Asus ZenDrive Black
Score: 73/100
Amicool External DVD Drive
Score: 71/100Rankings
ASUS ZenDrive Black 13mm offers an ultra-slim, bus-powered DVD writer with M-DISC support and dual USB-C/Type-A cables, delivering 24× CD and 8× DVD speeds. However, its USB 2.0 interface limits transfer rates compared to newer drives. It is a good fit for users prioritizing portability and archival capability over high-speed data transfers.
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.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
24 xbest | 24 xbest | |
8 xbest | 8 xbest | |
24 xbest | 24 xbest | |
8 xbest | 8 xbest | |
— | 2 MBbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 200 gbest | 332 g |
| ↓ lower better | 13.9 mmbest | 17 mm |
1 yearsbest | 1 yearsbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Connectivity(2) | ||
Interface | USB 2.0 Type-C, USB 2.0 Type-A | USB 3.0 |
USB Standard | USB 2.0 | USB 3.0 |
Features(2) | ||
Supported Media | DVD‑RAM, DVD±R, DVD±RW, DVD±R DL, CD‑R, CD‑RW | CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL, DVD-RAM |
M‑DISC Support | true | false |
Power(1) | ||
Power Source | Bus-powered | USB-powered |
Build & Design(3) | ||
Weight (g) | 200 g | 332 g |
Thickness (mm) | 13.9 mm | 17 mm |
Form Factor | ultra‑slim | External portable |
General(1) | ||
Operating System Compatibility | Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10; Mac OS X 10.6+ | Windows, macOS, Linux |
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.
