The 8 Best External Optical Drives
Updated by · How we research
Eight USB DVD and Blu-ray drives compared on 4K support, USB-C, archival burning and power needs. The Archgon Premium UHD leads; an Asus ZenDrive covers DVDs. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A DVD drive can't read a Blu-ray disc, because Blu-ray needs a different violet laser, so start with the discs you own. Most thin laptops dropped built-in drives years ago, and a USB drive brings back movies, music CDs, old photo backups and long-life archive discs. Macs work with both kinds, but 4K movie discs play only on Windows PCs.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Archgon Premium UHD now leads this list. It's still sold, it reads 4K movie discs on a capable Windows PC, and an independent review's pick in this category is an Archgon drive of the same design. The Asus BW-16D1X-U stays for long burning jobs at a desk.
Most of the old list is gone. The Pioneer BDR-XD05B, Pioneer BDR-XS06, OWC Mercury Pro, Buffalo Mediastation, Wihool Ultra Slim, Wintale Player Slim and Piaek Row Burner Player are no longer available. We also dropped the LG Ultra Slim Portable, because its slow, older connection now costs about as much as a faster slim burner.
Most people only need DVDs, so the new picks start there: the Asus ZenDrive V1M for USB-C laptops, the Amicool A11 on a budget and the Roofull ECD829-Y for travel. For archiving, the Asus SBW-06D5H-U burns the biggest slim-drive discs. The most telling evidence was in the fine print: 4K playback rules from the player software, disc-format references, and a long run of owner reports of drives that light up but never appear because a USB port is short on power.
November 11, 2020:
For this update, we've added five new items. While they all offer Blu-ray functionality, there is quite a bit of variation in disc formats that might influence your choice. Most Blu-ray players also support DVDs, but things can quickly get complicated when looking at all the related acronyms. For example, there is BDXL which stands for "Blu-ray Disc EXtra Large", and there is also M-DISC which is the abbreviation of "Millennial Disc". Of course, there is the traditional Blu-ray format, which is different than Ultra HD Blu-ray. Perhaps more confusingly, Ultra HD Blu-ray is also called UHD, but is marketed as 4K Ultra HD. Definitely make sure to be aware of these differences if you're looking for something specific. Some of our included choices do support Ultra HD Blu-ray, and several have varying degrees of device playback compatibility. As long as you know what you are looking for, you can pick an option that accommodates your needs.
Several models have been added to our ranking for this update. The Buffalo Mediastation and the Piaek Row Burner Player are modestly priced options that have received positive customer feedback. The Wintale Player Slim has several features that might be helpful, such as integrated USB ports and a double connection interface. The Archgon Premium can read and write UHD as long as you have the appropriate software. Finally, the LG Ultra Slim Portable is a versatile and affordable model that is great for PC users. We also removed the MTHSTec Slim due to availability issues.
November 15, 2019:
There's not a ton to differentiate different PC Blu-ray drives from one another, but they aren't all exactly the same. The Pioneer BDR-XD05B and Pioneer BDR-XS06 do both perform measurably faster than most others, which isn't surprising given the manufacturer. The XD05B is a better overall choice because of its moderate price, though while the XS06 is absurdly pricey, it's pretty much the only slot-loading option on the market, which makes it a touch more durable. The MTHSTec Slim is true to its name, and just a hair thinner than the aforementioned Pioneer models. The Wihool Ultra Slim is notable because it's a bit less expensive than the cheapest brand-name options, and it also has both USB-A and USB-C plugs, so if you're using a MacBook you'll want to check it out.
If you're doing heavy data archival on a regular basis, consider the Asus BW-16D1X-U and OWC Mercury Pro. They're desktop-only drives, as they do require DC power, but they rip and burn more consistently than portable drives and of course they don't draw power from the computer they're plugged into.
If you don't need the ability to burn Blu-rays, you might prefer a standalone player, some of which are notably effective at decoding 4K Blu-rays, for your home theater setup. Or if you'd rather not run down your laptop battery while watching movies on the go, there are plenty of portable options available as well.
Special Honors
CyberLink PowerDVD Windows has no built-in Blu-ray movie player, and PowerDVD is the long-running paid option. It's the player Archgon names for 4K movie discs, and CyberLink offers a free check that tells you whether your PC can play them before you buy a drive. cyberlink.com
DVD, Blu-ray Or 4K: Match The Drive To Your Discs
A standard Blu-ray disc holds 25 GB on one layer or 50 GB on two.
