Just because something isn’t broken doesn’t mean it hasn’t expired. The Blu-ray format has been out for a few decades now, and like DVD before it, you can still find it sold on store shelves today. While that’s the case, I’ve largely moved onto the 4K Blu-ray format, Blu-ray’s successor, for the higher quality. My Blu-ray discs aren’t obsolete, but I’d say the format has expired for me. When a new movie comes out, I’m always disappointed to see it only getting a Blu-ray release.
Physical media obviously isn’t the powerhouse that it once was, but that doesn’t mean companies can’t put some more effort into making the 4K UHD format a little more lucrative. Blu-ray still hits the sweet spot for a lot of people between ease of access and affordability. However, as somebody with a Dolby Atmos sound system, a 75-inch Mini-LED TV, and a 4K Blu-ray player, I want to watch things in the best format when I can. That means DVDs have expired, and Blu-ray discs are next.
Blu-ray discs have a lot of limitations
Fine for what they are, but there are better options
When Blu-ray hit the scene, I was in awe at the giant leap in visual fidelity over DVD. I mean, we’re talking about going from 480p to 1080p, which is just massive no matter how you slice it. Blu-ray discs still look good on 4K TVs today, but the problem for me is that 4K UHD discs look better. That doesn’t mean Blu-ray discs don’t have their place, because they definitely do. There are several discs that haven’t received a 4K version, and there are some that have, but it’s a botched upgrade.
The biggest problem with Blu-ray discs is that there’s something better. Dolby Atmos is pretty much a given on a 4K disc while it’s much rarer on Blu-ray. I also want something that meets the pixel count on my TV instead of having to rely on upscaling. TV upscaling is good, but I’d rather not use it if I don’t have to.
One of the biggest upgrades you get from a 4K Blu-ray compared to a Blu-ray is a steadier bitrate. Since a 4K disc can be 100 GB, you’re far more likely to see a higher bandwidth, which typically results in a better image and upgraded audio. 4K UHD also introduces HDR into the mix, and that’s a big change for people who have a TV with proper brightness levels that can showcase it. Not every TV is up to this task, and you’ll find that a lot of budget-friendly TVs simply aren’t. That doesn’t mean HDR is useless, but it definitely leaves a lot of performance on the table.
If you have the proper equipment, 4K Blu-ray comes out far ahead of what you can find with a Blu-ray. That doesn’t mean your Blu-ray discs are garbage, and you can actually still get quite a bit of enjoyment out of them. I still like my Blu-ray movies, but I definitely prefer having a 4K disc over them. Blu-ray can get you close, but 4K Blu-ray is where everything comes together. Blu-ray discs are fine for what they are, and I’d much rather have them over their DVD counterparts. I also can’t argue with how cheap they can be sometimes. 4K Blu-ray discs are usually always more expensive, and if you’re trying to be cost-conscious, I can see how Blu-ray speaks to you.
Work with what you have
Don’t rush out and replace everything
Buying physical media is meant to be fun, so when you feel like you have to upgrade everything at once, not only is it not fun, but it’s expensive. Your Blu-ray discs will last a long time, and I haven’t run into any problems with mine whatsoever. Supposedly, they have a finite shelf life and disc rot will eventually come for them, but it’s been smooth sailing for me. Perhaps that’ll change in the next decade, but I’m not sweating it.
One of my favorite John Carpenter films, The Fog, is available on 4K, but I still watch it on Blu-ray. The simple reason for this is because it’s what I have. I’m sure it’s better in 4K, and it’s a movie I watch at least once a year, so it’s not like I wouldn’t benefit from the upgrade. I just don’t want to spend extra money on a movie I already own. There are plenty of choices out there, and I’m not immune to a blind buy from time to time. The point is that there are other things I’d rather spend my money on than upgrading my current collection to the newest format.
In that way, the Blu-ray format hasn’t expired for me, but buying new ones when a 4K is available has. I don’t see much of a reason to grab an older format when the new one is readily available.
