10 Best External Dvd Drives For Macbook Pros 2025 in the United States

The Pioneer External Blu-ray Drive BDR-XD08G is a slim, portable optical drive designed to work well with MacBook Pros and other devices. It connects via USB 3.2 Gen 1 with a USB Type-C interface, which is perfect since MacBook Pros usually have USB-C ports, so you get fast and easy plug-and-play compatibility without needing extra adapters. The drive supports a variety of formats including Blu-ray, DVD, and CD, making it versatile for watching movies, backing up data, or burning discs.

Write speeds max out at 6X, which is decent for this kind of external drive—fast enough for most everyday tasks but not the quickest if you regularly burn large volumes of discs. Its compact size and light weight (just over 8 ounces) make it very portable, so it’s easy to carry alongside your laptop. It draws power directly from the USB port, eliminating the need for an external power source, which adds to convenience. The gold color might not appeal to everyone’s taste, and while it is generally durable, being a portable device means it should be handled with care to avoid damage.

This Pioneer drive is a solid choice if you want a reliable, portable Blu-ray/DVD/CD solution that matches the MacBook Pro’s USB-C ports, especially for casual to moderate use.

The ASUS BW-16D1X-U is a strong choice if you need an external Blu-ray drive for your MacBook Pro. It connects via USB 3.0, ensuring fast data transfer and broad compatibility with both Mac (OS X 10.6 or newer) and Windows systems. Its standout feature is the 16x writing speed for Blu-ray discs, which supports large BDXL discs up to 128 GB—a plus if you want to store huge files or backups. The drive also supports M-DISC technology, allowing for long-lasting data storage, which is great for important files.

On the design side, it has a sleek, diamond-shaped look, making it stylish to carry around. It’s bus-powered through the USB cable, so you don’t need an extra power adapter, adding to its portability. The included CyberLink Power2Go software offers helpful disc burning and optional encryption to keep your files private. However, it’s primarily aimed at Blu-ray media rather than just DVDs, so if you only need basic DVD reading or writing, this might be more than you require.

Although compatible with macOS, some users may find occasional software setup a bit tricky since it’s better supported on Windows. Durability-wise, ASUS typically makes reliable products, but it’s a slim external drive, so gentle handling is advised. This drive is well suited for MacBook Pro users who want fast, versatile Blu-ray writing and playback on the go, but casual DVD users might find it more powerful than necessary.

The LG BP60NB10 is a slim and portable external Blu-ray/DVD drive that works well with MacBook Pros, thanks to its USB connection and broad OS compatibility including macOS. It's especially good if you want to play or burn Blu-ray discs in addition to DVDs and CDs, with added support for M-DISC, which helps preserve data longer. The drive’s noise reduction technology makes movie watching quieter, and it can smooth playback of slightly damaged discs, which is a nice touch.

However, it uses USB 2.0 rather than the faster USB 3.0 standard, so data transfer and disc burning might feel slower compared to newer drives. Its write speed maxes out at 6x, which is adequate but not very fast for large data tasks. The device is lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry around with your MacBook Pro without needing an external power source, as it draws power via USB. It also supports a wide range of disc formats, including DVD-RAM, which adds versatility.

While the use of older USB technology can limit performance and some users might still notice disc spin noise in very quiet environments, this drive represents a solid and portable option for Blu-ray and DVD use with your MacBook Pro. Those prioritizing speed, however, may want to consider faster alternatives.