❓ How to choose the best external DVD drive?

Here are the factors that help you to choose the best external DVD drive: Speed: This is an important factor while you purchase external DVD drive. It is good that you pay attention for both read and write speed. You also need to check the supported version of the USB. However, it is preferable that you buy a DVD drive that supports USB 3.0. This will help you to operate the disk at a faster speed with no hassle. Compatibility: Almost all external drives are compatible with operating systems like Mac or Windows. However, you have to check the compatible version of the OS before buying a DVD or CD drive. Size: You have to choose compact external DVD drives as they are portable. It is preferable that you purchase a lightweight and slim CD writer that can be easily put in your bag. Single cable operation: Modern external DVD drives do not require an external power source. You will require only one cord for its work. However, you may need extra Y cable in case your computer is old. Build quality: DVD drives with smaller size are always fragile. You have to choose a disc player that is made of either plastic or metal and has a good build quality.

6 BEST External DVD Drives (Blu-ray) for Laptop & Windows PC

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Modern laptops rarely include optical drives for CDs, DVDs, or Blu-rays, therefore you do require external DVD ROM to read or write data into a disc on your laptop or PC for any purpose. It is good to use external DVD drives because they come with readymade data burning software and can be easily plug and play into your PC and laptop via USB port.

Following is a handpicked list of Top external DVD drives with their pros, cons, and website links.

BEST External DVD Drives | Blu-rays

Top Pick

LG Electronics 8X

4.5

$26.99

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12/06/2023 05:24 pm GMT

1st Runner

Dell USB DVD Drive-DW316

4.5

$31.90

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12/06/2023 05:39 pm GMT

2nd Runner

Pioneer Electronics BDR-XD07B

4.5

$119.95

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12/06/2023 05:44 pm GMT

Best External DVD, CD & Blu-ray Drive for Laptop & Windows PC

Name	Compatibility	Blu ray	CD/DVD	Single-cable operation	USB	Burning Software	Link
LG Electronics 8X USB 2.0	Windows, Mac	No	Yes	Yes	USB 2.0 interface	Cyberlink Software	Learn More
Dell USB DVD Drive-DW316	Windows	No	Yes	Yes	USB 2.0 interface	Cyberlink Software Media Suite Software	Learn More
Pioneer Electronics BDR-XD07B	Mac, Windows	Yes	Yes	Yes	USB 3.0	CyberLink Software	Learn More
ASUS Powerful Blu-ray Drive	MacOS and Windows	Yes	Yes	Yes	USB 3.1 Gen1	Cyber Link Power2Go 8 disc-burning	Learn More
ASUS ZenDrive	Windows, Mac	No	Yes	Yes	USB 2.0	CyberLink Power2Go 8	Learn More
Amicool USB 3.0 Type- C	Mac Windows 7/8.1/10, Linux OS Apple	No	Yes	Yes	USB 3.0	Plug and Play Drivers	Learn More

1) LG Electronics 8X USB 2.0 – Best Overall USB 2.0 DVD Writer Drive

LG Electronics 8X USB 2.0 is an external DVD player that enables you to burn your important files to a disc. It has a storage capacity equivalent to 5 Blu-ray discs and 27 DVDs. This disc player supports USB 2.0, but it is also compatible with USB 3.0.

#1 Top Pick

LG Electronics 8X USB 2.0 Super Multi Ultra Slim Portable DVD Drive

4.9

Brand: LG

DVD Write Speed: 8x

CD Write Speed: 24x

Connectivity: USB 2.0

Operating System: Windows and Mac OS

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It provides easy connection with Mini USB cable, therefore you do not require any additional power source. The size of this DVD drive is 14.22 x 13.72 x 1.52 cm. This disc player design is just 0.55 inches that means it optimizes very less space as a slim OPU (Optical Pickup Unit) for installation.

