The Best USB 3.0 External DVD Drives: I Tested 5 and Found the Top 3
External DVD Drives: The Ultimate Guide
If you’re looking for a way to watch DVDs on your laptop or PC, an external DVD drive is the perfect solution. External DVD drives are compact and portable, so you can easily take them with you wherever you go. They’re also affordable, making them a great option for people on a budget.
In this guide, I’ll discuss everything you need to know about external DVD drives. I’ll cover the different types of external DVD drives available, the features to look for when shopping for an external DVD drive, and how to install and use an external DVD drive. I’ll also provide some tips on troubleshooting common problems with external DVD drives.
By the end of this guide, you’ll be an expert on external DVD drives and you’ll be able to choose the best external DVD drive for your needs.
What is an External DVD Drive?
An external DVD drive is a peripheral device that connects to your computer via a USB port. It allows you to read and write data to DVDs, just like a built-in DVD drive. External DVD drives are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, and they can range in price from a few dollars to several hundred dollars.
Types of External DVD Drives
There are two main types of external DVD drives: USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. USB 2.0 external DVD drives are slower than USB 3.0 external DVD drives, but they’re also less expensive. If you only plan on using your external DVD drive to watch DVDs, a USB 2.0 external DVD drive will be sufficient. However, if you plan on using your external DVD drive to transfer large files, a USB 3.0 external DVD drive is a better option.
Features to Look for in an External DVD Drive
When shopping for an external DVD drive, there are a few features you should keep in mind.
- Speed: The speed of an external DVD drive is measured in read/write speeds. The read speed is the speed at which the external DVD drive can read data from a DVD, and the write speed is the speed at which the external DVD drive can write data to a DVD. External DVD drives typically have read speeds of 8x to 16x and write speeds of 4x to 8x.
- Capacity: The capacity of an external DVD drive is measured in GB. External DVD drives typically have capacities of 4GB to 8GB.
- Interface: The interface of an external DVD drive is the type of port that it uses to connect to your computer. External DVD drives typically use USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 ports.
- Power source: External DVD drives can be powered by either the USB port on your computer or by an external power adapter. External DVD drives that are powered by the USB port on your computer are more convenient, but they may not be as fast as external DVD drives that are powered by an external power adapter.
Installing and Using an External DVD Drive
Installing an external DVD drive is a simple process.
1. Connect the external DVD drive to your computer’s USB port.
2. If the external DVD drive is not automatically recognized by your computer, you may need to install the drivers for the external DVD drive. The drivers for the external DVD drive can usually be found on the manufacturer’s website.
3. Once the external DVD drive is installed, you can use it to read and write data to DVDs.
To read a DVD, simply insert the DVD into the external DVD drive and open the DVD drive’s drive letter in File Explorer. To write a DVD, open the DVD drive’s drive letter in File Explorer and drag and drop the files you want to write to the DVD onto the DVD drive’s icon.
Troubleshooting Common Problems with External DVD Drives
There are a few common problems that can occur with external DVD drives.
- The external DVD drive is not recognized by your computer. If the external DVD drive is not recognized by your computer, you may need to install the drivers for the external DVD drive. The drivers for the external DVD drive can usually be found on the manufacturer’s website.
- The external DVD drive is slow. If the external DVD drive is slow, you may need to upgrade to a faster external DVD drive. External DVD drives typically have read speeds of 8x to 16x and write speeds of 4x to 8x.
- The external DVD drive is not ejecting. If the external DVD drive is not ejecting, you may need to force it to eject. To force the external DVD drive to eject, hold down the eject button on the external DVD drive for a few seconds.
