There are two types of portable DVD players manufacturers on the market:

1. manufacturers launching their own brands (they are the designers, the producers and the sellers).
2. OEM company, which means Original Equipment Manufacturer, a company that builds components used in systems sold by other companies, called VAR. The practice of VAR selling products with components from OEMs is common specifically in the electronics and computing field. An OEM will build to order based on designs of the VAR. Nonetheless, in recent years, there have been OEMs taking a larger role in the design of the product manufacture.
3. The term ODM, Original Design Manufacturers is used to describe companies that design and manufacture a product that is then sold under other brand names.

There are seven DVD player types, according to complexity and technical level:

1. entry-level
2. multi-disc changers
3. progressive scan DVD players
4. DVD audio-video
5. mid-level
6. high-end
7. portables.

The most popular brands are: Apex, Initial, Mintek, Sony, Audiovox, Panasonic, Polaroid, Durabrand, Cyberhome, each of them with different models, depending on user needs and expectations.

• Apex Digital Inc. is the leading provider of DVD players in North America; its headquarter is in Ontario, California. Apex Digital, Inc., a privately held company founded in 1997, is considered the fastest growing company in consumer electronics history. Since 1999, when the company introduced state-of-the-art products, revenues have grown significantly.
• Initial portable DVD players are produced by a Chinese manufacturer, Initial Technologies, Inc. Located in Chiangzu Province, China. Initial’s specialty is combining the newest technologies with advanced electronic components that are already tested.
• Polaroid has 70 years of brand history. It is one of the most widely recognized brand names. Among other products (instant film, digital products, printers, scientific cameras), it focuses on home entertainment components and electronics that are easy to use and install, for the whole family
• Sony Corporation is one of the worldwide electronics' leaders (World's first CD player, the CDP-101, have been launched by Sony Inc. in October 1982). Sony, located in Tokyo, Japan, has many divisions: Audio, Video, Televisions, Information and communications, Semiconductors, Electronic components.
• Audiovox
• Panasonic Inc. has a leading role in the digitally networked society. The company was founded in 1918 by Konosuke Matsushita and is now one of the world's largest electronics companies.
• Mintek Mobile Data Solutions has been developing, for over 15 years, industry specific mobile solutions that comprise software, hardware and professional services.
• Durabrand is an OEM company.
• Cyberhome is an OEM, too.