LG Electronics 8X USB 2.0 DVD Writer uses silent play technology that helps you to reduce noise during playback. It automatically adjusts the disc speed for optimal performance. This is a good portable DVD burner that supports M-DISC for the secure storage of your data.

It has a good disc write speed of DL: 6x, CD-R: 24X, and DVD-RAM: 5x. It also has a read good disc write speed DVD-RAM: 6x/ DVD+R/-R/ DVD+R/-R DL/ DVD+RW/-RW/ DVD-ROM: 8x/ CD-R/RW/ROM/CD-DA DAE: 24X, and DVD-Video (CSS Compliant Disc): 4X. This external DVD drive is compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems.

LG Electronics 8X USB 2.0 DVD Writer includes CyberLink software therefore, you do not require to purchase any additional application to burn a disc. This is one of the best external DVD drives for laptop that has weighs just 5.6 ounces, which makes it easy to move around.

👍 Pros	👎 Cons
It can be easily used with a laptop.	It does not provide support for Blu-ray disc (BD).
This disc drive does not offer any color choice.
You can also connect it with a TV.

🔍 Check Latest Price and User Reviews on Amazon

2) Dell USB DVD Drive-DW316 – Best USB DVD Drive

Dell USB DVD Drive-DW316 is a plug and play disc ROM that can be used with a USB port. It has a weight of just 200 gm, which makes it easy to carry. This drive has preloaded CyberLink Media Suite.

Dell USB DVD Drive-DW316

4.8

Brand: Dell

DVD Write Speed: 8x

CD Write Speed: 24x

Connectivity: USB

Operating System: Windows and Mac OS

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The good thing about this external DVD drive is that it does not require any power cords or batteries to operate. This external DVD drive for Mac and Windows operating systems can be easily used with a laptop. However, you need to note that this product does not provide support for Blu ray.

It is preloaded with CyberLink Media Suite that enables you to easily burn videos, audios, and images to a disc. This is one of the best external DVD drives for Mac that uses USB 2.0 interface. It is of the largest external DVDs with a size of 5.41 x 5.67 x 0.55 inches, so it is not easy to carry and move around in pocket.

👍 Pros	👎 Cons
You can easily place this drive into your bag.	Sometimes the drive stops spinning without any error message.
Offers a good CD and DVD writing speed.
This DVD player helps with easy transfer of your large data without any hassle.
You can play both CD and DVD.

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3) Pioneer Electronics BDR-XD07B – Best External DVD Drive for Performance

Pioneer Electronics BDR-XD07B is one of the best external DVD drives that allows you to burn your important files to Blu-ray, CD, or DVD media. This USB 3.0 external DVD drive helps you to read or write all BDXL(Blu-ray Disc Extra Large) discs at a good speed without any hassle.

Pioneer Electronics BDR-XD07B 6x Slim Portable USB 3.0 BD/DVD/CD Burner

4.7

Brand: Pioneer

DVD Write Speed: 8x (BD 6x)

CD Write Speed: 24x

Connectivity: USB 3.0

Operating System: Windows and Mac OS

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The size of this DVD writer is 133x133mm, and its weight is 230 gm. This feature makes it easy to carry and move this disc drive with no hassle. It uses micro USB 3.0 to transfer data faster from laptop to a CD or DVD.

It offers long-term data protection with M-DISC (Millennial Disc). This DVD drive can be used on Windows and Mac OS. This external Blu-ray burner includes free CyberLink Power2Go 8 Software for burning discs.

It provides up to 6x writing speed on BD-R DL (Blu-ray dual layer) and BD-R (Blu-ray recordable disc). This external DVD drive produces very less noise when it is loaded. It is one of the best external DVD drives for a laptop that has a good slim design.

👍 Pros	👎 Cons
It is plug and play.	DVD reads the data very slow.
This drive does not require any additional power source.
It is lightweight.
Provides supports for Blu ray.