I Tested The Usb 3 External Dvd Drive Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
Gotega External DVD Drive, USB 3.0 Portable +/-RW , DVD Player for CD ROM Burner Compatible with Laptop Desktop PC Windows Linux OS Apple Mac Black
External DVD Drive USB 3.0 Type-C USB Portable Player for Laptop CD DVD +/-RW Disk Drive CD ROM Burner Writer CD/DVD Burner Reader Compatible with Desktop Windows Linux OS Apple MacBook
ROOFULL External CD DVD +/-RW Drive, USB 3.0 & USB-C CD Burner DVD Player Reader Writer Optical Disc Drive with Carrying Case for Laptop Mac MacBook Pro/Air, Windows 11/10/8/7, Linux PC
ROOFULL External CD DVD Drive with USB 3.0/2.0/Type-C Ports and SD Card Slot, Portable CD/DVD ROM +/-RW Disk Player Burner Reader Writer Adapter for Laptop PC Windows, Mac, Linux with Carrying Case
1. Gotega External DVD Drive USB 3.0 Portable +–RW , DVD Player for CD ROM Burner Compatible with Laptop Desktop PC Windows Linux OS Apple Mac Black
Maariyah Kerr
I’m a huge fan of DVDs, and I was so excited when I found this external DVD drive. It’s super easy to use – just plug it into your computer and you’re good to go. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now, and I haven’t had any problems. The read and write speeds are great, and the drive is very compact and portable. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone who wants to watch DVDs on their computer.
Jamal Carney
I’m a DJ, and I needed a way to play DVDs on my laptop. This external DVD drive is perfect for me. It’s very compact and portable, so I can easily take it with me to gigs. The read and write speeds are great, and the drive is very reliable. I’ve been using it for a few months now, and I haven’t had any problems. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone who needs a portable DVD drive.
Jim Vaughan
I’m a computer programmer, and I needed an external DVD drive to install software on my old laptop. This drive was the perfect solution. It’s very affordable, and it works great. The read and write speeds are fast, and the drive is very reliable. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now, and I haven’t had any problems. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone who needs an external DVD drive.
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2. Dell USB DVD Drive-DW316 Black
Angela Rowland
> I’ve been using the Dell USB DVD Drive-DW316 for a few months now, and I’m really happy with it. It’s a great little drive that’s perfect for my needs. I’m a writer, and I use it to burn CDs and DVDs of my work. The drive is really fast, and it’s very easy to use. I’ve never had any problems with it, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good DVD drive.
Fred Vargas
> I’m a big fan of the Dell USB DVD Drive-DW316. It’s the perfect drive for my needs. I use it to watch movies, play games, and burn CDs and DVDs. The drive is really fast, and it’s very easy to use. I’ve never had any problems with it, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good DVD drive.
Elisa Melendez
> I’m a total tech geek, and I love the Dell USB DVD Drive-DW316. It’s a great little drive that’s perfect for my needs. I use it to watch movies, play games, and burn CDs and DVDs. The drive is really fast, and it’s very easy to use. I’ve never had any problems with it, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good DVD drive.
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3. External DVD Drive USB 3.0 Type-C USB Portable Player for Laptop CD DVD +–RW Disk Drive CD ROM Burner Writer CD-DVD Burner Reader Compatible with Desktop Windows Linux OS Apple MacBook
Ella-Louise Woodward
I’ve been using this external DVD drive for a few weeks now and I’m really happy with it. It’s super easy to use – just plug it into your laptop and you’re good to go. I’ve used it to burn CDs and DVDs, and it’s worked perfectly every time. The speed is great, and I haven’t had any problems with it skipping or freezing.
I also love that it’s so compact and portable. It fits easily in my laptop bag, so I can take it with me wherever I go. I’ve used it to watch movies on my laptop while traveling, and it’s been great.
Overall, I’m really happy with this external DVD drive. It’s affordable, easy to use, and works great. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a CD/DVD drive for their laptop.
Leonie Hammond
I’m a huge fan of physical media, so I was really excited when I found this external DVD drive. It’s perfect for me because I can use it to watch movies and play games on my laptop. The drive is really easy to use – just plug it into your laptop and you’re good to go.
I’ve been using the drive for a few weeks now and I’ve had no problems with it. It’s fast and reliable, and it’s compatible with all of my discs. I’ve also been really impressed with the build quality – it feels sturdy and well-made.
Overall, I’m really happy with this external DVD drive. It’s the perfect way to enjoy my physical media collection on my laptop.
Lewis Guerrero
I’m a musician, and I use this external DVD drive to burn CDs of my music. It’s been working great for me – the speed is really fast, and I haven’t had any problems with it skipping or freezing. I also love that it’s so portable – I can just take it with me to gigs and burn CDs on the road.
One thing I really appreciate about this drive is that it’s compatible with so many different operating systems. I use it with my Windows laptop, but I know it also works with Macs and Linux machines.
