External DVD drive is a great solution if you own a netbook or your PC has a broken built-in DVD drive. The best external DVD and CD drives are compact and lightweight, so they won’t take much space in your bag but will be a great bonus for your 2-in-1 laptop or gaming PC.

How to Choose The Best External DVD Drive

It’s compatible with both Windows and Mac; just install the NTFS driver for Mac and you can use it interchangeably between Windows and Mac computers without reformatting. Its two integrated high-speed USB 3.0 ports on the front let you recharge your other USB devices, and with Seagate Dashboard, you can schedule automatic or on-demand backups when the drive is connected. HDD: Great value storage ideal for large volumes of data. Hard Drive Disks (HDD) store information on traditional spinning disks, they come in 3.5″ (the size the Mac Pro uses) and 2.5″ (laptop format).

Here’s the list of options and features you should always take into account in order to choose the best external DVD drive for your device.

Speed

When you consider the speed of an external DVD drive, pay attention to both write and read speeds. Another feature to take into account is USB version. It’s always better to choose an external DVD or CD drive which supports USB 3.0. Such drive is faster than those with USB 2.0 but at the same time is also backward compatible with the older USB versions.

Compatibility

Almost all external DVD drives are compatible with popular operating systems such as Windows or Mac. Still, remember to check whether it is compatible with the version your OS has. Some of the external drives do not support the latest updates. Besides, not all of them play Blu-ray.

Size

Modern external DVD/CD drives are quite compact. Still, there are some products which can be hardly called portable and usually stay at home even if their owners need them on their business trips. It’s always better to choose a slim and lightweight drive which can be easily put into your bag.

Noise

This feature is very important for those who don’t like being disturbed by the annoying sound of the drive reading a DVD. Some of the best external drives include noise reduction technology which guarantees quiet performance.

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Build quality

Though a lot of DVD drives may seem to be very fragile because of their small size, the best external DVD/CD drives have a solid build. Even if a unit is made of plastic it can be still durable.

One more thing that you should pay attention to is whether a drive has a fingerprint-resistant housing. Of course, it’s a kind of very small nuance, which doesn’t affect the performance, but it does matter as no one likes dirty things.

Single-cable operation

Modern external DVD drives do not require an external power source. The point is that lots of computers have enough power for an optical drive, so you will need only one cable for its work. In case a computer is old you may need an extra Y-cable.

9 Best External DVD Drives To Buy in 2019

LG Electronics Ultra Slim DVD Drive (GP65NB60)

The Best Cheap External DVD Drive

If you’re looking for a high-quality external DVD drive, though we know this type of gear is somewhat obsolete in the “current year” with USB 3.1 and all that, the LG Ultra Slim would make for an interesting choice for a number of reasons. First, it looks awesome, and it’s manufactured by one of the world’s leading tech companies. Okay, that’s not a “valid argument” for geeks, but how about this one: 8X USB 2.0 Super Multi Ultra Slim Portable DVD Writer Drive +/-RW External Drive with M-DISC Support. So, we have portability in a cool looking/compact form factor, everything for under $30, which is kind of awesome.

Speaking of portability and cool design, the LG Electronics Super Multi Ultra Slim is just 14mm in height, which means it’s pretty inconspicuous around your gear (laptop or PC). Also, the USB 2.0 interface, though kind of obsolete, still provides solid transfer speeds (480 MBPS), while the DVD drive is USB 3.0 compatible. We know, it’s not much, but it’s enough for most people.

• cool minimalist design
• solidly built
• USB powered
• pretty quiet and reasonably fast
• great value for money
• excellent replacement for (expensive) Apple external drive (firmware update required)
• supports M-Disk format

• none really at this price (ok, there’s no USB 3.0)

Pioneer BDR-XD05B

The Best External DVD Drive for Linux

For Linux OS consider Pioneer BDR-XD05B. This portable Blu-ray burner has USB 3.0 interface what guarantees fast performance. Another bonus is its power lines. USB 3.0 means that there is no need for 5V power adapter or extra USB connector. Besides, it consumes less CPU power for data transferring as it has a larger packet size.

Pioneer BDR-XD05B is provided with PowerDVD, which will save your money as you won’t need video player software. By the by, this external drive has a standard USB Mass Storage protocol with MMC-5 SCSI command set.

• slim and lightweight
• USB 3.0
• high compatibility
• quiet performance
• doesn’t collect fingerprints
• fast

• can be loud at high speeds
• slow BD rip speeds
• expensive

ASUS ZenDrive

The Best External DVD Drive for Android

For a reasonable price, ASUS ZenDrive offers 8XDVD write speed and M-Disk format support, which is designed to protect you from memory degradation and data loss. This external DVD optical drive is ultra slim and has USB 2.0 interface. It has a stylish design thanks to a concentric-circle hairline finish.

ASUS ZenDrive is compatible with Windows and Mac OS as well as Nero BackItUp for Android devices. Its bundled Cyberlink Power2go 8 software guarantees a simple backup solution and provides optional encryption of your data to save your privacy. There is also an online backup solution for such devices as tablets and smartphones.

