Apple was one of the first manufacturers to drop DVD drives from its laptops, and this new design quickly spread to iMacs. Which means that if you wanted to rip music or video files saved on your CDs, DVDs, or make copies, then the only solution was to buy an external drive, than Apple's SuperDrive itself.
To date, there are others, here are 4 that you might like.
1
Pioneer BDR-XD05 External DVD Player
- Indicated price:
The Pioneer brand is a benchmark for technology enthusiasts. The BDR-XD05 external drive, small and light, is able to read and write all BDXL, it supports BD-R triple, quadruple layer, BD-RE (rewritable) triple layer, as well as Standard Blu-rays, DVDs and CDs.
Among its interesting features are the Auto Quiet mode which adjusts the speed of the disc rotation and the PowerRead mode which Pioneer says helps the player handle lightly scratched discs.
The USB 3.0 cable is provided and as a bonus, you will benefit from the Cyberlink Media Suite 10 software, but the latter is only compatible with Windows. For your Mac, we recommend the free VLC program through which you can view your Blu-rays.
2
Patuoxun external DVD burner drive
- Indicated price:
If you're looking for a cheap external drive that's only good for watching DVDs and playing CDs, then look no further than the Patuoxun is the one for you.
For just under $20 you get a DVD burner which can be used to create backups of your system or access a larger video/audio library.
Be aware that a USB 3.0 cable is provided and if you have a recent Mac, you will need a USB-Type C to USB-A adapter.
3
LG DVD player / recorder
- Indicated price:
Much like the Patuoxun above, LG's GP57EW40 is an inexpensive and lightweight device. It is not compatible with Blu-Rays, but it achieves write speeds of 24x for CDs, 8x for DVD+Rs, and 6x for dual-layer DVD+Rs, although it has a USB 2.0 connection.
LG includes its Silent Play feature, which controls the disc's rotational speed and keeps the player quiet while in use.
Simple, reliable and inexpensive. No nasty surprises.
4VicTsing Blu-Ray drive
- Indicated price:
The design of the VicTsing, with its sandblasted aluminum finish, gives it a certain allure next to a Mac.
Small in size, yet big in capability. Indeed, this player supports CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays, with the possibility of reading or burning in the format you want.
It has a USB 3.0 port for very fast data transfer, but be aware that it is also compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.0 connectors. You can also use it with Windows.
