Amicool External DVD Drive
Score: 71/100
Laurensory External DVD Drive
Score: 69/100Rankings
The Amicool External DVD Drive is a slim, USB-3.0 portable optical drive offering fast 24× CD and 8× DVD speeds with broad format support. Its lack of M-DISC compatibility and occasional power-related recognition issues limit its use for archival or low-power devices. Ideal for travelers and MacBook users needing a lightweight, bus-powered solution.
The Laurensory External DVD Drive offers fast USB 3.0 connectivity and dual USB-A/C ports, delivering solid CD/DVD speeds. Its larger size and limited compatibility with newer devices are notable trade-offs. Ideal for users who need a portable optical drive for laptops or desktops without built-in burners.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
24 xbest | 24 xbest | |
8 xbest | 8 xbest | |
24 xbest | 24 xbest | |
8 xbest | 8 xbest | |
2 MBbest | — | |
| ↓ lower better | 332 gbest | 385.6 g |
| ↓ lower better | 17 mmbest | 27.9 mm |
1 yearsbest | 1 yearsbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Features(1) | ||
Supported Media | CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL, DVD-RAM | CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-R DL, VCD-ROM |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (g) | 332 g | 385.6 g |
Thickness (mm) | 17 mm | 27.9 mm |
General(1) | ||
Operating System Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows 98/SE/ME/2000/2003/XP/Vista/7/8/10; Mac OS 8.6-10.14; Linux (limited) |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers commend the Amicool drive for its fast USB 3.0 data rates, plug-and-play simplicity across Windows and macOS, and the convenience of an integrated USB-A/Type-C cable, while noting the lack of Blu-ray support and limited compatibility with non-PC devices as the main drawbacks.
Everyday users appreciate the drive's cross-platform reliability, especially as a replacement for discontinued Apple optical drives, and praise its portability and ease of use; complaints are few but focus on occasional power-related recognition issues and the absence of Blu-ray capability.
