DVD and Blu-ray players are the two primary ways to watch high-quality physical media at home. While they look similar, the technology inside is vastly different, impacting everything from the sharpness of the image to the depth of the sound.

DVD Players

A DVD player uses a red laser to read data. Because this laser has a wider wavelength, the data "pits" on the disc must be larger, which limits how much information can be stored.

• Best for: Small TVs, older CRT televisions, or users with large existing DVD collections who don't need high-definition visuals.
• The "Upscaling" Trick: Many modern players can "upscale" a DVD, artificially sharpening the 480p image to look better on a 1080p screen, though it still won't match true Blu-ray quality.
  
  

Blu-ray Players

Blu-ray players use a blue-violet laser, which has a much shorter wavelength. This allows the laser to focus on much smaller data pits, packing roughly 5 to 10 times more data onto the same size disc.

• Backward Compatibility: Almost all Blu-ray players are backward compatible, meaning they will play your entire DVD and CD library without a problem.
  
  4K Ultra HD Blu-ray: The newest tier of players supports 4K resolution, HDR (High Dynamic Range) for better color, and high-end audio formats like Dolby Atmos.