UBD-K8500
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The first Ultra HD Blu-ray players are already on sale
I wasn't expecting to see Samsung's UBD-K8500 Ultra HD Blu-ray player on sale until the end of the month, but it's already available at a few stores. USA Today points out that Video and Audio Center in Santa Monica is kicking off sales today, and the store's Facebook page indicates that there are already movies available as well.
Samsung's Ultra HD Blu-ray player is coming soon for $399
There aren't many Ultra HD Blu-ray players to choose from, but the first one you can buy is this one from Samsung. We'd seen it before at IFA last year, but this week Samsung announced the UBD-K8500 will go on sale in the US this March. Talking to reps from Samsung and the Ultra HD Association, I was told it could start selling as soon as February 22nd, and we expect to see the first Ultra HD discs arrive at the same time. Pre-orders are up on Samsung's website and Amazon.com now for $399.
Samsung's SUHD TVs amp up the colors and picture quality
Samsung hasn't gone all-in on OLED TVs like LG did this year, but it still has models that can make your wallet light in a hurry. The company just launched its latest top-shelf SUHD lineup that includes nearly every imaginable feature for those willing to pay. The main selling point is still the picture quality. While its LED quantum dot screens are arguably inferior to OLED, they're getting pretty darn close and cost less. Samsung said all of its 2016 models will get 10-bit, HDR displays with 1,000 nits of contrast between light and dark images. It's also using new tech it calls Ultra Black that "absorbs natural light the same way [as] a moth's eye" does, providing deeper blacks with less glare.
Here's the world's first Ultra HD Blu-ray player
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-519620{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-519620, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-519620{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-519620").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Samsung has announced the first (consumer ready) Ultra HD Blu-ray player, alongside word that movie studio Fox is already getting its releases ready for the new format. That means 4K movies, yes, but also compatibility for HDR video. Here's a closer look at the curved UBD-K8500 player -- perfect for that new curved Ultra HDTV, right?
