The Best External DVD Drive for MacBook Air: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you looking for an external DVD drive that seamlessly integrates with your MacBook Air? Look no further! In this article, we'll explore the key factors to consider when choosing the best external DVD drive for your needs.

Operating System Support

When it comes to operating system support, our top picks were detected by both Windows 10 and macOS 10.15 Catalina without requiring any additional software or configuration. This ensures that you can easily use your external DVD drive with either platform.

Connector and Cable

A good external DVD drive should come with a standard detachable USB cable to prevent damage to the entire device in case of a frayed or broken cord. We also prefer drives with Micro-USB ports, although Mini-USB is acceptable too (optical drives with USB-C ports are rare).

Noise Level

While all optical drives make some noise, our top picks shouldn't drown out your movie or TV show experience.

Price

A good DVD drive should cost no more than $40, while a decent Blu-ray drive should be around $100. However, if you plan on burning or ripping discs, the drive's speed becomes a crucial factor.

Speed

If you only use your external DVD drive for playing discs, any drive will perform similarly. We didn't require Blu-ray drives to support Ultra HD (or UHD, or 4K) Blu-ray discs, but it's a nice bonus if you don't have to pay extra for this feature.

Read and Write Capability

A good external DVD drive should be able to read and write DVDs and CDs, while Blu-ray drives must also support reading and writing to Blu-rays, DVDs, and CDs.

In conclusion, when choosing the best external DVD drive for your MacBook Air, consider the operating system support, connector and cable, noise level, price, speed, and read and write capability. With these factors in mind, you'll be able to find the perfect drive for your needs.

Best external dvd drive for macbook air