• slim and lightweight
• reasonable price
• supports M-Disk format
• great performance
• Cyberlink Power2go 8 software

• short cords (you may need to buy a separate USB extension)
• poor build quality
• no USB 3.0

Dell DW316 External Optical Drive

Another Budget External DVD drive

Another ultra slim external DVD drive is Dell DW316. It includes pre-loaded CyberLink Media Suite for easy DVD/CD play and burn as well as an installation of disc-based computer programs. It has 24xCD and 8xDVD read speed.

Dell DW316 External Optical Drive is powered by your Ultrabook’s or notebook’s USB port. It means that you won’t need any batteries or power cords. It is compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems. The only drawback is that this optical drive doesn’t play Blu-ray.

• slim and lightweight
• pre-loaded CyberLink Media Suite
• affordable price
• easy to use

• collects fingerprints
• doesn’t play Blu-ray

Pioneer BDR-XU03

Durable External Blu-ray Burner

This Blu-ray burner supports USB 3.0 which means it can offer you a fast performance. Pioneer BDR-XU03 includes PowerRead Smooth and PureRead 2 Smarter Media Playback. It is provided with 128 GB quad layer and 100 GB triple layer Blu-ray media support.

Pioneer BDR-XU03 is designed with a magnesium body to make it more durable. In addition to this, it comes with an auto quiet mode for silent performance.

Best free dvd burning software for macbook pro. Benefits of ISO Burning Software ISO files are the exact replica of every file present in the CD or DVD. No data or file will be lost when an ISO image is made from a disk. Some software tools have the option for multiple copying, and also allow you to hibernate or shut down your computer when done. If you need more features, you can go for the premium version (chargeable) directly from the website.

• compact design
• highly compatible
• USB 3.0
• quiet performance
• no need for an external power source
• doesn’t collect fingerprints
• fast

• expensive
• BDXL formats aren’t supported by a lot of players

Apple USB Superdrive (MD564LL/A)

The Best External USB Drive for Mac

One more representative of the best CD and DVD drives is Apple USB Superdrive. Its portable design is great for mobile workstation. Having this external drive you will be able to play and burn CDs as well as DVDs, create backup discs and install program software.

It’s also highly compatible and supports MacBook, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini, and others. Keep in mind that there is no extra power adapter as its work depends on your Mac battery power.

• no need for an external power source
• compact design
• quiet performance

• pricey

Best Mass Storage Hard Drive For Both Mac And Pc

Samsung External DVD Drive (SE-218CB/RSBS)

Compact and Silent External DVD Drive

If you’re a Samsung fan with fifty bucks (or more) to spend on an ultra-portable external DVD drive, this Samsung may have your name on it, and for good reason. Even if this DVD drive sits on the “expensive side of the force” compared to the LG, i.e. it’s almost double the price, the build quality is exceptional, and, very important for Mac users, the DVD drive is instantly recognized (as in out of the box), i.e. it’s a plug and play job, regardless of the machine, as in there are no firmware updated required for boomer-tech users.

Basically, if you’re looking for a sleek and portable external DVD drive from a reputable manufacturer, look no further than this one.

• premium look and feel
• impeccable workmanship
• arguably better (and cheaper) than the Apple super-drive
• weighs less than 1 pound
• USB powered
• USB2.0 / 3.0 COMPATIBLE

• no USB 3.0
• kind of expensive

HP External DVD/CD Drive DVD600S

Great External DVD Drive for Windows

This external optical drive comes with a new TV-linkable feature which allows USB-enabled display devices such as televisions or media players to read discs without a PC. HP External DVD/CD Drive is designed with the newest optical storage technology that provides fast recording.

In case your computer has Windows OS keep in mind that you can use Cyberlink Media Suite for your multimedia content. This HP DVD600S has an ultra-thin design due to which its portability is great for mobile workstations.

• portable design
• TV-linkable
• fast recording
• no need for an external power source

• too short cable for desktop users
• noisy when reading a DVD

Patuoxun External DVD Drive

Very silent external DVD drive

As well as the pre-cited external CD/DVD drive this product is powered by the USB port, so you won’t need to buy an external AC adapter. Its USB 3.0 interface guarantees fast performance and great burning experience.

Patuoxun External DVD drive is suitable for various devices and operating systems including Windows and Mac OS. Still, keep in mind that this external drive isn’t compatible with windows 10 or new Macbooks without a direct USB interface. By the way, Patuoxun External DVD drive comes with a powerful error-correcting ability, anti-shock and noise reduction.

• compact size
• no need for an external power source
• USB 3.0
• error-correcting ability
• anti-shock design
• noise reduction technology
• fast performance

Storage Hard Drive For Xbox One

• doesn’t support Windows 10 OS and new Macbooks without a direct USB interface

Summary

Best Storage Hard Drive For Mac

Whatever external DVD drive you will choose, make sure it’s the best product namely for your device and you as a top-notch drive will be a great addition to your device.