Dell DW316
Score: 73/100
Amicool External DVD Drive
Score: 71/100Rankings
The Dell DW316 is a lightweight, tray-loading external DVD drive with USB 2.0 plug-and-play and M-DISC archival support. It offers solid build quality and a high MTBF, but its USB 2.0 interface and modest buffer limit burn speeds. Suited for Dell laptop owners who need reliable CD/DVD access with M-DISC capability.
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 | 8 Wbest | — |
| ↓ lower better | 200 gbest | 332 g |
| ↓ lower better | 14 mmbest | 17 mm |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Connectivity(2) | ||
Interface | USB 2.0 | USB 3.0 |
USB Standard | USB 2.0 | USB 3.0 |
Performance(1) | ||
Buffer Size (MB) | 0.75-2 MB | 2 MB |
Features(2) | ||
Supported Media | CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM (SL/DL), DVD±R, DVD±RW, DVD±R DL, DVD-RAM, M-DISC (DVD+R SL), CD Extra, CD-DA, CD-I, CD-ROM XA, Photo CD, Video CD, DVD-V | 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 |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (g) | 200 g | 332 g |
Thickness (mm) | 14 mm | 17 mm |
General(1) | ||
Operating System Compatibility | Windows 7/8/8.1/10 | Windows, macOS, Linux |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers and Dell's own marketing material present the DW316 as a dependable, plug-and-play external drive that meets the baseline performance expectations for CD/DVD media. They commend its Dell-specific compatibility, inclusion of M-DISC support, and the bundled CyberLink software, while noting the lack of a USB 3.0 interface and the modest buffer size as drawbacks compared with competing models.
Everyday users generally praise the drive's portability, ease of setup and ability to handle legacy media on modern laptops. Positive comments focus on the slim form factor and M-DISC capability, whereas recurring criticisms revolve around slower USB 2.0 speeds and the limited buffer affecting burn times.
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.
“Plug and Play disc burning solution for USB ports”
