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Home News

Sony Reportedly Exits UHD Blu-ray Player Market

Sony Japan has discontinued its last standalone UHD Blu-ray player, the UBP-X700/K, with no successor announced

Marco Lisi by Marco Lisi
October 24, 2026
in News, Digital sources
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Sony UHD Blu-ray Player UBP-X700, Sony's last standalone model before its market exit

Sony appears to be exiting the standalone Sony UHD Blu-ray Player market. Sony Japan has discontinued the UBP-X700/K, its last remaining UHD Blu-ray player, with sales officially ending in Japan on 22 October 2026 and no successor or replacement announced. The move effectively ends an era for the Sony UHD Blu-ray Player category after years as a mainstay of Sony’s home-cinema lineup.

Sony UBP-X700 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, front view with remote
The Sony UBP-X700 with its remote control.
  • How the Sony UHD Blu-ray Player exit came to light
  • The end of a standalone Sony UHD Blu-ray Player line
  • What happens next for the Sony UHD Blu-ray Player market
  • Availability
  • Key specifications

How the Sony UHD Blu-ray Player exit came to light

The news surfaced via Japanese blog Kunkoku, which is also a Sony retailer. Kunkoku reports, in translation: “Sony ends shipments of Ultra HD Blu-ray player UBP-X700/K. Following the end of Blu-ray recorder sales and the announcement that PlayStation game disc production will cease, the PS5 will be Sony’s only UHD Blu-ray player in Japan.” Sony Japan has confirmed the discontinuation on its own online store, where the UBP-X700/K is listed in red as out of stock and not scheduled for restock. There is still no official press release or global confirmation from Sony, and Kunkoku notes that no successor has been announced.

The end of a standalone Sony UHD Blu-ray Player line

The UBP-X700/K was released in May 2025 and had been Sony’s last standalone Sony UHD Blu-ray Player, following the discontinuation of the UBP-X800M2 more than a year earlier. That leaves the PlayStation 5 as Sony’s only remaining UHD Blu-ray-capable device, but the PS5 is first and foremost a game console: it does not support Dolby Vision, and PlayStation is also moving away from physical game discs, fuelling speculation that the PS6 will drop the optical disc drive entirely.

Sony UBP-X700 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, angled view with disc tray open
The Sony UBP-X700 with its disc tray open.

Sony had already withdrawn from the standalone CD and SACD player markets. In February 2026 it announced it would exit the Blu-ray recorder market as well, though the company will continue selling one standard Blu-ray player and one DVD player.

What happens next for the Sony UHD Blu-ray Player market

Because decisions affecting Sony’s Japanese lineup typically precede global changes, the UBP-X700/K is not yet officially listed as discontinued in the US, Europe or elsewhere, so stock may still be available there for now. With Sony stepping back, Panasonic remains the only major electronics brand still selling UHD Blu-ray players, alongside a wave of mostly Chinese brands entering the category. Given Sony’s role as one of the original developers of Blu-ray and a major force behind UHD Blu-ray, its exit from the Sony UHD Blu-ray Player market is being read as a significant blow to the optical disc market as a whole.

Availability

The UBP-X700/K remains listed as out of stock with no restock planned on Sony Japan’s own store; availability elsewhere has not yet been officially addressed by Sony. No pricing or specifications changes apply, as the model is being wound down rather than replaced.

Key specifications

What’s known about the Sony UHD Blu-ray Player situation at a glance:

  • Model affected: Sony UBP-X700/K, Sony’s last standalone UHD Blu-ray player
  • Status: discontinued in Japan, sales ended 22 October 2026, no restock planned
  • Released: May 2025, succeeding the already-discontinued UBP-X800M2
  • Remaining Sony option: PlayStation 5 (no Dolby Vision support, moving away from physical discs)
  • Context: Sony already exited standalone CD/SACD players and, since February 2026, Blu-ray recorders
  • Market impact: Panasonic remains the main major brand still selling UHD Blu-ray players
  • Source: Sony Japan via Japanese blog and retailer Kunkoku

For more home cinema coverage, see our report on the REL T/9x SE subwoofer. Full specifications for the outgoing Sony UHD Blu-ray Player remain listed on Sony Japan’s official product page.

Tags: Blu-ray disc playerSonySony UHD Blu-ray Player
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Marco Lisi

Marco Lisi

Publisher

Marco Lisi is the publisher of Best of High End, part of AV Concepts BV. His path into audio started early: as a teenager he was drawn into the world of free radio, presenting shows and living immersed in music every day. In his early twenties he ran his own production studio for five years, creating jingles and commercials — hands-on training in sound design, pro-audio workflows, and critical listening through studio monitors that still shapes how he evaluates gear today. He also spent years DJing in clubs before moving into publishing, first at two earlier online magazines before founding Best of High End. His hi-fi and home cinema passion was inherited from his father, an inveterate system-swapper. Marco's first setup — a confirmation gift — paired AKAI separates with entry-level Bowers & Wilkins speakers, a brand he stayed loyal to for years as his system grew from stereo into full surround and home cinema. Like many enthusiasts, he went through an extended "audiophile" phase chasing the next upgrade, before settling into a more grounded view: gear as a means to enjoy music and film, not an end in itself. Years of critical listening have given him a well-trained ear — the ability to characterize a system or pinpoint a change in the chain quickly and accurately. Just as important, his teaching background (a Belgian "regent" degree in Dutch language) gives him the tools to translate those listening impressions into clear, readable writing.

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