behind-the-scenes footage that’ll blow your mind. Or if you’re looking for some new niche finds or cult classics, then the monthly Criterion Collection releases are a good place to start looking. So, what are you waiting for, pick up your own Blu-ray player or turn your games console into your new entertainment hub today!