Sony UBP-X700K: New 4K Blu-ray Player Drops Features but Raises Price

A new version of the Sony UBP-X700 4K Blu-ray player, the UBP-X700K. The new model removes some features like Wi-Fi, streaming apps, and screen mirroring, but the price in Japan is 25% higher than the current model. The article suggests this change may not make much sense, and the author is seeking more information from Sony about pricing and availability.

 

 Changes in the new UBP-X700K model

- The new UBP-X700K model drops some features from the current UBP-X700 model.  

- The key differences are the removal of wireless networking features, which means no video streaming apps, no Spotify Connect, and no screen mirroring. 

- The Video & TV SideView app is also gone in the new model.  

  Rationale behind the feature removal

- Removing streaming features to make a more streamlined budget Blu-ray player sounds like a smart move in the age of smart TVs, as not many buyers today want those features in a disc player.  

- However, the author expected the price to be lower to attract people to the world of physical media and the benefits of 4K Blu-ray over streaming.  

  Pricing and availability

- The new Blu-ray player will be available from April or May 2025, hopefully for an attractive price.  

- The current UBP-X700 model can be found for under $199 / £199 / AU$369.  

- The author has requested pricing and availability details from Sony and will provide more information once confirmed.  

Sony UBP-X700M HDR 4K UHD Network Blu-ray Disc Player with HDMI Cable