Sony’s UBP-X500 is a low-cost 4K Blu-ray player that’ll also handle pretty much everything else

Some people out there still really love shiny discs. If one of them is you, and you want something to play them on that won’t break the bank, check out Sony’s snappily named UBP-X500 (£200). Out later in August, this little black box can handle pretty much anything you chuck at it: 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray; standard Blu-ray; DVD; CD; Super Audio CD. Plug in a USB stick and it’ll play all your totally legal digital files, too, including FLAC, MP3, MP4 and XVID. We’re frankly half surprised you can’t cram a LaserDisc in there or play SID files. And when your content fires up, new stuff’s catered for with HDR10 and Dolby Atmos support, while lower-quality sources are smartly and intelligently upscaled in real-time so your older films and telly don’t look like they’re being animated on a 1980s games console.

Craig Grannell Contributor

About

I’m a regular contributor to Stuff magazine and Stuff.tv, covering apps, games, Apple kit, Android, Lego, retro gaming and other interesting oddities. I also pen opinion pieces when the editor lets me, getting all serious about accessibility and predicting when sentient AI smart cookware will take over the world, in a terrifying mix of Bake Off and Terminator.

Areas of expertise

Mobile apps and games, Macs, iOS and tvOS devices, Android, retro games, crowdfunding, design, how to fight off an enraged smart saucepan with a massive stick.