It’s been a rough few years for Blu-ray fans. With streaming dominating home entertainment and major brands like Samsung and Oppo leaving the Blu-ray player market, it seemed like physical media was on life support. Even Sony, one of the last big names still making Blu-ray players, recently announced it would stop producing recordable Blu-ray discs.

But now, Sony has surprised everyone by launching its first new 4K Blu-ray player in over five years—the UBP-X700/K. On the surface, this might sound like a big win for physical media enthusiasts. However, this “new” player is less of an upgrade and more of a slight remix of the existing UBP-X700, a model that’s been around since 2019. And the changes? Well, they might not be what buyers were hoping for.

The UBP-X700/K looks almost identical to its predecessor, supports UHD Blu-rays, standard Blu-rays, and DVDs, and retains key features like Dolby Vision HDR, HDR10+, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X. If you’re after a solid 4K Blu-ray experience, the basics are all here.

However, the biggest difference is what Sony has taken away, according to Japanese publication Monohika (via FlatpanelsHD). The UBP-X700/K drops built-in Wi-Fi, meaning no streaming apps like Netflix, YouTube, or Spotify Connect. It also loses screen mirroring and the Video & TV SideView app. Basically, all the smart features that were on the old model are gone.

This change might not be a dealbreaker for most people. After all, most modern TVs and streaming devices already handle streaming better than a Blu-ray player ever could. But still, it’s a little odd to see a new model come out with fewer features—especially when its predecessor was already a budget-friendly option for people who wanted an all-in-one device.

Here’s where things get even more interesting: despite removing features, Sony is pricing the UBP-X700/K higher than the older model. In Japan, it’s listed at about 25% more than the UBP-X700, which has been often available for under $199 and currently for $168 on Amazon. While official U.S. pricing hasn’t been announced yet, if this trend continues, the new model could land somewhere in the $300+ range.

Paying more for less functionality isn’t exactly a selling point. It’s possible that Sony is aiming this version at people who only want a dedicated Blu-ray player without any extra bells and whistles. But with so many affordable options still out there—including the older UBP-X700—convincing buyers to shell out more for a device that does less might be a tough ask.

The bigger picture here is that Sony is still making Blu-ray players at all, which is significant considering the industry shift toward streaming. The market for physical media has been shrinking, with DVD and Blu-ray sales dropping 26% in 2024 alone. Many manufacturers have already abandoned the format, leaving Sony and Panasonic as the last big names still making 4K players.

So while the UBP-X700/K may not be the game-changing Blu-ray player some had hoped for, its existence suggests that Sony isn’t giving up on physical media just yet. For die-hard disc collectors and movie lovers who still prefer the best possible video and audio quality, that’s at least some good news—even if it comes with a higher price tag.

If you don’t need streaming apps and just want a solid 4K Blu-ray player, the UBP-X700/K will get the job done. But if you’re looking for value, the older UBP-X700 might be the better deal for now—it offers all the same core playback features and built-in streaming at a lower price.

As for whether the UBP-X700/K is worth its higher price tag? That’ll depend on whether Sony makes any last-minute adjustments before its release in April or May 2025. If not, it might just end up being a Blu-ray player that costs more for fewer features—a tough sell in an era when physical media is already struggling to stay relevant.