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Apple

Apple USB SuperDrive External CD DVD Drive Writer

★★★★★4.6 (5803 reviews)

Apple's slim external optical drive for playing and burning CDs and DVDs with a single USB cable connection.

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Overview

The Apple USB SuperDrive is a compact external optical drive built for Mac users who occasionally need to access CDs or DVDs. Its slot-loading design and brushed aluminum finish match Apple's hardware aesthetic, and at just a few ounces it adds virtually no weight to a travel bag. Setup is as simple as plugging in a single USB cable — the drive draws all its power from the connection, eliminating the need for a wall adapter or battery.

On the performance side, the SuperDrive reads CDs at up to 24x and DVDs at up to 8x, which is sufficient for ripping music, installing legacy software, or watching DVD movies. Write speeds reach 24x for CDs, 8x for DVD±R, and 6x for dual-layer DVD±R DL, making it a practical tool for burning backups or creating disc copies. The USB 2.0 interface is the main limitation, capping throughput below what modern USB 3.0 drives can achieve, but for the intermittent use case this drive is designed for, the speed is generally adequate.

Key Features

The sleek, compact USB SuperDrive.

Whether you’re at the office or on the road, you can play and burn both CDs and DVDs with the Apple USB SuperDrive. It’s perfect when you want to watch a DVD movie, install software, create backup discs, and more.

Only slightly bigger than a CD case, the Apple USB SuperDrive slips easily into your travel bag when you hit the road and takes up little space on your desk or tray table when you’re working.

You’ll never have to worry about lost cables with the Apple USB SuperDrive. It connects to your Mac* with a single USB Type-A cable that’s built into the SuperDrive. There’s no separate power adapter, and it works whether your Mac is plugged in or running on battery power.

The Apple USB SuperDrive is compatible with Mac models from 2008 and later that don't have a built-in optical drive.

Specifications

Hardware Interface
USB 2.0
CD Write Speed
24x
DVD±R Write Speed
8x
DVD±R DL Write Speed
6x
CD Read Speed
24x
DVD Read Speed
8x
Hardware Platform
PC, Mac

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Extremely slim and lightweight design slips easily into a laptop bag
  • Bus-powered through a single USB cable with no external adapter needed
  • Writes CDs at 24x and DVDs at 8x for reasonably fast disc burning
  • Matches the minimalist aesthetic of Apple hardware

👎 Cons

  • Uses USB 2.0, which limits maximum data transfer speeds compared to USB 3.0 drives
  • Cannot read or write Blu-ray discs
  • No support for slot-loading ejection if the software eject fails without a manual eject pinhole
  • Increasingly limited usefulness as software and media distribution move away from optical discs

Frequently Asked Questions

It reads and writes CDs and DVDs, including DVD±R and DVD±R DL formats.
No, it draws power directly through the USB cable, so no separate power supply is needed.
It writes DVD±R at up to 8x speed and DVD±R DL at up to 6x speed.
It is designed primarily for Mac, but it can also work with PCs that have compatible USB ports and drivers.
No, the SuperDrive supports CD and DVD formats only and does not read or write Blu-ray discs.

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