View source for Engineering:Ultra HD Blu-ray

{{short description|Optical disc storage medium}}
{{Infobox storage medium
| logo      = Ultra HD Blu-ray (logo).svg
| logo_size = 230px
| image     =Back of a triple layer Ultra HD Blu-Ray Disc.png
| caption   =Reverse side of a 100 GB Ultra HD Blu-ray disc.
| type      = High-density [[Engineering:Optical disc|optical disc]]
| encoding  = H.265/MPEG-H Part 2 (HEVC)
| capacity  = 50&nbsp;GB (dual-layer,<ref name=whitepaper>{{cite web|url=http://www.blu-raydisc.com/Assets/Downloadablefile/White_Paper_General_4th_20150817_clean.pdf|title=White Paper: Blu-ray Disc™ Format|edition=4th|year=2015|website=Blu-RayDisc.com|access-date=December 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170115180630/http://www.blu-raydisc.com/Assets/Downloadablefile/White_Paper_General_4th_20150817_clean.pdf|archive-date=January 15, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> 92&nbsp;Mb/s)<br />66&nbsp;GB (dual-layer,<ref name=whitepaper /> 123, 144&nbsp;Mb/s)<br />100&nbsp;GB (triple-layer,<ref name=whitepaper /> 123, 144&nbsp;Mb/s)
| blocksize = 2 KB sector, 64&nbsp;KB block size<ref name=whitepaper />
| dimensions= {{convert|120|mm|inch|lk=on|abbr=on}} diameter<!-- Not sure if this is still true: <br />1.2&nbsp;mm thickness -->
| read      = 405&nbsp;[[Nanometre|nm]] laser
| owner     = [[Organization:Blu-ray Disc Association|Blu-ray Disc Association]]
| use       = [[Engineering:Ultra-high-definition television|Ultra-high-definition video]]<br />PlayStation 5 format software
| extended from = [[Engineering:Blu-ray|Standard Blu-ray]]
| released  = {{release date and age|2016|2|14}}}}
{{Optical disc authoring}}

'''Ultra HD Blu-ray''' ('''4K Ultra HD''', '''UHD-BD''', or '''4K Blu-ray''')<ref>{{Cite web|last=Morrison|first=Geoffrey|title=What is 4K Blu-ray?|url=https://www.cnet.com/how-to/ultra-hd-4k-blu-ray-what-we-know/|access-date=May 25, 2021|website=CNET|language=en|archive-date=February 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226003017/https://www.cnet.com/how-to/ultra-hd-4k-blu-ray-what-we-know/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=4K Movies, 4K Blu-ray Movies, 4K Blu-ray Players|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/4k/|access-date=May 25, 2021|website=www.blu-ray.com|archive-date=May 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528001221/https://www.blu-ray.com/4k/|url-status=live}}</ref> is a [[Digital media|digital]] [[Engineering:Optical disc|optical disc]] [[Engineering:Data storage device|data storage]] format that is an enhanced variant of [[Engineering:Blu-ray|Blu-ray]].<ref name="CNET4KBlu-raySeptember2014" /> Ultra HD Blu-ray discs are incompatible with existing standard Blu-ray players.<ref name=whitepaper /> Ultra HD Blu-ray supports [[4K resolution|4K]] [[Engineering:Ultra-high-definition television|UHD]] (3840 × 2160 pixel resolution) video at frame rates up to 60 progressive frames per second,<ref name="CNET4KBlu-raySeptember2014">{{cite news |title=4K Blu-ray discs arriving in 2015 to fight streaming media |publisher=CNET |url=http://www.cnet.com/news/4k-blu-ray-discs-arriving-in-2015-to-fight-streaming-media/ |date=September 5, 2014 |access-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013164451/http://www.cnet.com/news/4k-blu-ray-discs-arriving-in-2015-to-fight-streaming-media/ |archive-date=October 13, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> encoded using [[High Efficiency Video Coding|High-Efficiency Video Coding]].<ref name="CNET4KBlu-raySeptember2014" /> The discs support both [[Engineering:High dynamic range|high dynamic range]] by increasing the color depth to [[Engineering:Color depth#Deep color (30-bit)|10-bit per color]] and a greater color [[Gamut|gamut]] than supported by conventional Blu-ray video by using the [[Rec. 2020]] [[Color space|color space]]. Ultra HD Blu-Ray discs also support a [[Engineering:Color depth#Deep color (30-bit)|12-bit per color]] container via Dolby Vision.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pocket-lint.com/tv/news/dolby/139947-what-is-dolby-vision-dolby-s-very-own-hdr-tv-tech-explained/ | title=What is Dolby Vision? Dolby's own HDR tech explained | date=October 2021 }}</ref> Dolby Vision content on 4K UHD Blu-Ray can also be mastered for 10,000 nits peak brightness, whereas standard HDR10 can only achieve a maximum of 4,000 nits of brightness.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rtings.com/tv/learn/hdr10-vs-dolby-vision#peak-brightness | title=HDR10 vs HDR10+ vs Dolby Vision: Which is better? }}</ref> Moreover, Dolby Vision makes use of dynamic metadata, which adjusts the brightness and tone mapping per scene. In contrast, standard HDR10 only makes use of static metadata, which sets the same brightness and tone mapping for the entirety of the content.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rtings.com/tv/learn/hdr10-vs-dolby-vision | title=HDR10 vs HDR10+ vs Dolby Vision: Which is better? }}</ref>

