Here's How Much A DVD Player Cost In 1997 Vs. 2026
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One would think that a DVD player being made and released in 2026 sounds crazy, but they are still around. Even with the popularity of streaming on smartphones, gaming consoles, and smart TVs, owning a DVD player remains a possibility. They're ideal for anyone into collecting DVDs to add to a physical collection, and you can get one in 2026 for much less than you could have in 1997. DVD players were released in the late 1990s, with tech company RCA being among the first to do so.
Panasonic and Sony also had a line of DVD players back then, and both continue to manufacture models today. If you wanted a DVD player the year '90s sci-fi movie "Starship Troopers" bombed at the box office, you could expect to pay as much as $749 for a Panasonic model — which is over $1,500 in 2026. To buy a new DVD player today, you are looking at spending less than $100 for a Sony unit. Sony is one well-known brand that continues to manufacture DVD players, along with Philips and Panasonic, with its Blu-ray players that can play DVDs.
What has changed in DVD players over the years
DVD players may still be worth buying in 2026 as they've gone through a bit of change since 1997. In early iterations, they were connected to TVs with RCA cables. Today, DVD players can be hooked up to your TV using an HDMI cable, changing the signal from analog to digital. As a new technology in the late '90s, DVD players cost quite a bit. However, the price for a home unit was nothing compared to portable players.
Panasonic released the DVD-L10 "PalmTheater" in 1998, which cost around $1,000 for the ability to watch movies on the go. These portable DVD players came with a built-in screen instead of plugging into an external monitor. If you wanted to play a DVD in 1997, a DVD player was your only choice. But, on October 26th, 2000, Sony introduced another method for watching DVD movies at home with the PlayStation 2 gaming console. The latest console, the PS5, is capable of playing Blu-rays as well.
Companies that still make DVD players today
Sony is one of the few remaining major tech companies that still makes a standalone DVD player in 2026. The Philips PLD2000 player is available on Amazon for $69.99 and can upscale a DVD from 480P to 1080P resolution, which reviewers find works well. Panasonic used to make DVD-only players, but has since expanded to making combination Blu-ray and DVD players. If you have a Blu-ray collection, you may want to consider a cheap Blu-ray player to watch your favorite movies and TV shows.
While Blu-ray players work with both types of discs, DVD players do not support Blu-rays. There are other companies that make DVD players today beyond household names like Sony, Panasonic, and Philips. For example, the Megatek region-free player is available on Amazon for $39.99 with a 4.4-star rating, and Majority DVD sells a player currently listed for just $29.95. However, it's best to do your own research before choosing a DVD player that works best for you.