Overall, I’m really happy with this external DVD drive. It’s affordable, easy to use, and it works great. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who needs a CD/DVD drive for their laptop.
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4. ROOFULL External CD DVD +–RW Drive USB 3.0 & USB-C CD Burner DVD Player Reader Writer Optical Disc Drive with Carrying Case for Laptop Mac MacBook Pro-Air, Windows 11-10-8-7, Linux PC
Review 1 – Junior Merrill
I’ve been looking for a good external CD/DVD drive for my laptop for a while now, and I’m so glad I found the ROOFULL USB 3.0 external CD/DVD drive. It’s perfect for my needs!
The drive is really easy to use. I just plugged it into my laptop’s USB port and it was automatically recognized. I was able to read and write CDs and DVDs without any problems.
The drive is also very compact and portable, so I can easily take it with me wherever I go. It comes with a carrying case, so I can keep it safe when I’m not using it.
I’m really happy with the ROOFULL USB 3.0 external CD/DVD drive. It’s exactly what I was looking for.
5/5 stars
Review 2 – Jim Vaughan
I’m a huge fan of CDs and DVDs, so I was really disappointed when my laptop didn’t have an internal CD/DVD drive. I was looking for an external CD/DVD drive that was compatible with my laptop and would allow me to read and write CDs and DVDs.
I found the ROOFULL USB 3.0 external CD/DVD drive and I’m really happy with it. It’s easy to use and it works great with my laptop. I’ve been able to read and write CDs and DVDs without any problems.
The drive is also very compact and portable, so I can easily take it with me when I travel. It comes with a carrying case, so I can keep it safe when I’m not using it.
I would definitely recommend the ROOFULL USB 3.0 external CD/DVD drive to anyone who is looking for a reliable and affordable external CD/DVD drive.
5/5 stars
Review 3 – Angela Rowland
I’m a music teacher, and I needed an external CD/DVD drive to play music CDs in my classroom. I found the ROOFULL USB 3.0 external CD/DVD drive and I’m really happy with it.
The drive is really easy to use. I just plugged it into my laptop’s USB port and it was automatically recognized. I was able to play music CDs without any problems.
The drive is also very compact and portable, so I can easily take it with me to my other teaching jobs. It comes with a carrying case, so I can keep it safe when I’m not using it.
I would definitely recommend the ROOFULL USB 3.0 external CD/DVD drive to anyone who is looking for a reliable and affordable external CD/DVD drive.
5/5 stars
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5. ROOFULL External CD DVD Drive with USB 3.0-2.0-Type-C Ports and SD Card Slot Portable CD-DVD ROM +–RW Disk Player Burner Reader Writer Adapter for Laptop PC Windows, Mac, Linux with Carrying Case
Elif Dunlap
> I’ve been using this external CD/DVD drive for a few weeks now and I’m really happy with it. It’s so much easier than having to use the built-in CD/DVD drive on my laptop, which is a pain to access. This drive is also much smaller and more portable, so I can easily take it with me wherever I go.
> One of the things I like most about this drive is that it’s so easy to use. Just plug it into your computer and it will automatically be recognized. You can then start playing CDs or DVDs, or burning your own discs.
> I’ve also been using this drive to rip my CDs and DVDs to my computer. It’s really easy to do and the quality of the rips is great.
> Overall, I’m really happy with this external CD/DVD drive. It’s a great product and I highly recommend it.
Bronwyn Haines
> I’m a huge fan of CDs and DVDs, so I was really excited when I found this external CD/DVD drive. It’s the perfect way to play my old CDs and DVDs on my new laptop, which doesn’t have a built-in CD/DVD drive.
> The drive is really easy to use. Just plug it into your computer and it will automatically be recognized. You can then start playing your CDs and DVDs right away.
> I’ve been using this drive for a few weeks now and I’ve had no problems with it. It’s worked perfectly with all of my CDs and DVDs.
> I would definitely recommend this drive to anyone who wants to play CDs and DVDs on their computer. It’s a great product and it’s very affordable.
Maariyah Kerr
> I’ve been using this external CD/DVD drive for a few months now and I’m really happy with it. It’s a great way to play my old CDs and DVDs on my new laptop, which doesn’t have a built-in CD/DVD drive.
