Bad news for Blu-ray disc owners: LG is officially ending the production of Blu-ray players, yet another manufacturer throwing the towel.
The last 4K Blu-ray players LG released—the UBK80 and UBK90—date back to 2018. According to reports (including this one from Tom’s Hardware), no new models are planned, as LG has decided to halt the production of Blu-ray players entirely. There are still limited stocks available in some European countries and the US, so if you’ve been considering one, now might be the time to act. Among major brands, only Sony and Panasonic remain in the Blu-ray player market, along with a few specialized high-end manufacturers whose products typically come with a much higher price tag. It’s likely that more generic Chinese brands will step in to fill the gap, though their quality may vary widely.
Preparing for the Future?
If you own a sizable Blu-ray collection, now might be the time to start planning ahead. It could be a good idea to purchase an additional player while they’re still available. You might also consider investing in a (external or internal) Blu-ray drive for your PC or Mac—although Mac users should check compatibility carefully. With such a setup, you could rip the content from your discs and store it digitally on a NAS. This would ensure you’re no longer reliant on LG—or any other manufacturer—for playback devices in the future.