Start with the discs on your shelf. CDs and DVDs are read with red and infrared lasers, while Blu-ray uses a shorter violet laser, so a DVD-only drive can't read a Blu-ray disc at all (Wikipedia: Blu-ray). Every Blu-ray drive here also reads and burns DVDs and CDs, so the only reason to buy DVD-only is price.
A standard Blu-ray disc holds 25 GB on one layer or 50 GB on two. BDXL discs hold 100 or 128 GB, and you need a BDXL burner to write them. Ultra HD (4K) movie discs hold up to 100 GB, and only drives sold as UHD drives can read them.
Watching is the tricky part. Windows and macOS don't play Blu-ray movies on their own, so you need player software. For 4K movie discs, the Archgon drive's maker points buyers to CyberLink PowerDVD on a Windows PC that passes CyberLink's hardware check, and there's no 4K disc player for Mac. Run that check before you buy. If you mostly want movies on a TV, a standalone Blu-ray player is simpler.
Burning For The Long Haul: BDXL And M-DISC
Discs still make sense as an offline copy that ransomware and failed cloud accounts can't touch. M-DISC is a write-once format with a rock-like data layer instead of the dye used in ordinary recordable discs. It comes as DVDs and as 25, 50 and 100 GB Blu-ray discs (Wikipedia: M-DISC). The maker claims a life of centuries, and a NIST archiving report rates it as suitable for 100-year storage.
Burning an M-DISC DVD takes a drive with a stronger laser setting, so look for M-DISC on the box. All four Asus drives here, the Archgon and the Godbpnymu list it. Ordinary BD-R discs are fine for most backups; our guide to BD-R discs covers brands.
For big jobs, a desktop-size burner with its own power supply writes faster and runs steadier than a slim one. Slim drives top out around 6x for Blu-ray, while full-size ones reach 16x, so a 25 GB disc takes minutes instead of a quarter of an hour.
Power, Ports And Ripping Your Own Discs
Slim drives run on power from the USB cable, and that's the most common reason one isn't detected: the light comes on, but the computer never shows a drive. Plug it straight into the computer, not a hub or a long extension, and keep a laptop on its charger. Some older slim drives came with a second USB plug just for power (Wikipedia: Optical disc drive). On a Mac, eject discs from the desktop, since the drive's button may not work.
Ripping music CDs to your computer works with any drive here. Copying movie discs is different: commercial Blu-rays are encrypted, and getting around that is a legal gray area in the U.S. For 4K discs it also depends on the exact drive and its firmware. The volunteer community behind the MakeMKV tool keeps a list of which drives work (MakeMKV forum), and the Archgon maker warns that modified firmware can damage its drive.
How we researched this
We compared 18 external drives, including every model from the old list, read the makers' format, software and compatibility notes for the 8 finalists, used disc-format references for Blu-ray and M-DISC and archivists' forum threads on 4K ripping, analyzed owner feedback for detection and power problems, and checked every brand against U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls. We found no recalls of external optical drives.
Frequently asked questions
What is an optical drive?
It's a drive that reads and writes discs with a laser: CDs, DVDs and, in Blu-ray models, Blu-ray discs. Most laptops and many desktops no longer have one built in, so an external drive plugs in over USB.
Will a DVD drive play Blu-ray discs?
No. Blu-ray uses a different laser, so a DVD drive can't read them. A Blu-ray drive reads DVDs and CDs too.
Do I need software to watch Blu-ray movies on a computer?
Yes. Windows and macOS don't play Blu-ray movies by themselves. You need a player app, and 4K movie discs need CyberLink PowerDVD on a Windows PC that passes its hardware check.
Do external optical drives work with a Mac?
Yes. DVD drives work as soon as you plug them in. Blu-ray movies need third-party player software, and there's no 4K disc player for Mac. Eject discs from the desktop or Finder.
What is an M-DISC burner?
It's a drive that can write M-DISC, a write-once disc built for long-term archiving. Most Blu-ray burners and many DVD burners support it; check for the M-DISC mark.
Why doesn't my external drive show up?
Usually it isn't getting enough power. Plug it straight into the computer rather than a hub, keep a laptop on its charger, and try a different port or the second plug if the drive has one.
