Last Updated on December 1, 2023 by Daniel Osakwe
Table of Contents
List of the Best External Optical Drives
Products | Features | Where to Buy |
ASUS BW-16D1X-U at B&H Photo Video | Read and write speed is 40x, 16x, and 8x read speeds in CD, DVD, and Blu-ray, respectively | Get it on Amazon |
LG GP65NB60 | Read CD-ROM at 24x speeds and DVD-ROM at 8x speeds | Get it on Amazon |
Dell DW316 External USB Slim DVD R/W drives | Read speeds 24x for CDs and 8x for DVDs | Get it on Amazon |
Lite-On EBAU108-01 | Read CDs at 24x speeds and DVDs at 8x | Get it on Amazon |
Verbatim External Slimline Blu-ray Writer (70102) | Can write CDs at 24x, DVDs at 8x, and Blu-rays at 6x | Get it on Amazon |
ASUS ZenDrive | CD reads and writes speed to 24x, and DVD read and review speed to 8x | Get it on Amazon |
Lite-On EB1 | Read and write speeds of 24x for CDs, 8x for DVDs, and 6x for BD-ROM | Get it on Amazon |
Buyers Guide: What to look for in External Optical Drives Before Buying
Writing and rewriting: The most essential Blu-ray drives are just valuable for playing Blu-ray motion pictures. In the event that you need to copy your own Blu-ray disc, search for one that is equipped for Writing or revamping. Drives that can both compose and revise Blu-ray plates are more adaptable, however rewritable Blu-beam disc can’t store as much data as ordinary ones.
Compatibility: There are two similar issues to pay special mind to with an external optical drive: port sort and working system. Blu-ray players help USB 3.0 exchange information quicker, however, that doesn’t help if your PC just has USB 2.0 ports. In that equivalent vein, some external optical drives just work with Windows, others just work with Macs, and some can be utilized with both.
Speed: If you just need an external optical drive to watch films, speed is certifiably not a major concern. However, in the event that you need to rip films to your hard drive or copy your own Blu-ray disc, a quick drive will save you a ton of time.
Best Blu-ray External Optical Drives
While a significant number of the best external optical drives go for a more modest structure factor making them simpler to take in a hurry, this pick for top execution pulls out all the stops. The ASUS BW-16D1X-U estimates 2.48 x 6.50 x 9.57 inches, making it somewhat of a work area hoard, yet with that additional size, you quit fooling around execution for each assignment. The ASUS BW-16D1X-U has quick access times on a wide range of optical media, so you’ll invest less energy sticking around.
It can get to CD-ROM in 160ms, DVD-ROM in 170ms, and BD-ROM in 180ms. Its reads and write execution is additionally heavenly with 40x, 16x, and 8x read speeds in CD, DVD, and Blu-ray, separately. Similarly, it can copy CD-R at 40x, DVD-R at 16x, and even BD-R at 16x. In this way, regardless of whether you need to rip media from plates or consume data to them, the Asus BW-16D1X-U can take care of business rapidly.
It additionally underpins BDXL, taking into account stockpiling of up to 128GB on a solitary viable plate. Making the bundle much better, the ASUS BW-16D1X-U backings the two Windows and Mac PCs.
Pros | Cons |
Durable | Pricey |
Supports Windows and Mac PCs |
Lite-On EB1
In case you’re anticipating purchasing actual 4K films, more seasoned Blu-Ray drives will be unable to read the more current plates. That is the place where an Ultra HD Blu-Ray-prepared drive can come in. Light On has a moderate drive that offers similar specs to a significant number of the best external drives on our rundown while additionally supporting new Ultra HD Blu-ray media.
The Lite-On EB1 has brisk access times on all media types and flaunts read and write rates of 24x for CDs, 8x for DVDs, and 6x for BD-ROM. The drive likewise bolsters M-Disk, in the occasion you’d prefer to make dependable reinforcements. Even greater is that the Lite-On EB1 estimates simply 0.53 x 5.9 x 5.5 inches and gauges an unassuming 0.66 pounds.
That makes it a practical pick for an in a hurry Ultra HD Blu-Ray reader. It ought to be noted, however, that exceptional programming may, in any case, be expected to exploit Ultra HD Blu-Ray depending on your PC.
Pros | Cons |
Lightweight | Pricey |
Ultra HD Blu-Ray-prepared drive |
Numerous advanced PCs and ultrabooks choose to renounce an optical drive to manage down their size and weight. In any case, that decrease wouldn’t be significant on the off chance that you need an optical drive and need to heft a major one around with you. Luckily, we have an incredible minimized pick that is viable with Windows and Mac PCs. Estimating simply 0.45 x 5.24 x 5.75 inches, the Verbatim 70102 is excessively minimal.
Furthermore, the decrease in size doesn’t mean a lot of bargains. It’s worked with metal lodging, for an exceptional look and belief, and it’s expedient. It can write CDs at 24x, DVDs at 8x, and Blu-ray at 6x — in any event, supporting M-Disk. Indeed, believe it or not, it’s a full CD/DVD/BD drive, and it weighs not exactly a large portion of a pound. The Verbatim 70102 is a clear versatility champion, with power and data move all incidents over USB, so you’ll just need one cable.
