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What is it? Good points?

A budget Blu-ray and DVD player. The digital entertainment device market has been devoid of value Blu-ray players so long that you would think the discs were encoded by an advanced alien civilisation that only Nasa could decipher. Thankfully this has started to change, with cheaper components and increased competition combining to drive down prices. The best result by far has come from Panasonic in this nifty number.

The device width is ruler-sized, which means it can be placed in most home entertainment cabinets or bedroom shelves. It supports Blu-ray, DVD and a plethora of other video and audio formats that can be read via regular CDs or USB drives. A low price and understated looks belie the innovation inside, with Panasonic including its advanced HCX image processing system, true 4K upscaling and HDR optimising to tailor output quality for your output screen.

All the main streaming services are natively supported, with Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube being most popular.

Playback performance is as good as you’ll find on any devices from any manufacturer and proves its unrivalled value for money.

Bad points?

The only downside is the very basic and slightly drab exterior. But this is a small price to pay for an excellent value-for-money product that delivers well.

Best for …

Those wanting the latest Blu-ray technology without paying the usual premium price.

Avoid if ...

Only sleek and ultra-stylish gadgets make it across your threshold. The design may feel too basic.

Panasonic UB420 Smart 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and DVD Player, £249 (currys.co.uk)

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