🔍 Check Latest Price and User Reviews on Amazon

4) ASUS Powerful Blu-ray Drive – Best CD and DVD Blu-ray Disc Drive

ASUS Powerful Blu-ray Drive is one of the best CD and DVD Blu-ray disc drives that offer 16x faster data writing speed. It provides Windows and Mac OS compatibility via USB 3.0. This is one of the best external Blu-ray drives that has a diamond-shaped design for clean aesthetics and a luxury look.

ASUS Powerful Blu-ray Drive

4.6

Brand: ASUS

DVD Write Speed: 16x (BD 16x)

CD Write Speed: 24x

Connectivity: USB 3.0

Operating System: Windows and Mac OS

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It burns DVD with optional encryption functionality for privacy protection. This is one of the best external CD drives that allows maximum data storage of 128 GB in one disc. It is bundled with CyberLink Power2Go 8 that helps you to simplify the burning process. This product has the size of 9.5 x 2.5 x 6.5. inches, which is too big, therefore it may occupy more space.

ASUS drive can be easily used with a computer and laptop. This external Blu-ray burner offers online backup solution for Android tablets and smartphones. It has a weight 2.60 lbs, which is bulky compared to other disc drives. This is one of the best external DVD drives for Mac that support M-DISC. It also enables you to protect your data, videos, and photos.

👍 Pros	👎 Cons
Offers USB 3 cable support.	It makes noise when burning the disc.
It is faster compared to other DVD ROMS.
This external optical drive has excellent customer reviews.

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5) ASUS ZenDrive – Best Ultra Slim External 8X DVD Optical Drive

ASUS ZenDrive is a DVD-ROM that has a 13mm thickness, which makes it an ultra-portable disk storage solution. This external disc drive offers 8x DVD and 24x CD write speeds. It offers Windows and MacOs compatibility via a USB 2.0 connection. The size of this disc drive is 7.1 x 7 x 2.4 inches therefore, it is lightweight and easy to shift from one place to another.

ASUS ZenDrive Ultra Slim USB 2.0 External DVD Optical Drive

4.5

Brand: ASUS

DVD Write Speed: 8x

CD Write Speed: 24x

Connectivity: USB 2.0 Type-A / Type-C

Operating System: Windows and Mac OS

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This is one of the best external CD drives that provides support for M-DISC which is a quality storage capable to protect your videos, photos, and data for up to 1000 years. This DVD player includes CyberLink Power2Go 8 and PowerBackup 2.5. This drive can be easily used with any laptop. ASUS ZenDrive offers powerful functions to burn your important data. However, this drive does not offer support for Blu ray.

👍 Pros	👎 Cons
It offers plug-and-play solution.	It does not compatible with the USB 3.0 port.
Easy to carry.
It is a value for money external DVD drive.

🔍 Check Latest Price and User Reviews on Amazon

6) Amicool USB 3.0 Type- C – Best Portable External DVD Drive

External DVD Drive, Amicool USB 3.0 Type- C is one of the best disc reader and writer that can be easily used with desktop or laptop. It is compatible with a vast number of operating systems like Mac, Windows and Linux. This external DVD drive offers 8X DVD and 24X CD read speed, which is good to load a high amount of data from the disc.

Amicool USB 3.0 Type-C External DVD Drive

4.4

Brand: Amicool

DVD Write Speed: 8x

CD Write Speed: 24x

Connectivity: USB 3.0 Type-C

Operating System: Linux, Windows, Mac

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It is one of the best external DVD drives that has a 6.19 x 6.11 x 1.06 inches size. The slim and lightweight design of this DVD player enables you to easily carry and move around. This external drive does not come with burner software therefore, you need to purchase it additionally.

It is easy to use as you just need to plug it into a USB port of your computer or laptop. If your device does not have internal drive, then this DVD ROM is a good option for you.

👍 Pros	👎 Cons
You can transfer files faster.	Do not support Blu ray/TV/ projector/car/ tablet / Chrome/ smartphone.
It is portable.	The cable is short.
This DVD disc drive has a good aesthetic and slim design.