The format is supported on [[Company:Microsoft|Microsoft]]'s [[Engineering:Xbox One#Xbox One X|Xbox One X]],<ref name="VergeOneX">{{cite web|title= Xbox One X is Microsoft's next game console, arriving on November 7th for $499|url= https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/11/15774918/microsoft-xbox-one-x-release-date-price-new-console-announced-e3-2017|first= Tom|last= Warren|website= [[The Verge]]|publisher= [[Company:Vox Media|Vox Media]]|date= June 11, 2017|access-date= October 10, 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170612004033/https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/11/15774918/microsoft-xbox-one-x-release-date-price-new-console-announced-e3-2017|archive-date= June 12, 2017|url-status= live}}</ref> [[Engineering:Xbox One#Xbox One S|One S]]<!--;-->,<ref name="VergeOneS">{{cite web|title=Microsoft announces the Xbox One S, its smallest Xbox yet|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/13/11911184/microsoft-xbox-one-s-announced-price-specs-e3-2016|first=Andrew|last=Webster|website=[[The Verge]]|publisher=[[Company:Vox Media|Vox Media]]|date=June 13, 2016|access-date=October 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801132419/https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/13/11911184/microsoft-xbox-one-s-announced-price-specs-e3-2016|archive-date=August 1, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Engineering:Xbox Series X and Series S|Series X]], and [[Company:Sony|Sony]]'s [[Engineering:PlayStation 5|PlayStation 5]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lyons |first1=Ron Jr. |first2=William |last2=Antonelli |title=Yes, the PS5 has 4k — here's what you'll need to play games and stream movies in the highest resolution possible |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/does-ps5-have-4k |access-date=August 12, 2021 |work=Business Insider |date=January 28, 2021 |archive-date=August 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812015518/https://www.businessinsider.com/does-ps5-have-4k |url-status=live }}</ref> Software made for the PlayStation 5<ref name="WiredPS5">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/story/exclusive-playstation-5/ |url-access=limited |title=Exclusive: A Deeper Look at the PlayStation 5|first=Peter|last=Rubin|date=October 8, 2019|access-date=October 10, 2019|magazine=Wired|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008121717/https://www.wired.com/story/exclusive-playstation-5/|archive-date=October 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/consoles/ps5-release-date-news-and-features-1213409|title=PS5 release date, specs, news and rumors for Sony's PlayStation 5|last=Hood|first=Vic |first2= Gerald |last2=Lynch |first3=Henry |last3=St Leger |first4=Emma |last4=Boyle |date=January 9, 2020|website=[[TechRadar]]|publisher=Future Publishing|url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214062230/https://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/consoles/ps5-release-date-news-and-features-1213409|archive-date=December 14, 2019|access-date=February 13, 2020}}</ref> can use 100 GB UHD Blu-ray discs.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 19, 2020|title=PlayStation 5 v Xbox Series X: how will the rival consoles compare?|url=http://www.theguardian.com/games/2020/jun/19/playstation-5-xbox-series-x|access-date=May 27, 2021 |first1=Keith |last1=Stuart |website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=May 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512092153/https://www.theguardian.com/games/2020/jun/19/playstation-5-xbox-series-x|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs were officially released in the United States on February 14, 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=18238 |date=January 7, 2016 |title=Upcoming Fox 4K Blu-ray Titles |website=Blu-ray.com |access-date=January 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110045836/http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=18238 |archive-date=January 10, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> To differentiate retail Ultra HD Blu-ray releases, the format usually uses a black opaque or slightly transparent keep case packaging format (as opposed to blue). The case size is the same as that of a normal Blu-ray disc.

