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Why didn’t it ever become as popular as CDs or DVDs?
I remember when the first DVD drives for computers came out—I immediately bought one. At that time, hard drives had very little storage space, so I burned some files onto DVDs because they were cheap and widely available at local markets.
By offloading unused files onto DVDs, I could free up valuable space on my computer over time.
Then Blu-ray came along, but I never used it on my computer, and I know for a fact that it never became as popular as DVDs for many others. Why didn’t anyone need this storage format? Let’s take a closer look.
Back then, Blu-ray players were expensive—just like the discs themselves. Not everyone had a high-end TV capable of displaying the superior image quality that Blu-ray offered. Many people were perfectly fine with DVD and CD players since the difference wasn’t that noticeable on standard TVs.
One of the biggest reasons Blu-ray had such a short lifespan was the rise of the internet. Blu-ray was originally designed for high-quality movies, but the availability of fast, unlimited internet led to the growth of torrents—people started downloading these movies for free, with excellent quality.
Not long after, connecting a PC to a TV became easy. In general, Blu-ray technology became widely available at the tail end of the physical storage era. Today, no one really uses discs anymore—smart TVs connect to the internet, allowing you to stream any content you want.
Many people were already used to traditional DVDs and didn’t adopt the new format out of habit. Blu-ray discs weren’t always easy to find either—due to high prices and low demand, they weren’t sold everywhere. Meanwhile, DVDs were everywhere at the time—you could buy any movie at a subway station, and they were much cheaper than licensed Blu-rays.
The only place where Blu-ray remains somewhat relevant is in the gaming industry. It’s convenient for large game sizes, but even that is changing—some games now exceed Blu-ray disc capacity. Moreover, console makers are moving away from Blu-ray drives, opting instead for digital downloads via online stores.
Just a few days ago, LG announced it was exiting the Blu-ray player market due to low demand. Before that, both Samsung and Sony had already left the Blu-ray business. In 10 years, we’ll probably forget this format even existed.
However, DVDs will likely stick around for a while—for example, many truck drivers still use portable DVD players with screens to watch movies on the road, where high-speed internet isn’t always available. And in that scenario, Blu-ray’s high-quality advantage simply doesn’t matter.
I remember when the first DVD drives for computers came out—I immediately bought one. At that time, hard drives had very little storage space, so I burned some files onto DVDs because they were cheap and widely available at local markets.
By offloading unused files onto DVDs, I could free up valuable space on my computer over time.
Then Blu-ray came along, but I never used it on my computer, and I know for a fact that it never became as popular as DVDs for many others. Why didn’t anyone need this storage format? Let’s take a closer look.
High Cost
Back then, Blu-ray players were expensive—just like the discs themselves. Not everyone had a high-end TV capable of displaying the superior image quality that Blu-ray offered. Many people were perfectly fine with DVD and CD players since the difference wasn’t that noticeable on standard TVs.
The Rise of the Internet
One of the biggest reasons Blu-ray had such a short lifespan was the rise of the internet. Blu-ray was originally designed for high-quality movies, but the availability of fast, unlimited internet led to the growth of torrents—people started downloading these movies for free, with excellent quality.
Not long after, connecting a PC to a TV became easy. In general, Blu-ray technology became widely available at the tail end of the physical storage era. Today, no one really uses discs anymore—smart TVs connect to the internet, allowing you to stream any content you want.
Consumer Habits
Many people were already used to traditional DVDs and didn’t adopt the new format out of habit. Blu-ray discs weren’t always easy to find either—due to high prices and low demand, they weren’t sold everywhere. Meanwhile, DVDs were everywhere at the time—you could buy any movie at a subway station, and they were much cheaper than licensed Blu-rays.
Where Is Blu-ray Now?
You could argue that the format still exists—but barely. Today, Blu-ray players are still available for both PCs and TVs. Sure, you can buy an external Blu-ray burner and use Blu-ray discs for backing up and storing family photos. But does that make sense when you can get several terabytes of external hard drive storage or use cloud services for a much lower price?The only place where Blu-ray remains somewhat relevant is in the gaming industry. It’s convenient for large game sizes, but even that is changing—some games now exceed Blu-ray disc capacity. Moreover, console makers are moving away from Blu-ray drives, opting instead for digital downloads via online stores.
Just a few days ago, LG announced it was exiting the Blu-ray player market due to low demand. Before that, both Samsung and Sony had already left the Blu-ray business. In 10 years, we’ll probably forget this format even existed.
However, DVDs will likely stick around for a while—for example, many truck drivers still use portable DVD players with screens to watch movies on the road, where high-speed internet isn’t always available. And in that scenario, Blu-ray’s high-quality advantage simply doesn’t matter.
