Samsung Blu-ray Wi-Fi Player Review: Conditional Buy Verdict
A verified buyer summed up their experience with the SAMSUNG Blu-ray DVD Disc Player with Wi-Fi (Renewed) in just five words: "Great product! Great price!". With thousands of reviews across Amazon, Best Buy, and eBay, this refurbished player carves out a niche for buyers seeking affordability and multipurpose playback without committing to an expensive 4K system. Scoring a 7.6/10, it’s a conditional buy—great for casual movie watchers or those wanting smart streaming on a budget, but risky for users counting on flawless Netflix or long-term durability.
Quick Verdict: Conditional Buy
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent Blu-ray, DVD, and CD playback quality | Netflix app issues and streaming freezes |
| Built-in Wi-Fi with smart apps | No 4K UHD support |
| Compact, lightweight design | No power indicator light |
| Affordable refurbished pricing | Shorter lifespan reported by several buyers |
| Fast disc load times in many units | Refurb quality inconsistent between purchases |
| Plays media from USB devices | Limited to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band |
Claims vs Reality
Samsung advertises this renewed player as capable of Full HD 1080p playback with built-in Wi-Fi for smart streaming. The official listings praise HD upscaling for DVDs, seamless online app access, and “tested, inspected, and fully functional” refurbished quality.
Digging deeper into user reports, the Wi-Fi claim holds up for some buyers but collapses for others. Reddit user feedback reveals Netflix frustrations: "I tried to connect… entered my activation code... message came up that the code had expired"—a problem so widespread it was pegged as “a universal issue with this unit.” For certain users, especially those purchasing for streaming, this makes the smart features unreliable.
Samsung also touts effortless set-up. Indeed, multiple buyers confirm easy installation. A verified Best Buy customer stated: "Set it up in minutes… I’m not the most tech savvy person." However, the absence of a power indicator light—something not mentioned in specs—frustrated users who left it on for days without knowing, undercutting the plug-and-play promise.
Finally, the “refurbished to like-new” claim is uneven in reality. While some units arrived pristine, others showed failures right out of the box. One Best Buy customer lamented: "The first one arrived… broken disc door... shake it and it sounds like a maraca!" This inconsistency is inherent with refurb resellers, but the gap between Samsung’s promotional reassurances and certain customers’ first impressions remains.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
Across platforms, users praise the picture quality for Blu-ray and DVD playback. A verified buyer on Amazon wrote: "The screen is unbelievably clear… easy to hook up, easy to program." For casual viewers, this visual performance—especially with HD upscaling—makes aging DVD collections look sharper.
The compact design wins favor in small spaces. Amazon buyers highlighted its "very compact… fits underneath the TV in my bedroom" profile, making it ideal for bedrooms or RV setups. For non-tech households, straightforward operation is a plus. Best Buy reviewers repeatedly mentioned easy navigation: "Very easy to set up… more intuitive than my other Blu-ray player by LG."
USB playback capability also rises as a top pro. Quora-sourced reviews note that plugging in a flash drive with movies or photos worked seamlessly, appealing to users with offline media libraries.
Common Complaints
The most consistent complaint is streaming app instability—particularly Netflix. Even refurbished units advertised with built-in smart apps often encounter frozen screens. An Amazon reviewer described unplugging their player mid-show: "Netflix freezes every time… only way to fix is to unplug the unit." Users relying heavily on smart features may find this more frustrating than the player’s otherwise good disc performance.
Durability is another issue. Multiple Amazon buyers reported failures within months: "Six months… no longer recognizes DVDs." Given refurb status, longevity is uncertain. This risk particularly impacts buyers intending heavy, daily use, versus occasional movie nights.
The lack of a power indicator light appears trivial but annoys many. Quora feedback includes: "No light or display… I have left it on for days not knowing." This design choice affects energy-conscious households and users who prefer visible device states.
Divisive Features
Wi-Fi performance splits audiences. Owners with strong networks often describe stable streaming, while others face constant connection drops. One Best Buy reviewer contrasted this with other devices: "Amazon Prime said bandwidth is insufficient… no other device has a problem."
The refurbished gamble divides buyers. Some embrace it for value—“Refurbished is the way to go… I’ve never had a problem”—while others reject it after receiving nonfunctional units twice in a row. This polarized response boils down to tolerance for potential returns and repairs.
Trust & Reliability
Trust concerns emerge in Best Buy and Amazon threads where users claim refurbishment steps were inadequate. "Refurbished unit apparently not repaired… it was not able to read a DVD," one Best Buy customer warned. Others suspect products were simply repackaged without proper testing.
Long-term reliability stories further the caution. The six-month failure window mentioned by Amazon buyers suggests these renewals can’t match the decade-plus lifespans of older, non-refurbed players. On the flip side, some users report flawless performance over 1-2 years, supporting the idea that quality control is variable rather than universally poor.
Alternatives
For buyers needing 4K UHD, Samsung’s UBD-M9500 is often cited as the step-up option, offering HDR, expanded color range, and stronger build—but at a significantly higher price point. Users comparing reported fewer streaming glitches.
Budget-conscious shoppers sometimes turn to Sony BDP-S1700, praised for quick start times and stable operation on streaming apps like Netflix, though with fewer smart features than Samsung’s offerings. This trade-off appeals to reliability-focused buyers.
Price & Value
As of current listings, renewed Samsung Wi-Fi Blu-ray players hover between $27 on eBay (basic models without remotes) and $110 on Amazon for the BD-J5700 bundle with HDMI cable. eBay resale trends show rapid depreciation, suggesting limited collector or high-demand potential.
Community buying tips emphasize purchasing from sellers with strong refurb track records. Several Reddit users advocate buying with extended warranties to buffer against short-lifespan risks. For streaming use cases, competitive pricing can’t offset persistent app issues, but for disc playback, the value remains compelling.
FAQ
Q: Does this player support 4K UHD Blu-ray discs?
A: No, it is limited to standard Blu-ray and DVD playback at up to 1080p. Users needing 4K should consider Samsung’s UBD models.
Q: Can it upscale DVDs to HD quality?
A: Yes. Several buyers note the HD upconversion feature noticeably sharpens older DVDs, making them look closer to Blu-ray quality.
Q: Is Wi-Fi dual-band?
A: No, it only supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, which some users found limiting for HD streaming stability.
Q: Does it have indicator lights or a display?
A: No power indicator is present, which frustrated some users who couldn’t tell if it was on without a TV connected.
Q: Are refurbished units reliable?
A: Performance varies; some units last years, others fail within months. Extended warranties or buying new can mitigate risk.
Final Verdict
Buy if you’re a budget-focused movie watcher who values sharp Blu-ray/DVD playback and occasional USB media streaming, and can tolerate possible app hiccups. Avoid if Netflix or heavy streaming usage is your main goal, or if you won’t accept the potential pitfalls of refurbishment.
Pro tip from community: Pair it with a dedicated streaming stick for apps, and reserve the player for what it does best—disc playback.
