The 4 Best Portable DVD and Blu-Ray Players of 2022

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The best portable DVD and Blu-Ray players support both formats with good quality, and have a screen size and resolution that doesn't compromise on portability. Perhaps most importantly, they should have a battery that lets you keep watching during long car rides to keep kids entertained.

If you're looking for a Blu-Ray player of the less portable variety for your home theater setup, you should browse our list of the best Blu-Ray and Ultra HD Blu-Ray players. Otherwise, read on below to see the best portable DVD and Blu-Ray players we looked at.

The Rundown

Best Budget:

Sunpin Portable DVD Player at Amazon

Weighs less than three pounds and can last up to five hours per charge, so it makes a great travel companion.

Best for Kids:

UEME 9-Inch Portable DVD Player at Amazon

Comes with a canvas case to mount the device to the back of a car headrest.

Best Display:

Sylvania 15.6-inch Portable DVD Player at Amazon

Sylvania knocks it out of the park with this 15.6-inch, 270-degree rotating monitor.

Best Design:

Sylvania 7-Inch Portable DVD Player at Amazon

Immediately stands out with its rounded shape and integrated carrying handle.

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What We Like

Portable build
Solid picture quality
Supports files from USB drives and SD cards

What We Don't Like

Sound could be better

For portable entertainment on a budget, a player with Blu-Ray support likely won’t be worth the significant extra cost. But a DVD player can still offer plenty of features and a quality viewing experience, which is what you’ll get with this Sunpin device. Its 9.5-inch TFT LCD screen delivers solid picture quality with enhanced brightness. You'll get decent audio from the built-in speakers, but as a bonus, dual earphone jacks let two people listen from separate sets of headphones at the same time.

Aside from playing most standard CD/DVD formats, the Sunpin player also supports a variety of digital media files from a USB drive or SD card. Included in the package is an A/V cable for sending the display to a TV, a headrest mounting case for watching in the backseat of a car, and a car charger for powering it up on the road. It weighs less than three pounds and can last up to five hours before needing to be recharged, so it makes a great travel companion. The player is available in black, blue, red, and purple color options.

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What We Like

Plays any DVD and CD format
Supports USB and SD card playback
Comes with travel accessories

What We Don't Like

Doesn't include headphones or game controllers

Movies are a great way to keep kids busy on long trips, and UEME offers a DVD player designed to do exactly that. It comes in two styles: blue with a racecar design or pink with a princess-and-unicorn design. The models are otherwise identical, with a nine-inch 800 x 480-pixel LCD display that can swivel 180 degrees. It plays essentially any DVD and CD format, as well as most digital video and audio files through a USB port and SD card slot that supports up to 32GB.

At home, you can power or charge it with the power cord and connect it to a TV with the included A/V cable. Some other DVD players geared toward kids come with bonus accessories like game controllers and headphones, but UEME’s device includes extras that make it perfect for travel — it comes with a canvas case to easily and securely mount the device to the back of a car headrest, along with a car adapter to keep it charged and a remote to control playback. When not plugged in, the battery can provide you with about four hours of entertainment for the kids.

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What We Like

Large screen size
Built-in card reader
Supports MP4 and DIVX formatted movies
Dual stereo speakers

What We Don't Like

Short battery life

There’s little question a 15.6-inch portable DVD player will have you doing a double-take, but Sylvania knocks it out of the park with this laptop-sized screen. Featuring 270 degrees of rotation, the 15.6-inch display offers plenty of screen space to enjoy the latest DVD releases in a package that’s just 5.1 pounds. While it has just 2.5 hours of battery life, the built-in card reader allows the addition of MP4 and DIVX formatted movies to go beyond the DVD space.

If you want to get comfortable, fold the Sylvania flat and watch it in any position that feels best. There’s an additional remote control for controlling the player from a distance, as well as a car-powered AC adapter included for all the power you need while on a road trip. Additionally, the built-in dual full-range stereo speakers offer crisp and clear sound. With a large display and anti-shock playback to help avoid skips, this portable DVD player is hard to pass up.

Sylvania SDVD7046-Blue 7-Inch Portable DVD Player

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What We Like

Unique design
Small and lightweight
Includes remote and earphones

What We Don't Like

Lackluster battery
Can't connect to TV or resume automatic playback

With many portable players sporting a similar boxy look with a swivel-screen design, the Sylvania SDVD7046 immediately stands out with its rounded shape and integrated carrying handle. Its vibrant color options—silver, black, blue, pink, red, and purple—allows you to personalize your pick beyond the standard black and silver.

This simple and lightweight device is built for on-the-go viewing and does the job well. It doesn’t have many extra functions, like the ability to connect to a TV or automatically resume playback from where you left off. It does, however, come with a remote and a set of earphones, in addition to its built-in speakers and audio input. Some users ran into issues with the battery not holding a long charge, but if you have opportunities to plug in and recharge, it’s a stylish and very portable companion for road trips.

Final Verdict

If you want a cinematic experience, we recommend the Sylvania 15.6-inch (view at Amazon) for its larger display.

What to Look For in a Portable DVD Player

Format

Most portable players will only support standard DVDs, so if want to play your high-definition Blu-ray discs, be sure to check that the model you’re considering offers support for the format. Do note that Blu-ray players typically come with a much higher price tag than their DVD counterparts. You'll also want a player that can handle playback from a USB drive or SD card to maximize your options.

Screen Size

Are you seeking out a small portable experience or something with a bit more viewing heft? Depending on your preferences, you can choose between players with smaller 9-inch screens or ones with laptop-style 15.6-inch displays for a more cinematic experience. Screen resolution and brightness is also important since this will help determine your viewing experience.

DR. J Professional 14.1-inch Portable DVD Player — Lifewire / James Huenink

Battery Life

The last thing you’d want is to have your player’s battery die before you’ve reached the end of your movie. Make sure that the unit you’re purchasing has enough battery life to make it through your next road trip or overseas flight. Most players last around 3 hours, the better ones will reach 5 hours and above.

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