Some may believe that physical media is dying, but at TechRadar, we’re still flying the 4K Blu-ray flag!
4K Blu-ray is the best way to show off the best TVs and best soundbars, due to its higher bitrate than streaming (4K streaming averages 17-25Mbps and maxes at 40Mbps, while 4K Blu-ray averages 128Mbps) and uncompressed soundtracks.
In November 2024, we started a feature called the Blu-ray Bounty where we test the best new 4K discs. Trust me, there have been some superb discs.
While testing these discs, I’ve not only come to appreciate 4K Blu-ray even more for its video and audio quality (I was a collector before joining TechRadar in 2023), but I’ve also found myself drawn to another aspect of collecting, one that can be a big trap for personal finances: Steelbooks.
Steelbooks are a special edition, steel-cased version of a 4K Blu-ray that features different artwork from the standard edition. There is absolutely no difference other than the Steelbook version possibly looking a bit prettier on the shelf.
We’ve been lucky to get some excellent 4K Steelbooks for Blu-ray Bounty, and that got me thinking: are all Steelbooks worth it? I went on a deep dive to find out.
Worth the price
While it may seem strange to fawn over a Steelbook version of a 4K Blu-ray, that's what I’m going to do right now. One of the best in recent memory is the Tombstone Steelbook pictured above. The movie poster-type shot with the white background and western script makes this a thing of beauty. And I’m not alone in my thinking, since this particular 4K Blu-ray flew off the shelves and has been a regular topic of discussion on the r/4Kbluray 4K Blu-ray subreddit.
It's this very 4K Blu-ray Steelbook that made me aware of just how good they can look. Below is a gallery of images of some of the best 4K Blu-ray Steelbooks we’ve featured in the Blu-ray Bounty.
Whether it’s the simplicity of the king’s face on the Kingdom of Heaven cover (an extremely popular 4K disc), the keyhole from The Sixth Sense or the titular characters of Deadpool & Wolverine in all their eye-popping glory (with Peggy the dog in tow), these 4K Blu-ray Steelbooks are visually a cut above their standard edition counterparts.
Below are a few Steelbooks we haven’t got our hands on yet, but are hoping to add to our collection.
As a fan of the new Superman movie, I love the simplicity of the HMV 4K Steelbook version, and it appears I’m not alone, as it’s already sold out – drat! I already own the Lord of the Rings Trilogy Extended Edition 4K Blu-rays, but boy, do those gold-style Steelbook versions look nice.
The standard edition may not be so bad
It’s not all smooth sailing for 4K Steelbooks, which are pricier and can sometimes look worse than the standard release or be just downright ugly altogether.
For example, after taking a deep dive on r/steelbooks, a Reddit haven for Steelbook collectors, I discovered the majority of people there hated the Disney 100 Blu-ray Steelbooks.
Yikes. There’s nothing inherently wrong with these, but you’d think for Disney's 100th anniversary, they’d release something a little more interesting. Even Star Wars wasn't safe from the plain-tin treatment.
Another regular target in r/steelbooks is Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man trilogy, specifically the FutureShop Canada edition.
Good lord, what a monstrosity. Why are actual shots from the movie just carelessly plastered on the front cover? And why did they use the wrong hue of red? Oh, and don’t worry if you didn’t know which movie it was, because they tell you twice.
Another release that’s garnering mixed reactions is the new 4K Blu-ray Steelbook collection of The Dark Knight Trilogy 20th Anniversary Edition (yes, I felt myself age when I read that, too).
The reviews section for this one on the Zavvi website is a minefield. As one user commented, “The artwork looks atrocious. Cancelled my pre-order”. Other commenters called it “lazy” and “a huge disappointment”. Again, there’s nothing especially wrong with this edition, but it feels very rushed and lacking thought for a special edition of this trilogy. And when you consider that it retails for about $99 / £99 compared to $45 / £35 for the normal edition, it’s a tough sell.
Honestly, I could go on for much longer, as there are more examples of both incredible and awful Steelbooks to discuss. But, having explored the topic, one thing I can say is that I’ll be picking up a few Steelbooks myself soon.
Here are some links for the best places to find 4K Blu-ray Steelbooks if you're looking to start your own collection:
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