DVD drive is gradually withdrawing from history thanks to the rapid adoption of USB massive storage device. Mac desktops and laptops nowadays hardly includes a CD/DVD drive when being shipped to customers.
However, you might want to play DVD movies or make a bootable DVD disc for OS installation sometimes. That is why we need to get a portable DVD drive. Portable DVD drives have their own DVD-burning software, and most of them supports plug-and-play. So all you need to do is unpack them and plug them in your Mac.
Here is a list of a few handpicked portable DVD drives for Mac, we have compared them based on their speed, compatibility, price range and support for various types of ports:
1. Apple USB SuperDrive ($79)
Apple USB SuperDrive is a great product made by Apple. It is lightweight (0.74 lbs only), and very slim (5.5 by 5.5 by 0.7 inch). Since it is from Apple itself, it maintains the same aesthetics of other Apple products, so when you connect it to a Mac it wouldn't look out of date.
It does cost more than an average portable DVD player, but that is same for all Apple products. Although this extra costs does not materialize into enhanced performance. Its lower portion contains a rubberized circle, so it does not slip. It has no buttons on it, you simply push in your disc and it gulps it down, when done, you click on the eject button on your Mac and it ejects the disc.
It has an attached cable to connect the drive to your Mac, and this might be seen as a boon. However, the cable is too short, so it can be a major issue if you do not have any free USB ports nearby. What's more, if the cable gets damaged, you will have to end up buying a new drive altogether. Moreover, it comes with a USB-A connector, so it can be a problem if you Mac has only USB-C port.
With a max read and write speed of 8x for DVDs, it is almost the same as any other portable drive for DVD burning. What's more, you will not be able to use it on a Window or Linux computer as it is compatible only with a Mac.
Pros:
- Lightweight and good looking.
- Fully compatible with all Mac models.
- Built-in USB-A connector with SuperDrive .
- Occupy only a small space and take it to anywhere.
Cons:
- Higher than average cost.
- Not compatible with Windows.
- Only one available color (white).
- Require additional USB-C to USB adapter if no USB-A port on your Mac.
2. LG 8X Ultra Slim Portable DVD Writer Drive ($28.75)
This is an external DVD drive, it can be used to backup important files on a DVD. Although it says that this is a USB 2.0 drive, it also supports USB 3.0. You can connect it to your Mac using a mini USB cable, and it does not require a separate power source.
The dimensions for this LG DVD drive is just 14.22 by 13.72 by 1.52 cm, it is also pretty slim at 0.55 inches, and 5.6 ounce. One of the good things about this drive is that it has silent play, this aids in reducing noise during playback. It can adjust the disc speed automatically for optimal execution.
With write speeds up to 8x, it supports DVD+R, DVD-R and other formats. It is compatible with Mac and Windows, and comes with a copy of CyberLink DVD burning software which makes it truly portable.
Pros:
- Easy plug-and-play solution.
- Can be connected to a TV.
- Ultra slim and minimalist design.
- Support USB 2.0 and 3.0
- Work with modern Mac as well as PC.
- Three colors available (silver, gold and black).
- Come with Cyberlink software.
- Less noise with Slient Play technology.
Cons:
- Not work on old macOS computers before High Sierra.
- Not support Blu-Ray discs.
- Sometimes failed to read DVD discs.
3. ASUS ZenDrive Ultra Slim USB 2.0 External 8X DVD Optical Drive ($28.99)
This ASUS DVD Drive is what we call an ultra-compact disk storage device since it's only 13mm thick. It gives a peak write speed of 8x for DVDs, and 24x for CDs. It is compatible with both Mac and Windows; however, it is only compatible with USB 2 ports and not with USB 3.0 ports, which is a major drawback.
It is pretty lightweight considering it measures at 7.1 by 7 by 2.4 inches, so it is pretty easy to move it around. It can be considered as one of the top notch portable DVD drives that provides support for Mac's M-DISC format, which is quite adequate when it comes to protecting your data in various formats including videos, photos, for a long period of time.
The ASUS ZenDrive portable DVD player includes CyberLink software, a powerful disc image burning software. It supports plug-and-play, and thus it can be easily used with any computer. However, a major drawback of this drive is that it does not offer support for Blu ray discs.
Pros:
- Support plug-and-play.
- Great value for money.
- Slim and lightweight.
- Support M-Disc burning technology for durable storage.
- Come with Nero backup software.
- Compatible with Windows and Mac.
Cons:
- Not compatible with USB 3.0 port.
- No lengthy cord.
- Fragile.
- Not support Blu-Ray.
4. Pioneer BDR-XD07UHD 6x Slim Portable USB 3.0 DVD Burner ($132)
The Pioneer portable DVD drive is quite reasonably priced compared to its capabilities. More than being just another portable DVD drive, it extends supports for 4K Blu-Ray formats, and Apple's M-Disc formats.
This portable DVD drive comes with a write speed of 6x for Blu-Ray discs, 8x for DVDs, and 24x for CDs which makes it quite fast. It is compatible with both Mac and Windows OS and does not require an external power source.
It comes with a USB A to USB C Adapter using which you can connect it to a Thunderbolt 4 port. It also supports USB 3.0, and includes the CyberLink software. It also has some more advanced features such as Audio Quite mode which can auto-adjust the portable DVD drive's speed following its use. Overall, its one of the best portable DVD drives for your Mac.
Pros:
- Compact design and Lightweight.
- Support 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray playback.
- Include CyberLink software.
- Protect data on DVD in long term with M-DISC.
- Support USB 3.0.
Cons:
- A bit slower writing speed (6X only).
- occasional failure of USB connection.
- Not full USB 3.0 transfer speed.
5. ASUS Powerful Blu-ray Drive ($158)
Offering up to 16x writing speed, this portable DVD drive is a really fast one compared to the others. It supports both macOS and Windows using a USB 3.0 connection. It has a porsche diamond-shaped look, and supports Blu-Ray discs too.
It has an encryption function, which is optional, for privacy protection while burning DVDs. It allows a max data storage capacity of 128 GB in a single disc. It comes bundled with CyberLink burning and authoring software, this helps you to with the burning process. The ASUS Powerful Blu-ray Drive has the dimensions of 9.5 by 2.5 by 6.5. inches, which is way too big compared to other portable DVD drives.
This ASUS drive can be easily used with a computer and laptop. It offers an online backup solution for Android devices. Weighing in at 2.60 lbs, it is pretty bulky compared to other portable drives. It supports M-DISC on Mac, and enables you to protect your data, videos, and photos. However, it becomes quite noisy when burning a DVD.
Pros:
- Native USB 3.0 support.
- 2X Faster reading and writing speed than other portable DVD drives.
- Easy backup and burning solution with bundled Power2Go software.
- Offer free online backup solution for Android device.
Cons:
- Pretty noisy when it comes to burning discs.
- Big in size, and bulky.
- More expensive.
The Bottom Line
In most cases, Apple USB SuperDrive is the best portable DVD drive for Mac because of excellent support with different Mac hardware and software. If you don't use DVD drive frequently, then go with LG 8X DVD drive instead as it is much cheaper. For Blu-ray disc backup and burning, ASUS Powerful Blu-ray Drive is a nice option you can consider.
Petty is editor in chief at UUByte and writes various topics about Windows and Mac to help people make the most of current technology.