Dell DW316
Score: 73/100
Asus ZenDrive Black
Score: 73/100Rankings
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.
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.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
24 xbest | 24 xbest | |
8 xbest | 8 xbest | |
24 xbest | 24 xbest | |
8 xbest | 8 xbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 8 Wbest | — |
| ↓ lower better | 200 gbest | 200 gbest |
| ↓ lower better | 14 mm | 13.9 mmbest |
1 yearsbest | 1 yearsbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Connectivity(1) | ||
Interface | USB 2.0 | USB 2.0 Type-C, USB 2.0 Type-A |
Features(1) | ||
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 | DVD‑RAM, DVD±R, DVD±RW, DVD±R DL, CD‑R, CD‑RW |
Build & Design(1) | ||
Thickness (mm) | 14 mm | 13.9 mm |
General(1) | ||
Operating System Compatibility | Windows 7/8/8.1/10 | Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10; Mac OS X 10.6+ |
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.
“Plug and Play disc burning solution for USB ports”
