Sony’s 2nd-generation 4K media player does Netflix

Last summer Sony was first to the mass market with a media player capable of delivering 4K video. Now the second generation has been announced, model FMP-X10, maintaining Sony’s lead in the race to bring 4K content home.

The biggest new feature is the ability to stream Netflix’s 4K content, which just began rolling out. Like its predecessor, it also includes a large hard drive — 1TB — for storing and playing back 4K movies and TV shows downloaded from Sony’s Video Unlimited 4K service.

Sony says the service now offers 200 titles in 4K, including recent films like “American Hustle” and future releases such as “The Amazing Spider-Man 2.” Notable TV series like “The Blacklist” and “Breaking Bad” are also on tap. Pricing for movies is typically $7.99 to rent for 24 hours or $29.99 to buy.

Between Netflix and the on-demand service, Sony’s new player offers more content than any 4K device, but like the previous version, it works only with Sony’s 4K TVs — not those of Samsung, LG, Panasonic, or others. Samsung recently announced a hard drive that works with its own 4K TVs and comes with a few preloaded 4K films, but doesn’t offer a download service yet.

Sony 4K TVs from 2013 lack the ability to stream Netflix since they don’t have the built-in H.265/HEVC decoders found on newer sets, so owners of those sets could conceivably buy a FMP-X10 to fill in the hole.

In addition to Netflix, several providers including Amazon, Comcast, Fox, and others have announced plans to deliver 4K streaming. We wouldn’t be surprised if Sony’s new player added the ability to handle those streams as well when they become available.

Pricing on the new FMP-X10 has not been announced, but since the original version sells for $699, the new one won’t be cheap. It will go on sale this summer.