Samsung Blu-ray Player Review: Worth the Risk?
Surprisingly, despite boasting built-in Wi-Fi and smart streaming apps, the SAMSUNG Blu-ray DVD Disc Player with Wi-Fi (Renewed) has a deeply polarizing reputation among owners — scoring a moderate 7.8/10 overall. While some hail it as a “great product for the price” with “excellent picture quality” and solid disc compatibility, others have called it “too good to be true,” citing Wi-Fi failures, Netflix issues, and short lifespans.
Quick Verdict: Conditional — worth it if you value Blu-ray/DVD playback and occasional streaming, but risky if Wi-Fi reliability is critical.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Sharp 1080p upscaling for DVDs | Frequent Wi-Fi and app connectivity issues |
| Built-in apps (Netflix, Hulu, YouTube) | Netflix code expiry problem reported |
| Compact and lightweight design | Some units fail after 4–6 months |
| Good disc compatibility (BD, DVD, CD) | Long boot times |
| Affordable refurbished pricing | Remote ergonomics criticized |
| Easy physical setup | No 5GHz Wi-Fi band support |
| Plays writable discs smoothly | Occasional freezing or skipping during BD playback |
Claims vs Reality
Samsung’s marketing emphasizes built-in Wi-Fi for seamless smart features, promising quick access to Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, and others without extra hardware. However, multiple owners challenge that promise. A reviewer on Best Buy warned: “Don’t buy if you want Netflix… entered my activation code and got ‘expired’ every time. Customer service confirmed this is a universal issue with this unit.” Similar frustrations came from Amazon buyers who said “Netflix didn’t work” and returned the player.
The company also touts “DVD upscaling to near HD quality.” On this point, claims generally hold up — a Reddit user noted, “The image was amazing,” even when streaming failed. HDTV owners often praised its ability to make standard DVDs look cleaner, with smoother edges and less noise.
Lastly, Samsung promotes “quick start mode in 0.5 seconds.” While some saw snappy wake times, Trustpilot reviews argued slow load: “Total boot time… about 1 min 15 secs,” and freezing after updates. This gap is most obvious for users accustomed to newer streaming sticks or modern consoles.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
Across Amazon, Reddit, and Quora, users repeatedly commended the strong disc playback quality. A verified buyer reported, “Plays all my Blu-rays and DVDs… even writable discs look great.” Picture detail was especially valued by owners upgrading from basic DVD units, such as Best Buy reviewer: “Even regular DVDs look better on this BD.” Compactness also earns praise — a Quora user said it was “almost half the size” of their previous player, making it ideal for bedrooms or small media setups.
Physical setup is another highlight. Even self-described "not tech savvy" buyers found installation painless, connecting HDMI and powering up in minutes. For owners of Samsung TVs, remote interoperability was appreciated — “Eliminated one remote at our house because our TV is Samsung as well,” shared one happy Quora respondent.
Wi-Fi use, when it works, brings genuine benefit. A Twitter/X user celebrated smooth streaming: “We’ve watched Netflix via the player… only dropped the connection a handful of times and for seconds at most.” Streaming from USB drives also earned strong marks for ease and media compatibility.
Common Complaints
Networking reliability is the most frequent sore point. A Trustpilot reviewer vented: “Unit will not connect to the internet via Wi-Fi or wired connection… lots of people have this problem with no solution.” Many found that even when Wi-Fi connected, apps could be slow or freeze; one Amazon buyer described having to unplug and replug to restore service. The absence of 5GHz support exacerbates performance issues for modern high-bandwidth streams.
Durability concerns abound, especially with refurbished stock. “Stopped recognizing discs after only 6 months,” warned an Amazon buyer. Others reported receiving units that physically rattled or had broken disc doors out of the box. In rare cases, BD playback failed entirely while DVDs worked fine — a problem that left some questioning refurbishment standards.
Interface and control quirks also drew criticism. Multiple users lamented the lack of external display or indicator light, making it unclear if the unit was on. The remote’s lack of backlighting frustrated night viewers, and Best Buy reviewers reported glow-in-the-dark buttons fading quickly.
Divisive Features
Smart app selection splits opinions. Fans like the breadth of options — “Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon streaming” — but others note dated or missing services such as Hulu on certain models, with no updates. Netflix navigation is restricted; a Twitter/X user wished for the ability to browse and add to their queue directly, not just play existing items.
Refurbished pricing tempts many, but opinions diverge on long-term value. One Best Buy buyer insisted, “Refurbished is the way to go… never had a problem,” while another declared, “Returning today… not worth saving a few bucks if they don’t repair the original problem.”
Trust & Reliability
Trustpilot comments reveal a pattern: refurbished units occasionally ship with unresolved technical faults. Several noted “refurbished unit apparently not repaired” and immediate playback failures. There’s also skepticism toward labeling — some reviewers suspect devices aren’t fully tested before resale.
Long-term stability varies. On Reddit, one owner happily used theirs for months with only occasional YouTube hangs, while others reported successive failures on replacements. As one Twitter/X commenter put it bluntly: “It already broke once, what are the chances it happens again?”
Alternatives
One obvious competitor in user discussions is the Sony BDP-S1700, praised for “quick start and easy setup” and consistent disc performance. Panasonic models also get nods for reliable HDMI upscaling and compact designs, especially for non-Wi-Fi needs. For streaming-heavy users, community advice leans toward pairing a basic BD player with a dedicated streaming device like Roku or Fire Stick, reducing dependence on the Samsung’s app suite.
Price & Value
Amazon list pricing for the renewed unit has hovered around $110, while Best Buy “deal of the day” offers dipped to $69.99. On eBay, used market prices fall drastically — often between $20–$40 without remote — reflecting depreciation and potential repair risk. Community buying tips emphasize checking for return policies, especially with refurbished stock, and budgeting for a replacement remote if absent.
FAQ
Q: Does the Samsung Blu-ray player support 5GHz Wi-Fi?
A: No. Multiple buyers confirm it only operates on 2.4GHz, which can limit streaming quality on congested networks.
Q: Can it play writable DVDs and CDs?
A: Yes. Owners report smooth playback for DVD+/-R discs and standard audio CDs, with good upscaling on writable media.
Q: Is Netflix still supported?
A: Mixed. Some units stream Netflix fine, but others experience expired activation codes or app errors with no fix.
Q: Does it come with a remote in refurbished condition?
A: Often yes, but not always — some buyers received units without remotes, requiring separate purchase.
Q: How fast does it start up?
A: While marketed as “quick start,” real-world boot can take over a minute for some users.
Final Verdict
Buy if you need an affordable Blu-ray/DVD player with decent upscaling and occasionally use built-in apps. Avoid if streaming reliability is critical or if you’re unwilling to risk refurbished hardware. Pro tip from the community: pair this with a separate streaming stick to bypass app issues while keeping its solid disc performance.
