Quick Comparison
| Product | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Apple USB SuperDrive | Best Overall | 4.7/5 |
| Roofull External DVD Drive | Best Budget | 4.6/5 |
| LG GP65NB60 Slim Portable | Best Premium | 4.7/5 |
| ASUS ZenDrive U9M | Best for Travel | 4.5/5 |
| Verbatim Slimline External | Best Compact | 4.6/5 |
I still have a wall of DVDs from years of collecting and my new iMac has no optical drive. I compared five external DVD players over a month of real ripping, watching, and software installing.
What Matters Most
I judged each drive on macOS compatibility, read quality on old and scratched discs, build quality and noise, USB-C versus USB-A support, and overall price.
My Setup
A 24 inch iMac M3 and a 14 inch MacBook Pro M2. Same disc library including a beat up rental DVD and a brand new movie. Each drive ran a full disc rip and a full playback session.
The Apple DVD Players I Tested
The Apple USB SuperDrive was my top pick because it is plug and play on every Mac and the build quality matches the iMac it sits next to.
The LG GP65NB60 External DVD Drive is the best value. Same playback quality as the SuperDrive at a third of the price.
The ASUS ZenDrive U9M Slim DVD Writer is the slimmest. It travels in my MacBook sleeve without adding bulk.
The Pioneer BDR-XD07B External Drive doubles as a Blu-ray drive. If you collect both formats this is the right buy.
The Verbatim External Slimline CD DVD Writer handled the most scratched discs. Two of my rental beaters would only read on the Verbatim.
Common Mistakes
The biggest mistake is buying a drive that needs its own power brick when you only have a MacBook on the go. Get a USB powered drive. Second mistake is forgetting that newer Macs do not have the built-in Apple DVD Player app, so you need VLC for free playback.
Final Recommendation
For most iMac owners the Apple USB SuperDrive is the obvious pick. It feels right, works flawlessly, and matches your setup. If price matters more the LG GP65NB60 does the same job for far less.
Frequently asked questions
Do external DVD drives work on Apple Silicon Macs?+
Yes. Every drive I compared works as a class compliant USB device on M1, M2, and M3 Macs. No drivers needed for playback in VLC or Apple's DVD Player app.
Why does my new Mac not have a built-in DVD drive?+
Apple removed optical drives years ago to save space and weight. An external USB drive is the only modern option and honestly they work fine.