10 Best External Cd Drives 2025 in the UK

The Rioddas External CD Drive offers a convenient plug-and-play experience, as it is powered directly through a USB connection, eliminating the need for additional power sources or drivers. It supports USB 3.0, which ensures fast data transmission speeds, up to 5Gbps, making it suitable for those who need quick access to data. The drive is compatible with a wide range of operating systems, including various versions of Windows, Linux, and Mac OS, providing flexibility for different users. With a brushed texture shell, its design is both stylish and functional, featuring an embedded cable that reduces the risk of losing cables during transport.

The drive supports a wide array of disc formats, including CD, DVD, VCD, SVCD, and CD-R/RW, as well as DVD-R/RW, allowing users to read and write various types of media. This is particularly beneficial for users who need to burn or copy media files onto discs frequently. The compact design and lightweight structure make it highly portable, weighing just 330 grams, making it easy to carry alongside laptops or desktops.

However, while the drive boasts a 24x optical storage write speed, which is respectable, it may not be the fastest option available on the market today. Additionally, being an external drive, it relies heavily on the condition of the USB ports on the host device to function optimally. Users may need to ensure their device supports USB 3.0 to fully utilize the drive's capabilities. This Rioddas model is an excellent choice for individuals needing a basic, reliable external CD drive that balances functionality with portability, but those seeking extremely high-speed performance may wish to consider other options.

The Antika External CD DVD Drive is a solid choice for anyone needing a portable disc drive with wide compatibility. It connects via USB Type-C with USB 3.0 speeds, providing fast and stable data transfer up to 5Gbps. This makes it good for reading and writing CDs and DVDs at speeds up to 12x, which is decent for everyday tasks like watching movies, playing music, or backing up data. It supports common disc formats and works smoothly with a broad range of systems including Windows (from XP to 10), macOS, and Linux, covering most laptops and desktops.

The device is easy to use with plug-and-play functionality, so no extra software installation is needed for most computers. It also features an extended cable and an additional power line, which helps if your computer USB port doesn’t provide enough power—this improves reliability. Weighing just over 300 grams and measuring about 14 by 14 cm, it’s fairly compact and portable, though not ultra-light. The voltage stabilization technology protects both the drive and your computer from unstable power. However, it doesn’t include batteries, relying entirely on the USB power source.

If you want a dependable external drive that covers a wide range of devices and operating systems without fuss, the Antika drive is a recommended option.

The Verbatim Blu-Ray DVD-Drive 43888 is a compact and versatile external drive designed for a variety of disc formats. It supports a wide range of optical discs, from 100 GB BDXL to 700 MB CDs, making it suitable for both high-capacity storage and standard CD/DVD use. This drive can burn standard DVDs at 8x speed, single-layer and two-layer Blu-ray discs at 6x, and BDXL discs at 4x speed, which should be adequate for most users' needs.

Compatibility with common desktop and laptop operating systems enhances its flexibility. The included Nero software with SecureDisc functions is a useful addition for organizing, burning, and archiving important files securely. Portability is a strong point, as this drive is lightweight and only slightly larger than a standard DVD, making it easy to carry for on-the-go use.

The drive operates via USB 3.0, ensuring fast data transfer rates, but it lacks a battery, requiring an external power source. This makes the Verbatim Blu-Ray DVD-Drive 43888 highly suitable for users who need a reliable and portable solution for reading and writing various optical discs, offering fast performance and broad compatibility in a compact form factor.