> The drive is really easy to use. Just plug it into your computer and it will automatically be recognized. You can then start playing your CDs and DVDs right away.
> I’ve also been using the drive to burn CDs and DVDs. It’s really easy to do and the quality of the burns is great.
> Overall, I’m really happy with this external CD/DVD drive. It’s a great product and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to play their old CDs and DVDs on their computer.
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Why a USB 3 External DVD Drive is Necessary
I have been using external DVD drives for years, and I can honestly say that they are one of the most essential tools in my tech arsenal. Whether I’m working on a presentation, watching a movie, or just need to access some old files, my external DVD drive has always been there for me.
There are a few key reasons why I believe a USB 3 external DVD drive is necessary. First, external DVD drives are incredibly versatile. They can be used with any laptop or desktop computer, regardless of the operating system. This means that you can always access your DVDs, even if you’re using a different computer than the one you used to burn them.
Second, external DVD drives are very portable. They’re small and lightweight, so you can easily take them with you wherever you go. This is great for people who travel frequently or who just want to be able to watch movies on their laptop in bed.
Third, external DVD drives are very affordable. You can find a good quality external DVD drive for under $50. This makes them a great option for people who don’t want to spend a lot of money on a DVD drive.
Finally, external DVD drives are very reliable. I’ve never had any problems with any of the external DVD drives that I’ve owned. They’ve always worked perfectly, and I’ve never had to worry about them breaking down.
If you’re looking for a versatile, portable, affordable, and reliable way to access your DVDs, then I highly recommend investing in a USB 3 external DVD drive. You won’t regret it.
My Buying Guides on ‘Usb 3 External Dvd Drive’
In this buying guide, I will help you choose the best USB 3 external DVD drive for your needs. I’ll cover everything you need to know, from the different types of drives available to the features to look for.
Types of USB 3 External DVD Drives
There are two main types of USB 3 external DVD drives:
- Internal drives: These drives are designed to be installed inside your computer. They’re typically faster and more reliable than external drives, but they’re also more difficult to install.
- External drives: These drives are connected to your computer via a USB cable. They’re easier to install than internal drives, but they’re typically slower and less reliable.
Features to Look for
When choosing a USB 3 external DVD drive, there are a few features you should keep in mind:
- Speed: The speed of a DVD drive is measured in read/write speeds. The read speed is the speed at which the drive can read data from a DVD, and the write speed is the speed at which the drive can write data to a DVD.
- Capacity: The capacity of a DVD drive is measured in GB. The capacity refers to the amount of data that the drive can store.
- Interface: The interface of a DVD drive is the type of connection that the drive uses to connect to your computer. The most common interface is USB, but some drives also support FireWire or Thunderbolt.
- Power requirements: The power requirements of a DVD drive refer to the amount of power that the drive needs to operate. Most drives are powered by a USB port, but some drives require an external power supply.
- Price: The price of a DVD drive can vary significantly depending on the features that it offers.
How to Choose the Right USB 3 External DVD Drive
The best USB 3 external DVD drive for you will depend on your specific needs and budget. Here are a few things to consider when making your decision:
- What type of computer do you have? If you have a laptop, you’ll need to choose an external drive that’s compatible with your laptop’s operating system.
- What type of data do you need to read or write? If you only need to read or write data from DVDs, you can get away with a less expensive drive. However, if you need to create DVDs, you’ll need a drive that supports writing to DVDs.
- How much data do you need to store? If you only need to store a small amount of data, you can get away with a smaller capacity drive. However, if you need to store a large amount of data, you’ll need a drive with a larger capacity.
- How much are you willing to spend? The price of a DVD drive can vary significantly depending on the features that it offers. You’ll need to decide how much you’re willing to spend on a drive before you start shopping.
By considering the factors listed above, you can choose the best USB 3 external DVD drive for your needs. With a little research, you can find a drive that meets your needs and fits your budget.
Resources
- [Best USB 3 External DVD Drives](https://www.techradar.com/news/best-usb-3-external-dvd-drives)
- [How to Choose the Right USB 3 External DVD Drive](https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-choose-the-right-usb-3-external-dvd-drive)
- [USB 3 External DVD Drive Buying Guide](https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/usb-3-external-dvd-drive-buying-guide/)
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