4K Blu-ray gets off to a better start than Blu-ray

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The new Ultra HD Blu-ray disc format has started more strongly than Blu-ray according to initial sales figures, selling 4x faster over a comparable period after their respective launches.

According to research by Home Media Magazine, 228,000 Ultra HD Blu-ray discs have been sold since the format's launch in March. By comparison, there were 57,000 Blu-ray discs sold in the comparable time frame after its launch, back in early 2006.

Of course, there could be all sorts of reasons for this, not least the varying consumer awareness of the two formats. That said, with only 45 Ultra HD Blu-ray titles currently available - you can see a full list here - the sales figures are a solid start.

There are currently only two players on the market that can play Ultra HD Blu-ray discs, the very good Panasonic DMP-UB900 and the not-quite-so-good Samsung UBD-K8500.

MORE: Panasonic UB900 vs Samsung UBD-K8500

We’ll no doubt see more and more players hit the shelves in the future, particularly following confirmation that Microsoft’s new Xbox One S will be able to spin UHD discs. Sony is also reportedly developing a new PlayStation 4 console with support 4K resolution.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) predicts “2016 will be a phenomenal year for 4K Ultra HD TVs, with shipments expected to reach 13 million units”. The CTA also predicts revenue from 4K displays to reach $10bn in 2016, a 65 per cent increase on 2015.

And if you want to see your 4K TV at its best, you really do need 4K Blu-rays...

MORE: 4K streaming vs 4K Blu-ray vs Blu-ray - which is best?

Source: Variety

Max Langridge

Max is a staff writer for What Hi-Fi?'s sister site, TechRadar, in Australia. But being the wonderful English guy he is, he helps out with content across a number of Future sites, including What Hi-Fi?. It wouldn't be his first exposure to the world of all things hi-fi and home cinema, as his first role in technology journalism was with What Hi-Fi? in the UK. Clearly he pined to return after making the move to Australia and the team have welcomed him back with arms wide open.