The [[Organization:Blu-ray Disc Association|Blu-ray Disc Association]] also completed the specification for an [[8K resolution|8K]] Blu-ray format supporting 8K UHD (7680 × 4320 pixel resolution) videos for use in {{wipe|Japan}}.<ref name="8kbd">{{cite web|url=https://displaydaily.com/blu-ray-disc-association-settles-on-8k-format/ |website=Display Daily |title=Blu-ray Disc Association Settles on 8K Format|first=Chris|last=Chinnock|date=January 22, 2018|access-date=August 29, 2023}}</ref>

==Specifications==
[[File:4K Blu Ray early Best Buy release.jpg|thumb|Early 4K Blu-ray display at [[Company:Best Buy|Best Buy]]]]
The specification for 4K Blu-ray allows for three disc capacities, each with its own data rate: 50&nbsp;GB at 72&nbsp;or 92&nbsp;Mbit/s, and 66&nbsp;GB and 100&nbsp;GB at 92, 123, or 144&nbsp;Mbit/s. On 66 GB and 100 GB discs, the pits and lands are not narrower than those of a standard Blu-ray Disc, but shorter, which increases the capacity of each layer from 25 GB to 33 1/3 GB. This also means that each revolution of such a disc transfers more data than that of a standard Blu-ray Disc, which means the transfer rate is higher with the same linear velocity. In addition, the disc can be encoded to have the drive hold the full 5,000 rpm until it reaches a point slightly away from the innermost part of the disc if an even higher transfer rate is needed. 50 and 66 GB use two layers, and 100 GB uses three layers.<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.blu-raydisc.com/Assets/Downloadablefile/White_Paper_General_5th_20180216.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411062740/http://www.blu-raydisc.com/Assets/Downloadablefile/White_Paper_General_5th_20180216.pdf |archive-date=April 11, 2020 |date=January 2018 |publisher=Blu-ray Disc Association |title=White Paper Blu-ray Disc™ Format General 5th Edition }}</ref><ref name="CNET4KBlu-raySeptember2014" /> Ultra HD Blu-ray technology was licensed in mid-2015, and players had an expected release date of Christmas 2015.<ref name="CNET4KBlu-raySeptember2014" /> Ultra HD Blu-ray uses a new revision of AACS DRM: AACS&nbsp;2. AACS&nbsp;2.1 is used on certain releases such as ''Stand by Me'', ''Fury'', ''The Patriot'', and ''Zombieland''.

On May 12, 2015, the [[Organization:Blu-ray Disc Association|Blu-ray Disc Association]] revealed completed specifications and the official Ultra HD Blu-ray logo.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150512005300/en/Blu-ray-Disc-Association-Completes-Ultra-HD-Blu-ray%E2%84%A2#.VVIMMvlVikp |title=Blu-ray Disc Association Completes Ultra HD Blu-ray™ Specification and Releases New Logo |date=May 12, 2015 |website=Business Wire |access-date=October 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031093813/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150512005300/en/Blu-ray-Disc-Association-Completes-Ultra-HD-Blu-ray%E2%84%A2#.VVIMMvlVikp |archive-date=October 31, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Unlike conventional DVDs and Blu-rays, the new 4K format does not have region coding.<ref>{{cite web |first=Michael S. |last=Palmer |url=http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/ultra-hd-bluray/4K/Ultra_HD/high-dynamic-range/hdr/Dolby_Atmos/dtsx/Panasonic/Samsung/everything-we-know-about-ultra-hd-bluray/26595 |title=Everything We Know About Ultra HD Blu-ray |publisher=High-Def Digest |date=October 7, 2015 |access-date=December 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118051904/http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/ultra-hd-bluray/4K/Ultra_HD/high-dynamic-range/hdr/Dolby_Atmos/dtsx/Panasonic/Samsung/everything-we-know-about-ultra-hd-bluray/26595 |archive-date=November 18, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On February 14, 2016, the BDA released Ultra HD Blu-ray with mandatory support for [[Engineering:HDR10|HDR10]] Media Profile video and optional support for [[Engineering:Dolby Vision|Dolby Vision]].<ref name=UltraHDArrivesJanuary2016DigitalTrends>{{cite news |title=Ultra HD Blu-ray arrives February 2016; here's everything we know |first=Caleb |last=Denison |publisher=Digital Trends |url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/ultra-hd-blu-ray-specs-dates-and-titles/ |date=January 28, 2016 |access-date=July 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727134339/http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/ultra-hd-blu-ray-specs-dates-and-titles/ |archive-date=July 27, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=UltraHDPlayerFebruary2016HighDefDigest>{{cite news |title=Hands On First Look: Samsung UBD-K8500 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player |first=Michael S. |last=Palmer |publisher=High-Def Digest |url=http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Samsung/ultra-hd-bluray/4K/UHD/hdr/hands-on-first-look-samsung-ubdk8500-ultra-hd-bluray-player/29748 |date=February 10, 2016 |access-date=July 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724080848/http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Samsung/ultra-hd-bluray/4K/UHD/hdr/hands-on-first-look-samsung-ubdk8500-ultra-hd-bluray-player/29748 |archive-date=July 24, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In December 2017, the BDA also settled the specification for an [[8K resolution|8K]] Blu-ray format for use in Japan. More than two hours of 8K UHD content can be recorded on BDXL discs (128GB – quad-layer, 100GB triple-layer).<ref name="8kbd" />

