Ziweo External DVD Drive
Score: 70/100
Alxum Laptop External CD Drive
Score: 79/100Rankings
The Alxum External CD/DVD Drive combines 24× CD and 8× DVD burning with a built-in USB hub, SD/microSD slots, and a 2.5-inch SATA docking bay in a lightweight 255 g package. It lacks Chromebook compatibility and some hub ports are limited to USB 2.0, which may bottleneck peripherals. Great for photographers and students needing a compact hub and optical drive.
The Ziweo External DVD Drive is a portable, bus-powered optical drive offering dual USB-C and USB 3.0 connectivity with fast 24× CD and 8× DVD speeds. Its fixed cables and limited compatibility with certain devices such as Chromebooks and Ubuntu are notable drawbacks. Ideal for Windows and macOS laptop users needing a reliable, low-noise external drive.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
24 xbest | 24 xbest | |
8 xbest | 8 xbest | |
24 xbest | — | |
8 xbest | — | |
| ↓ lower better | — | 255 gbest |
| ↓ lower better | 20.3 mmbest | 150 mm |
— | 2 yearsbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Power(1) | ||
Power Source | USB bus-powered | Bus-powered |
Build & Design(1) | ||
Thickness (mm) | 20.3 mm | 150 mm |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers consider the Ziweo drive a reliable and portable accessory, emphasizing its fast 24× CD/8× DVD speeds, 5 Gbps USB 3.0 transfer, dual USB-C/3.0 connectivity, and sturdy low-noise build, while noting the inconvenience of fixed cables and the lack of compatibility with Chromebooks, Surface Pro and Ubuntu.
Everyday users generally praise the drive for its quick and dependable disc burning, quiet operation, and ease of use on Windows and Mac laptops, but recurring complaints focus on occasional driver requirements, incompatibility with certain devices, and the fixed cable design.
“excellent accessory for anyone who needs a reliable and portable optical drive.”
“use it as a hub... don't need extra ones”
“super cool”
Professional reviewers commend the Alxum External CD/DVD Drive for its blend of optical performance and built-in hub functionality. They emphasize the solid 8× DVD/24× CD speeds, 5 Gbps USB 3.0 transfer rate, and the convenience of three USB 2.0 ports, a USB 3.0 port and SD/TF slots, all in a plug-and-play package that works across Windows, macOS and Linux. The compact form factor and included USB-C cable are highlighted as travel-friendly features, though reviewers note the lack of Chromebook compatibility and the modest DVD speed compared to higher-end models.
Everyday users highlight the drive's portability and hub versatility, often mentioning how it eliminates the need for separate adapters and makes file transfers from cameras easy. Praise centers on the quick plug-and-play setup, reliable burning, and the handy SD/TF slots. The main criticisms from users are the incompatibility with Chromebook/Surface devices and occasional need for an extra power cable when connected to low-power USB ports.
