Best External CD/DVD Drives in the UK

CD and DVD are outdated formats. But that doesn't necessarily mean that the drives that support these formats have to be just as outdated. In fact, they can be pretty damn sleek and sophisticated, and you don't have to look further than the Asus ZenDrive SDRW-08U7M-U for a good example of that.

On the surface, there isn't that much that differentiates this model from any other similar option. Most of the specs are pretty much the same, it supports the same interfaces, and, just like every other drive in this review, the device doesn't work with Blu-ray. But if you look a bit closer and dig a little deeper, you can certainly see why so many people go for this particular model.

But, to go back to that surface for just a moment, we didn't necessarily mean it in a literal sense of the word. Because, appearance-wise, this is one hell of a product.

The company's very own Zen-inspired design incorporates that concentric-circle hairline finish, a finish that adds sort of sophisticated aesthetics that will make any seemingly unremarkable computer look ace. Add to that the ultra-slim 13-mm profile and you have yourself a DVD writer that oozes coolness.

The Rioddas External CD Drive is an attractive option from most angles, starting with the model's appearance and finishing with the capabilities. The drive is not necessarily stunning but its grainy texture and clean outline elevate its profile and make the device much more visually appealing than most CD/DVD drives. The red stripe in the middle going across the entire surface adds mild style points too, ditching the all-black look that disc drives are normally favouring nowadays.

Of course, setting aside the ejection button, the front and the top are not adding anything but looks. The bottom, however, is not quite as clean. First, the device adopts anti-slip feet, making sure that you're not scratching the surface and that the drive is not skidding around that surface. Second, there's an embedded cable compartment, enabling easy, mess-free storage.

Despite these little details, the device measures 142 x 137 x 15 millimetres, not the slimmest external CD/DVD drive that you can find but definitely belonging to that club. Weight-wise, the product caps at 325 grammes, which is pretty much standard, so nothing to complain about but also nothing to write home about. On the downsides, the USB connector is pretty tight, so you'll have to apply some force/effort to insert it into the laptop/PC.

The BEVA Drive003 is about as inexpensive as these portable drives come. At the same time, the device's pretty good considering the modest price tag. Taking the portable part into account, you'll probably be carrying the drive with you to various places, so aesthetics and dimensions matter quite a lot.

From the aesthetics perspective, the device looks quite brilliant, surprisingly enough. The frame's elegant, the lines look sharp yet seamless, with polished accents and smooth curves. The black matte housing makes the drive look fairly elegant too.

Size-wise, the device measures 145 x 145 x 21 millimetres, relatively standard proportions as far as external CD/DVD drives go. The drive weighs somewhere around 300 grams, which is, again, pretty standard, nothing to write home about but nothing to complain about either.

Of course, though these portable CD/DVD drives work with somewhat outdated formats, the specs still determine the device's value more than anything else. On that note, let's examine the product's tech. First and foremost, the drive's able to read standard CD, VCD, SVCD, CD-R/RW, and DVD-R/RW formats. At the same time, you'll have no issues burning content onto CD+/-RW, DVD+/-RW, and just about every CD/DVD format in the book.

The CABLETRANS 123333 is not pushing the envelope. The model is not introducing something new to the external CD/DVD drive game. Truth be told, this device is bringing nothing new to the table. Is that a problem? Not necessarily. They're pretty simple devices these drives, the wheel has already been invented, but there's an argument to be made towards perfecting it. From what we can tell, the model makes considerable strides in this direction, despite failing at times. Of course, there's an ejection button that activates the ejection mechanism. But the said mechanism feels flimsy and clunky, which was an unexpected wrong turn considering that the model is above average in every other regard.

The matte finish with a ribbed pattern featuring raised bands gives the drive certain elegance, while the glossy front balances the matte part out, creating an interesting combination that's all-black yet, somehow, different on two fronts. Still, from where we're standing, the best part is not the housing, though it is close.

No, the best part is the embedded cable design. The cutout on the bottom lets you hide and store the cable, preventing cable loss and decluttering the workspace. Surrounding this cutout, you will find 4 non-slip rubberised pads. With these pads, the drive remains stable, minimising slippage during use. Besides these non-skid feet, the model also employs a pretty long cable with USB-A and USB-C connectors, not quite tying you to the connected device as much as most external CD/DVD drives usually do.

The FLYLAND External CD/DVD Drive attracts attention from the get-go, with its glossy finish and wave-like patterns covering the top. This fashionable appearance puts enough distance between this drive and its immediate competition. Yes, like most glossy surfaces, the model's top is susceptible to scratches, so you'll have to show the device some love and care assuming that you want to maintain its sleek aesthetic. As long as you do that, the product will more than earn its keep.

Aside from adding aesthetics value, the glossy top also hosts this touch-button in the top right corner. You can use this button to eject the CD tray, which is much more comfortable and convenient than reaching for the standard small ejection button on the drive's door that is present here too. Again, you can use both, the extra pop-up button does not interfere with the regular ejection button, this addition is only about comfort.

What's also primarily about comfort is the model's slim and lightweight profile, measuring 145 x 135 x 18 millimetres and 300 grammes. You can easily fit a device like that in any bag/backpack and even the smallest workspaces will be able to accommodate this modest drive. Plus, featuring anti-slip pads, the drive will stand still so that even lightly tilted workspaces will not force the unit to move.