Videographer and Video Editor in New York City

Asaf Blasberg

Videographer

Videographer and Video Editor in New York City

Asaf Blasberg

Videographer

Videographer and Video Editor
in New York City

Asaf Blasberg

Videographer

Videographer and Video Editor
in New York City

Asaf Blasberg

Videographer

Videographer and
Video Editor
in New York City

Six Key Differences Between DVD, Blu-ray Disc and 4K Ultra HD Blu‑ray

Blu-ray Disc is the successor to the DVD format. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is the successor to the Blu-ray Disc format. Blu-ray Disc offers 5 times the resolution of DVD, while 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray offers 4 times the resolution of Blu-ray Disc. Both formats allow recording, rewriting and playback of High-Definition content (Blu-ray Disc) and 4K Ultra High-Definition content (4K Ultra HD Blu-ray), storing large amounts of data. Both Blu-ray formats are currently supported by the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer, recording media, video game, and music companies. All three formats are supported by all Hollywood studios and countless smaller studios.

Co-developed by Sony, Philips, and Pioneer, Blu-ray Disc takes its name from the blue laser pickup which reads the digital data stored on the disc. Because the blue laser has a shorter wavelength, data can be stored more densely on a Blu-ray Disc than on a DVD. Here are the 6 key differences between Blu-ray Disc and DVD:

Storage Capacity - The main benefit of Blu-ray Discs over DVDs is the increased storage capacity. The Blu-ray Disc format offers as much as 5 times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs. It can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. This increased storage capacity translates to higher video resolution and audio quality on your TV. Because Blu-ray Discs can store 25GB of data, you can fit an entire HD movie on a single-layer disc.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray offers more storage than Blu-ray Disc. The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format offers as much as 2 times the storage capacity of Blu-ray Discs. It can hold up to 66GB on a dual-layer disc and 100GB on a triple-layer disc. You can fit an entire 4K Ultra HD movie on a dual or triple-layer disc.

The added space that gives both Blu-ray formats better picture quality and audio quality than DVD also gives more room for lots of bonus features. More commentary tracks, deleted scenes, and behind-the-scenes footage are possible with the extra space. Unlike DVD players, Blu-ray players can be connected to the Internet, as well, allowing for Internet-enhanced content.
Picture Quality - The DVD format is limited to a resolution of just 720x480 pixels, which is called SD (Standard Definition). This resolution looks fine on a standard old "tube" TV, utilizing all available pixels on the screen. However, if blown up to accommodate a widescreen HDTV, the picture needs to be up-converted and looks grainy.

Blu-ray Disc resolution can be as high as 1920x1080 pixels, which is called Full HD (High Definition). This superior resolution is what really makes Blu-ray Disc stand out from DVD. A higher-resolution image means the viewers see sharper and clearer images on the screen.

While Blu-ray Disc offers a huge increase in picture quality over DVD, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray offers even better resolution than Blu-ray Disc. The format supports 4K Ultra HD resolution (3840x2160), which is four times the resolution of what Blu-ray Disc can offer. Furthermore, with the rising ownership of 4K Ultra HDTVs, the clarity and sharpness of the image far surpasses that of Blu-ray Disc. In addition, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray supports High Dynamic Range and Wide Color Gamut. These technologies allow you to see a much higher range of whites, blacks and shades, with more accurate colors.
Audio Quality - Both DVD, Blu-ray Disc, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray can store uncompressed audio. However, both Blu-ray formats' extensive storage capabilities allow it to store more channels of audio than DVD. To compensate for the lack of storage, most DVDs on the market today use compressed audio, which results in lower quality audio reproduction. This is critical especially for the music market, which strives to deliver the best audio quality.
Cost - Blu-ray Disc players on the market today sell for as low as $60, costing just $30 more than DVD players. They are extremely affordable. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc players are also coming down in price, costing around $150 as of December 2017.
Menus - Both Blu-ray formats offers better interactivity than DVD – specifically, with menus that can run concurrently with the film. For example, while watching the film, the viewer can launch a pop-up menu on the screen and access any part of the content without having to stop playback. This pop-up menu feature is not available on DVD, which requires the viewer to stop playback and access the menu, interrupting the film.