Samsung Blu-ray DVD Player Review: Conditional Verdict
The SAMSUNG Blu-ray DVD Disc Player with Built-in Wi-Fi (Renewed) sits at an intersection between affordability and full-featured home entertainment. Scoring a conditional 7.8/10, it offers crisp 1080p playback, solid upscaling, and access to smart features—provided you’re willing to tolerate occasional quirks that have divided long-term users.
Quick Verdict: Conditional
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Sharp Full HD 1080p playback | Wi-Fi instability on some units |
| DVD upscaling to near-HD quality | Occasional freezing mid-playback |
| Built-in Wi-Fi with streaming app support | No power/operation indicator light |
| Responsive setup and pairing with Samsung TVs | Long boot/load times for discs |
| Compact, lightweight design | Remote lacks backlighting and can be finicky |
| Plays Blu-ray, DVD, CD formats | Some refurbished units arrive defective |
| HDMI connectivity with good audio quality | Limited repair/refurb oversight reported |
Claims vs Reality
Samsung promotes this renewed player as a Full HD 1080p Blu-ray and DVD solution with built-in Wi-Fi and smart features. While this is accurate in terms of technical specs, digging deeper into user reports shows a mismatch between expectations and everyday performance.
Marketing emphasizes “built-in Wi-Fi” for streaming apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Video. For many, this works as intended: the setup is “simple and connected to my home network in minutes,” as one Best Buy customer noted. However, several owners ran into reliability issues, often needing to re-enter passwords or, as one frustrated reviewer explained, “every time I turned the unit off, I had to set up the network configuration from scratch.”
The claim of “near-HD DVD upconversion” does indeed elevate older discs, with one verified Amazon buyer noting that “non-HD video is automatically enhanced to greater detail and clarity.” Yet picture quality alone didn’t save users who faced random playback freezes—especially troublesome with Blu-ray discs. “What good is a Blu-ray player if it doesn’t play Blu-rays I spend the money on?” lamented one Best Buy reviewer after repeated disc read failures.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
There’s strong agreement around core playback quality. Blu-ray visuals are “top notch and as good as players costing much more,” reported a Best Buy customer. Standard DVDs benefitted noticeably from the upscaling—a boon for collectors with large DVD libraries who don’t want to repurchase titles. Owners pairing the player with Samsung TVs found integration smooth; one noted that “the remote auto programmed itself to my Samsung TV… the two combined become an integrated system.”
The compact footprint and light build also made it appealing for space-constrained setups. “It weighs less than 2 pounds… light enough to move between rooms,” another reviewer said. For seniors or non-tech-savvy users, ease of setup proved important: “Perfect for my mother-in-law… easy to set up and more importantly, easy for her to use,” one buyer wrote.
Smart apps, when functional, enriched its value. Streaming Netflix without delays, Pandora music, and YouTube browsing were well-received—helping the player feel like more than just a disc deck.
Common Complaints
Connectivity problems dominate negative sentiment. Wi-Fi dropouts, difficulty reconnecting, and incompatibility with certain security protocols (like WPA) surfaced repeatedly. One customer went so far as to alter their home network settings to WEP, only to “continue to have issues.”
Blu-ray read errors also troubled many. Reports of grinding noises, freezing within minutes of playback, and audio dropouts made some question longevity. “Blu-rays skip and freeze up… returning today,” said a refurb buyer who had previously trusted Samsung.
Ergonomic frustrations with the remote were notable: lack of backlighting, quick fade of glow-in-the-dark buttons, and occasional battery resets to restore function. For late-night viewing, this became a genuine usability barrier. Additionally, the absence of a power indicator light on the unit meant users often left it on unintentionally.
Long boot times—over a minute to reach a disc menu—were compared unfavorably to faster competitors, impacting convenience for casual movie nights.
Divisive Features
Smart app selection drew mixed reactions. Some praised the breadth (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Video, social media, niche apps), while others found them outdated, slow, or prone to removal after firmware updates. One Trustpilot reviewer warned about losing Netflix functionality entirely due to expired activation codes.
The refurbished nature split opinion as well. Some got “a brand new box… protective coating still on” and flawless performance, while others suspected, as one Amazon user put it, “a refurbished item that obviously never was refurbished.”
Trust & Reliability
Trustpilot patterns showed concerns over Best Buy’s refurbishment checks, with multiple reports of receiving non-functional units—sometimes twice in a row. One described both initial and replacement units failing, prompting them to abandon the model.
Durability stories vary: while some users enjoyed trouble-free operation for months or years, there’s a recurring theme of Wi-Fi failing after one year, necessitating warranty claims or third-party fixes. Owners who bought protection plans recommended them “just in case it’s an internal error in several.”
Refurb quality control appeared inconsistent, making retail source and return policy a critical factor for buyers.
Alternatives
Where mentioned, Panasonic Blu-ray players got nods for stronger connectivity and reliability despite fewer smart features. Sony units offered more apps but drew criticism for build quality and interface sluggishness. For collectors seeking 4K UHD and 3D support without Samsung’s quirks, models like the UBD-M9500 were praised for faster loading times and intuitive menus.
Price & Value
At around $110 renewed on Amazon, down from a typical $116–$125, the value proposition is tied closely to your willingness to navigate potential refurb risks. eBay resale prices ranged from $20–$50 depending on condition, showing modest retention unless bundled with remotes and HDMI cables.
Community buying tips include sourcing from sellers with high refurb ratings, immediately testing Wi-Fi and disc playback, and considering bundled HDMI cables to avoid added costs.
FAQ
Q: Does this player work with non-Samsung TVs?
A: Yes, it connects via HDMI to any compatible television, but integration features (like auto input switching) are most seamless with Samsung sets.
Q: Can it play CDs as well as DVDs and Blu-rays?
A: Yes, it supports CD playback alongside Blu-ray and DVD formats, including music CDs and some data discs.
Q: How is the Wi-Fi performance?
A: Experiences vary—some report flawless streaming after easy setup, others encounter regular dropouts or reconnection hassles.
Q: Is there a 4K version of this player?
A: No, this model caps at Full HD 1080p with upscaling; Samsung offers separate UHD capable models.
Q: How long does it take to load a disc?
A: Reports suggest between 60–75 seconds from power-on to menu, slower than many newer competitors.
Final Verdict: Buy if you’re a budget-conscious movie enthusiast with a mixed Blu-ray/DVD collection and a Samsung TV, willing to risk occasional quirks from a refurbished unit. Avoid if you demand rock-solid Wi-Fi streaming or faster load times. Pro tip from the community: Always test both streaming and Blu-ray playback immediately upon delivery—return promptly if either fails, as issues tend not to self-resolve.
