Are you looking to watch Blu-ray discs on your MacBook? In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps and tools you need to make it happen. Most MacBooks don’t come with built-in Blu-ray drives, so you’ll need both an external Blu-ray drive and the right software to play Blu-rays. Let’s explore the options and find the best setup for your movie-watching needs.
What You Need to Watch Blu-rays on a Mac?
1. External Blu-ray Drive
Since most modern Macs prioritize slim design and exclude built-in optical drives, you’ll need to purchase an external Blu-ray drive. This drive connects to your Mac via USB or other compatible ports.
2. Blu-ray Player Software
To watch Blu-rays on your Mac, you’ll need specialized software. There are both free and paid options available for Mac users. These software solutions are essential for decoding and playing the content on your Blu-ray discs.
Now, let’s dive into the top software options for playing Blu-rays on your MacBook:
Top 10 Software for Playing Blu-rays on Mac
1. PlayerFab Ultra HD Player
- System Compatibility: macOS 10.10 – 13
- Price: ¥11,799 for unlimited version / Free trial available
- The Japanese language supported
- PlayerFab Ultra HD Player can play DVDs, Blu-rays, 4K Blu-ray discs, ISO files, and folders. It also allows access to local videos and video streaming platforms like Amazon, Netflix, Tubi, and Peacock.
2. Leawo Blu-ray Player Mac
- System Compatibility: Mac (32-bit or 64-bit) OS X 10.10/10.11/10.12/10.13/10.14/10.15/11/12
- Price: Free
- The Japanese language supported
- Leawo Blu-ray Player Mac is an award-winning software developed by Japanese creators and provides free playback of Blu-rays, 4K, HD videos, and music. It offers customization options for skins, backgrounds, and languages. You can take screenshots during video playback.
3. VIDEO LAN VLC Player
- System Compatibility: MacOS X
- Price: Free
- No Japanese language support
- VIDEO LAN VLC Player is a free software that allows playback of DVDs, audio CDs, VCDs, and various streaming formats. It is known for its customizability but offers basic functionality.
4. Macgo Mac Blu-ray Player
- System Compatibility: Mac OS X 10.8 and later
- Price: ¥3,795 for the Pro version / ¥5,060
- The Japanese language supported
- Macgo Mac Blu-ray Player is a well-known Mac Blu-ray player that won the Mac ProRegi Award organized by Vector. It has a free version and a paid version with support for Blu-ray menus, 4K, and DTS Dolby. It can also play audio and photos.
5. iDeer Blu-ray Player
- System Compatibility: Mac OS X
- Price: Free
- The Japanese language supported
- iDeer Blu-ray Player is software for playing Blu-rays and DVDs. It can also play content stored on Apple devices, such as iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, using AirX. It’s user-friendly, even for beginners.
6. Aiseesoft Blu-ray Player
- System Compatibility: Mac OS X
- Price: Free trial available / Approximately ¥2,000 per month
- The Japanese language supported
- Aiseesoft Blu-ray Player offers lossless sound and high-quality surround sound for Blu-ray playback. It can play Blu-ray discs, folders, and ISO files, as well as other video and audio formats. The trial version includes a watermark, which is removed in the paid version.
7. Macgo Free Mac Media Player
- System Compatibility: Mac OS X 10.6 – 10.13
- Price: Free
- The Japanese language supported
- Macgo Free Mac Media Player provides 1080P/4K video and DTS 5.1 high-resolution audio on macOS X. It can play almost all media formats for free, including DVDs, videos, audio, and photos. It also supports AirX for streaming to iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
8. ZEUS PLAYER
- System Compatibility: MacOS 10.8 and later
- Price: ¥3,300
- The Japanese language supported
- ZEUS PLAYER can play all types of videos, music, and Blu-rays, as well as download videos from the internet. It is versatile and offers various playback options.
9. 5KPlayer
- System Compatibility: MacOS 10.8 and later
- Price: Free
- The Japanese language supported
- 5KPlayer is a multifunctional, free media player developed in China. It can play videos, radio, and music, supports DVD and ISO file playback, and offers video downloading and AirPlay streaming from Apple devices.
10. AnyMP4 Mac Blu-ray Player
- System Compatibility: Mac OS X 10.6 and later
- Price: Free trial available / Permanent license for ¥4,784
- The Japanese language supported
- AnyMP4 Mac Blu-ray Player can play Blu-ray discs, folders, ISO image files, 4K/1080P videos, and various other formats with high-quality playback. It also includes a screen capture feature for saving your favorite scenes.
Now that you have a list of bd リッピング software options for playing Blu-rays on your MacBook, let’s explore the top 5 external Blu-ray drives to pair with your Mac:
Top 5 External Blu-ray Drives for Watching Blu-rays on Mac
1. Pioneer Portable BD Writer BDR-WFS05J
This portable Blu-ray drive can wirelessly connect to your Mac and comes with a vertical stand for convenient storage. Priced at around ¥23,000, it offers many attractive features, including a silver body that complements your Mac and user-friendly loading.
2. BUFFALO Portable BD BRXL-PT6U3
This drive is from BUFFALO, a well-known peripheral device manufacturer. It’s slightly thicker but designed for portability and features a space for the USB cable. LED lights up if power is insufficient. It can also convert videos and DVDs on your PC to HD and even convert 2D content to 3D for playback.
3. Pioneer Portable Blu-ray Drive BDR-XS06JL
This portable Blu-ray drive is from the globally renowned manufacturer Pioneer. It uses slot-loading, which is user-friendly. It has a new feature that automatically cuts unnecessary power consumption by learning the media’s usage patterns, addressing power shortages often seen with Blu-ray drives. Moreover, it’s attractively priced at ¥13,000.
4. Logitec Portable Blu-ray Drive for Mac
Equipped with bus-powered drivers and the latest USB Type-C, it’s only 9.5mm thick. It features a stylish silver coating to complement your Mac. It’s compatible with the latest Mac OS Sierra and comes with a free download of Toast16 software, which enables video editing and BDXL creation.
5. I-O DATA BD Drive EX-BD03K
This Blu-ray drive is from the well-known peripheral device manufacturer I-O DATA. It supports USB 3.0 and boasts a slim and clean design to match stylish Macs. You can use it with just a USB cable, eliminating the need for an AC adapter.
In summary
these are the top 5 external Blu-ray drives suitable for Mac users. If you want to enjoy Blu-rays, DVD ripper, and more on your Mac, consider using one of these drives in combination with the recommended software. Enjoy your Blu-ray content on your Mac!