4K Blu-ray players to get Ultra HD Premium certification

Logos and standards can seem confusing but the Ultra HD Premium stamp aims to make it clear to consumers that the product in question is capable of delivering 4K video of the highest standard.

Now, following the launch of 4K TVs and 4K discs bearing the Ultra HD Premium logo, the UHD Alliance has confirmed the badge will be licensed to 4K Blu-ray players, too.

Announced at the start of the year, Ultra HD Premium is all about ensuring hardware and software meets minimum standards, covering resolution, colour, brightness and more.

MORE: Ultra HD Premium explained

LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony are all UHD Alliance board members though, somewhat confusingly, not all of the brands have adopted the new standard.

Despite Sony's flagship 4K sets meeting the minimum spec, the TVs aren't currently carrying the logo. Flagship ranges from LG, Panasonic and Samsung will carry the logo, however, with some 30 TVs in total now said to be certified.

We'd therefore expect the first two 4K disc players, the Panasonic DMP-UB900 and the Samsung UBD-K8500, to carry the badge, though with the machines due on sale later this month (and already on sale in the US, in the case of the Samsung), the UHD Alliance will have to get a move on to make its mark...

MORE: Ultra HD Blu-ray - everything you need to know

Joe Cox
Content Director

Joe is Content Director for T3 and What Hi-Fi?, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for more than 15 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff, and the Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).