On January 23, 2018, the BDA spec v3.2 gained optional support for HDR10+ and Philips and Technicolor's SL-HDR2, also known as Advanced HDR by Technicolor.<ref name=Blu-RayDiscAssociationUpdate>{{cite news |title=Blu-ray Disc Association – Update – 1/12/2018 |publisher=From Vinyl to Plastic |url=http://fromvinyltoplastic.com/ces-2018-hdr10-update/ |date=January 12, 2018 |access-date=January 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113093354/http://fromvinyltoplastic.com/ces-2018-hdr10-update/ |archive-date=January 13, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, no Ultra HD Blu-ray player has ever supported SL-HDR2, and no discs encoded in SL-HDR2 have been released.

Most retail Ultra HD Blu-ray discs are encoded with Ateme TITAN.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ATEME TITAN – SCENARIST®|url=https://www.scenarist.com/ateme-titan-landing/|access-date=October 27, 2021|language=en-US|archive-date=October 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027144310/https://www.scenarist.com/ateme-titan-landing/|url-status=live}}</ref> Ultra HD Blu-ray discs use HDMV or [[BD-J]] for menus. Subtitles use Presentation Graphic Stream, which is the same format as normal Blu-ray discs.

== PC playback ==
Only computers with activated [[Software Guard Extensions]] (SGX) support Ultra HD Blu-ray playback. [[Company:Intel|Intel]] introduced SGX in the [[Skylake (microarchitecture)|Skylake]] generation [[Engineering:Intel Core|Core]] processors in 2016, enabling PCs to play protected Blu-ray discs for the first time. In January 2022, Intel deprecated support for SGX for the [[Engineering:Rocket Lake|Rocket Lake]] and [[Engineering:Alder Lake (microprocessor)|Alder Lake]] generation desktop processors, leading to Ultra HD Blu-ray discs being unplayable on those systems, even with licensed software such as [[Software:PowerDVD|PowerDVD]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/new-intel-chips-wont-play-blu-ray-disks-due-to-sgx-deprecation/|title=New Intel chips won't play Blu-ray disks due to SGX deprecation|access-date=January 17, 2022|archive-date=January 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116234446/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/new-intel-chips-wont-play-blu-ray-disks-due-to-sgx-deprecation/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cyberlink.com/support-center/faq/content?id=26690 | title=CyberLink Support Center }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cyberlink.com/stat/help/powerdvd/22/pc-mode/enu/98_01_14_how_to_play_uhdbd.html | title=How do I Set up an Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Compatible Platform? }}</ref> However, on systems without SGX support, Ultra HD Blu-ray discs can be [[Engineering:Ripping|ripped]] using a drive with patched firmware (LibreDrive) and compatible software such as MakeMKV, DVDFab, or AnyDVD HD.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yee |first=Alaina |title=4K Blu-ray support is dying on the PC. MakeMKV can help |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/606652/4k-blu-ray-support-is-dying-on-the-pc-makemkv-can-help.html |access-date=October 24, 2023 |website=PCWorld |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Video storage formats}}
{{High definition media}}
{{High-definition}}
[[Category:Consumer electronics]]
[[Category:High dynamic range]]
[[Category:High-definition television]]
[[Category:Rotating disc computer storage media]]
[[Category:Television terminology]]
[[Category:Ultra-high-definition television]]
[[Category:Video storage]]

{{Sourceattribution|Ultra HD Blu-ray}}