🔍 Check Latest Price and User Reviews on Amazon

FAQs:

Here are the factors that help you to choose the best external DVD drive:

Speed: This is an important factor while you purchase external DVD drive. It is good that you pay attention for both read and write speed. You also need to check the supported version of the USB. However, it is preferable that you buy a DVD drive that supports USB 3.0. This will help you to operate the disk at a faster speed with no hassle.
Compatibility: Almost all external drives are compatible with operating systems like Mac or Windows. However, you have to check the compatible version of the OS before buying a DVD or CD drive.
Size: You have to choose compact external DVD drives as they are portable. It is preferable that you purchase a lightweight and slim CD writer that can be easily put in your bag.
Single cable operation: Modern external DVD drives do not require an external power source. You will require only one cord for its work. However, you may need extra Y cable in case your computer is old.
Build quality: DVD drives with smaller size are always fragile. You have to choose a disc player that is made of either
plastic or metal and has a good build quality.

Yes, you can watch movies on an external DVD drive. Most external DVDs can play digital media files like MP4, MP3, MOV, WMV, etc.

The versions of USB for extern DVD drive do not matter. However, if you have speed concerns, then buy USB 3.0 as it will give you faster performance compared to version 2.0.

Many times, you can face the issue when you insert USB 3 port in USB 2. This happens because they are not compatible with each other.

M-DISC is a storage solution that preserves videos, documents, and photos for numerous years. It is designed specifically to protect your data from loss and degradation. M-DISC technology is compatible with all types of DVD drives. However, it can only be written with compatible burner software.

Optical Drive refers to a computer system that enables you to use CDs, Blu-ray optical drives, and DVDs. It has a storage capacity of 4.7G band that can be used to store data for various purposes.

DVD drive is one of the components of computer that is designed specifically to read and write data to a computer or a laptop. It can be easily installed on laptops, desktop computers, cars, DVD players, and many other devices.

You can use Plex media server software. It enables you to take care of large size of media collections. This application allows you to play TV shows, movies, personal videos, and many more. This app also helps you to share videos with your family.

You can choose the best professional movie producers and government agencies like NASA. DVD is a decent format, but it provides only 1/3th resolution of your film. It is good that you choose Blu ray to convert 8mm films to digital DVD.

Following is a way to make an .iso file from a DVD:

Step 1) Insert the DVD you like to convert into the optical drive.

Step 2) Go to My Computer from the Start menu.

Step 3) Right-click on the DVD drive and select “Create ISO image”.

Yes, an external disc drive will only play CDs and DVDs. However, if you buy an external Blu-ray disc drive, it will have the capability of playing Blu-ray discs, DVDs and CDs.

Best External DVD Drives for Windows PC & Laptop

Name	Compatibility	Blu ray	CD/DVD	Single-cable operation	USB	Burning Software	Link
LG Electronics 8X USB 2.0	Windows, Mac	No	Yes	Yes	USB 2.0 interface	Cyberlink Software	Learn More
Dell USB DVD Drive-DW316	Windows	No	Yes	Yes	USB 2.0 interface	Cyberlink Software Media Suite Software	Learn More
Pioneer Electronics BDR-XD07B	Mac, Windows	Yes	Yes	Yes	USB 3.0	CyberLink Software	Learn More
ASUS Powerful Blu-ray Drive	MacOS and Windows	Yes	Yes	Yes	USB 3.1 Gen1	Cyber Link Power2Go 8 disc-burning	Learn More
ASUS ZenDrive	Windows, Mac	No	Yes	Yes	USB 2.0	CyberLink Power2Go 8	Learn More
Amicool USB 3.0 Type- C	Mac Windows 7/8.1/10, Linux OS Apple	No	Yes	Yes	USB 3.0	Plug and Play Drivers	Learn More