Sony Discontinues Its Last 4K Blu-ray Player, the UBP-X700/K, in Japan

Sony has quietly stopped selling its last 4K Blu-ray player in Japan, and the news landed hard with movie collectors this week. The Sony Blu-ray player in question is the UBP-X700/K, a budget 4K UHD model that many reviewers have recommended for years as the easy pick for anyone who wanted discs on a big TV without spending a lot. Sony Japan's online store now lists it as out of stock with a note that it will not be restocked, and no successor has been announced.

For American buyers, the change is not immediate. US versions of the player were still on some store shelves when the reports broke. But the message is clear enough: one of the biggest names in home video is walking away from the standalone disc player, and the list of companies still making these machines is getting very short.

What happened

The first report came from a Japanese blog that also operates as a Sony retailer. It said Sony had ended sales of the UBP-X700/K. FlatpanelsHD, a site that tracks the TV and home theater business closely, picked up the story and described it as Sony exiting the UHD Blu-ray player market altogether.

According to Tom's Guide, sales of the X700 ended on October 22 in Japan. Tom's Hardware reported that Sony had actually stopped shipping the player back in February 2026 and seems to have been selling off existing inventory since then. That would explain why the end feels sudden even though it was months in the making.

Sony itself has not made a big public statement. Tom's Guide said it reached out to Sony's US arm for comment and had not received an answer at the time of publishing. So for now, the evidence is the store listing and the retailer report, not a press release.

Which model is affected

The UBP-X700/K was a refreshed version of a long running Sony design. Tom's Guide noted that it launched in May 2025 and was the only UHD Blu-ray player Sony was selling anywhere. In the US, Gizmodo reported that the X700/K version was already sold out at Walmart and Best Buy, while a Best Buy listing for the related UBP-X700U model was still available. Gizmodo expects leftover stock to linger in stores for a few months, likely at higher prices from resellers as supply dries up.

Why the Sony Blu-ray player exit matters

On its own, one discontinued player might not sound like big news. The bigger story is the pattern. Tom's Guide counts LG, Oppo, Pioneer, Samsung and now Sony among the companies that have left the Blu-ray player business, leaving Panasonic as the only major brand still producing them. Tom's Hardware adds that LG ended its player production in 2024, and that Japanese firms Elecom and Buffalo stopped making Blu-ray drives for PCs this year.

Sony has also been stepping back from other parts of its home entertainment business. Gizmodo pointed out that Sony sold the majority of its TV business to TCL, which will build future Bravia screens, and that Sony told Bloomberg it will not attend CES 2027. Earlier in 2026, Sony also ended shipments of its Blu-ray disc recorders in Japan.

Then there is gaming. Sony has said it will end physical game disc production by January 2028, according to Tom's Hardware. Both Gizmodo and Tom's Hardware note growing worry that the next PlayStation may not have an optical drive at all, though Sony has not confirmed that. If you follow console hardware, our look at the rumored next Xbox price shows how much the whole category is shifting right now.

Discs still have real advantages

People who still buy Blu-rays usually have good reasons. A 4K disc delivers far more data than a typical stream, which can mean sharper detail in dark scenes and fuller sound. A disc also cannot vanish from your library when a licensing deal ends. Gizmodo made this point directly, arguing that fewer players will make physical collections harder to enjoy at their best and could push physical media into a pricier niche.

Who is affected

Most casual viewers will not notice. Streaming boxes and smart TVs handle nearly everything they watch. If you are weighing a streaming box instead, our breakdown of the Apple TV 4K 2026 price and upgrade case covers what you get for the money.

The people who will feel this are:

• Movie collectors with shelves of 4K discs who want a dedicated, quiet player.
• Home theater fans who care about Dolby Vision and lossless audio from disc.
• Shoppers who wanted a cheap, simple player and trusted the Sony name.
• Anyone who hoped to use a PlayStation as a long term disc player, given Sony's plans for game discs.

What to do if you want a 4K Blu-ray player

If you were planning to buy a Sony player, the window is closing, but you still have options.

Buy remaining Sony stock now, carefully

If you can find a UBP-X700U or X700/K at a normal retail price in the US, it may be worth grabbing. Watch out for marked up listings from third party sellers. A budget player is not a good deal at collector prices.

Look at Panasonic

Panasonic is now the main brand still making these players. Tom's Guide lists several models, from budget options listed at $299 up to the high end DP-UB820, which it says normally sells for $649. Panasonic's higher models support Dolby Vision and HDR10+, which matters if you own a high end TV.

Consider a console, with limits

The disc version of the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X both play 4K Blu-rays. But neither supports Dolby Vision for discs, according to Tom's Guide, and Gizmodo notes the PS5 also lacks Dolby Atmos for movies. Consoles also cost more than a basic player and are louder in a quiet room. Collectors who love older formats may also enjoy hardware like the Analogue Super NT+ and Mega SG+, which shows there is still demand for physical media done well.

What to watch next

A few things will tell us how this plays out. First, whether Sony confirms an end to US sales or quietly lets stock run out. Second, how long Panasonic stays committed, since it now carries most of the market alone. Third, whether disc prices rise as players and drives become harder to find. Memory and component costs are already squeezing hardware, as we covered in our report on PC shipments falling in Q3 2026.

There are signs of life for physical media, though. Tom's Hardware cited reports of rising CD and vinyl sales. Smaller brands are also selling UHD players online, though Tom's Guide said it had not tested them. For more coverage of the devices in your living room, visit our gadgets section.

Frequently asked questions

Is Sony discontinuing Blu-ray players in the US?

Sony Japan has marked its last 4K player as no longer restocked. US versions were still available at some stores when the news broke, but Sony has not announced a successor, so supply is likely to fade.

Can I still buy a Sony 4K Blu-ray player?

Possibly, for a short time. Gizmodo found the UBP-X700U still listed at Best Buy, while the X700/K had sold out at Walmart and Best Buy. Expect higher prices from resellers.

What is the best alternative to a Sony Blu-ray player?

Panasonic is the main brand still making 4K Blu-ray players, with models that support Dolby Vision and HDR10+. A PS5 or Xbox Series X can also play discs, but without Dolby Vision.

Will the PS5 keep playing Blu-ray discs?

Yes. Existing disc PS5 consoles still play movies. Sony's plan to end game disc production by January 2028 concerns games, and Sony has not confirmed whether future consoles will have a drive.