“This Oppo Just Gives Us More…”

FOR Stunning 4K picture; big sound; fast and easy to operate AGAINST No streaming apps included

As we test so many products during the course of our working week, we sometimes wonder if it's possible to become a bit blasé about new technology. Take Ultra HD 4K TVs for example: they have been around for a few years now and, while 4K Blu-ray discs and players are still relatively new, we’ve seen more than enough to become accustomed to the impressive resolution.

But then a product such as the Oppo UDP-203 comes along and sweeps us off our feet. Oppo’s first 4K Blu-ray player reminds us just how stunning a 4K picture still is, and takes us back to the early days, when 4K videos would make our jaws drop.

A 4K Blu-ray disc player with HDR, Dolby Atmos and stacks of hi-res music compatibility, the Oppo UDP-203 is, in most respects, a well-specified unit. At £650, it’s pricier than our current favourite 4K player – the £600 Panasonic DMP-UB900, which can be found at good retailers for around £450 now. More pertinently, the Panasonic was our only five-star 4K disc-spinner – until now. The Oppo improves upon the Panasonic in most ways.

Life of Pi in 4K Blu-ray looks spectacular. The colourful scenes of Pi stranded on the vast ocean while the sun sets around him are breathtakingly crisp and vivid.

The amount of detail conveyed by the Oppo UDP-203 outshines the Panasonic DMP-UB900. Every ounce of detail – from the rough texture of his sun-exposed skin to the silky-smooth clear water – is etched out with superb clarity and subtlety. Each strand of the CGI tiger’s fur looks so tactile you want to reach out and pet him.