DVDs and CDs feel ancient until you have to install old software, rip a wedding video your aunt mailed you, or burn a backup that has to play in a car stereo. I bought my first portable DVD drive in 2018 and since then I have tested half a dozen for various clients. Here are the five external DVD drives I would put on a desk in 2026 with confidence.
The good news: even though laptops stopped shipping with built-in optical drives years ago, the external accessory category is still very much alive, mature, and cheap.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Price | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| LG Electronics 8X USB External DVD Drive | $35 | Overall reliability | 4.7/5 |
| Asus ZenDrive U9M External DVD | $42 | Mac compatibility | 4.7/5 |
| Pioneer BDR-XD07B External Blu-ray | $129 | Blu-ray support | 4.8/5 |
| Roof USB-C External DVD Drive | $29 | Modern USB-C laptops | 4.4/5 |
| Dell DW316 External DVD Drive | $39 | Windows business laptops | 4.6/5 |
1. LG Electronics 8X. Best Overall
The LG 8X is the boring, dependable, plug-it-in-and-it-works external drive. 8x DVD-R write speed, 24x CD-R, M-DISC support for archival burns. It draws power from a single USB-A connection. I have used three of these over the years and never had a failure.
2. Asus ZenDrive U9M. Best for Mac
The Asus ZenDrive U9M is plug-and-play on macOS without any driver install. The slim aluminum body matches a MacBook aesthetically, and it ships with Nero BackItUp software for Windows users who want a backup tool included.
3. Pioneer BDR-XD07B. Best for Blu-ray
If you need Blu-ray (especially for archiving large files to BDXL discs), the Pioneer BDR-XD07B is the gold standard. It writes BDXL up to 100 GB, supports M-DISC, and ships with a USB-A-to-USB-C cable in the box. The build quality is the best of any drive in this list.
4. Roof USB-C External DVD Drive. Best for USB-C Laptops
The Roof drive ships with a native USB-C cable, so on a MacBook Pro or modern Windows ultrabook you just plug in and go. No adapter needed. The bus-powered design means no separate brick. Build is plastic but reads and burns reliably at 8x DVD write speed.
5. Dell DW316. Best for Windows Business Laptops
The Dell DW316 is the OEM-branded option you see on a lot of business deployments. It is rebadged from a major drive maker, well-built, and the support footprint is solid if you are in a Dell-heavy organization. Write speeds are 8x DVD, 24x CD.
What Matters Most
Connection type (USB-A vs USB-C), bus-powered versus needing a separate power adapter, and whether you actually need Blu-ray. Bus-powered USB-C drives are the most convenient by a wide margin.
My Setup
I keep the LG 8X on my desk plugged into a USB hub, and the Pioneer Blu-ray in a drawer for when I need to read or write Blu-ray media. That covers ninety-nine percent of optical disc work that crosses my desk.
Common Mistakes
The biggest one is plugging a bus-powered drive into a low-power USB port (some keyboard hubs and old USB 2.0 ports cannot deliver enough current). The drive will spin up briefly, then stop. Plug directly into the laptop or use a powered hub. Second mistake: assuming a DVD drive will read Blu-rays. It won’t.
Final Recommendation
For most people the LG 8X is the right starting point. cheap, reliable, and works on anything with USB-A or a basic adapter. Mac users with USB-C-only ports should grab the Roof USB-C or the Asus ZenDrive. If you need Blu-ray, the Pioneer BDR-XD07B is the only choice I would make.
Frequently asked questions
Do portable DVD drives work with modern MacBooks?+
Yes, with the right cable. Most external DVD drives ship with a USB-A cable, so on USB-C-only MacBooks you need a USB-A-to-USB-C adapter or a drive with native USB-C support.
Can a portable DVD drive read Blu-rays?+
Only if it is specifically a Blu-ray drive. Standard DVD drives read and write DVD and CD media only. Look for a model labeled Blu-ray if you need that format.