Pros | Cons |
Durable | Expensive |
Portable |
Best Affordable External Optical Drives
On the off chance that you needn’t bother with the Blu-ray capacities offered by a portion of the more exceptional external optical drives, at that point you can get an extraordinary arrangement on an essential CD/DVD drive. LG’s GP65NB60 is a position of safety and moderate combo drive that offers both read and write capacity for CD and DVD. Estimating 0.6 x 5.4 x 5.6 inches and weighing simply 0.4 pounds, it even gives our top conservative pick a run for its cash.
The LG GP65NB60 can read CD-ROM at 24x velocities and DVD-ROM at 8x rates, which means it’s not falling behind the majority of the opposition in spite of its spending cost. Write speeds are additionally nice, with up to 24x on CD-R and up to 8x on DVD-R. Furthermore, the LG GP65NB60 simply needs a solitary USB association for the entirety of its power and information transfer needs.
Further balancing the bundle, the LG GP65NB60 supports Windows and Mac, can burn chronicled quality M-Disk, and arrives in an assortment of colors, with dark, gold, white, and silver on offer.
Pros | Cons |
Affordable | none found |
Supports windows and Mac systems |
The Dell DW316 estimates 0.55 x 5.41 x 5.67 inches, making it both a financial plan and a smaller competitor. Alongside its thin profile, the gadget weighs simply 0.44 pounds, so you’ll barely see it in your PC pack. Running off a solitary USB association for power and data move, it doesn’t take a lot to get the Dell DW316 going.
The backing is affirmed for Windows, yet analysts have referenced utilizing the Dell DW316 with Mac PCs too. To the extent execution goes, the Dell DW316 scores great checks in accordance with what a large portion of the opposition has to bring to the table.
It brags the greatest read speeds 24x for CDs and 8x for DVDs. It can offer those equivalent velocities for writing also.
Pros | Cons |
Affordable | none found |
Easy to use |
For Mac clients that need something basic and convenient, Lite-On’s EBAU108 is a fundamental CD and DVD drive fit for reading and composing disc. The drive is essential in a plan, with a jump-out disc for optical media and a solitary USB 2.0 link for fueling the gadget and moves between it and your PC. Past Mac OS, the Lite-On EBAU108 is affirmed to work with PCs running even the old Windows XP working system and fresher machines running on Windows 10. Along these lines, on the off chance that you own a different system, you’ll probably have the option to utilize this gadget with more than one of them.
Regardless of its little size and low value, the Lite-On EBAU108 is a genuine article. It can read CDs at 24x rates and DVDs at 8x, in addition to it has support for M-Disk on the off chance that you need chronicled quality backups— this is to say the gadget sits side by side with a significant part of the opposition. Despite the fact that this is our top pick zeroed in on Mac, a lot of our different picks offer help for Mac, so make certain to look at the rest on the off chance that you need different highlights or need an alternate plan.
Pros | Cons |
Affordable | Simple design |
Lightweight |
Best Portable External Optical Drives
Where a minimal impression checks, ASUS’s super thin ZenDrive is a quality pick. This is a straightforward CD/DVD combo drive, with no help for Blu-Ray, yet that implies it comes in at a considerably lower cost. What’s more, it estimates simply 0.55 x 5.33 x 5.61 inches, with a solitary USB association required for power. The ZenDrive offers amazing execution for its size, with CD reads and write velocities to 24x, and DVD read and review paces to 8x. Advancing that exhibition along are snappy access times; the Asus ZenDrive can get to CD and DVD content in 160ms.
For anybody that needs documented quality, the ZenDrive additionally underpins burning to M-Disk for enduring data stockpiling. The Asus ZenDrive underpins the two Windows and Mac, and it incorporates CyberLink programming to assist you with beginning with putting away substance on physical media. The drive additionally accompanies a half year of free distributed storage from ASUS, so you can tear content from your CDs and DVDs and move them there depending on the situation.
Pros | Cons |
Compact | none found |
Lightweight |
How We Picked
People Also Ask
Are external optical drives as good as internal?
Normally, inner drives perform better compared to external optical drives. The purpose for it is that the inside drives are ensured by the outside packaging, in contrast to outer drives. Accordingly, there is less possibility for dust collection inside an interior drive.
Why do gaming laptops not have CD drives?
Size is obviously the clearest explanation that they’ve basically vanished. A CD/DVD drive takes up a great deal of actual space. The disc alone needs in any event 12cm x 12cm or 4.7″ x 4.7″ of actual space. As PCs are made to be compact gadgets, space is amazingly important land.
What is the difference between an optical drive and a DVD drive?
“Optical” signifies light is utilized as a component of the instrument. “Optical” signifies light is utilized as a component of the instrument. Album and DVD are two distinct sorts of optical drives (there are others, as LaserDisk and Blu-Ray Disk). Album and DVD allude to particulars for a class of media and gadgets that can understand them.
Conclusion
Having read our review on the best external optical drives, searching for one would be a breeze. However, ensure you take your time to check all the features, including the pros and cons of your preferred choice before buying.