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Dell DW316 USB DVD Drive - Slim External Optical Drive — main product image
Dell DW316 USB DVD Drive - Slim External Optical Drive
Dell DW316 USB DVD Drive - Slim External Optical Drive
Dell DW316 USB DVD Drive - Slim External Optical Drive
Dell DW316 USB DVD Drive - Slim External Optical Drive
Dell DW316 USB DVD Drive - Slim External Optical Drive
Dell DW316 USB DVD Drive - Slim External Optical Drive
Dell

Dell DW316 USB DVD Drive - Slim External Optical Drive

★★★★★4.4 (96 reviews)
USB2.07.1 oz

The Dell DW316 slim external DVD drive adds disc reading and burning to any laptop through a simple USB plug-and-play connection.

$38.50*
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jul 20, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The Dell DW316 USB DVD Drive is a slim external optical drive designed to restore disc functionality to ultrabooks, thin laptops, and desktops that ship without built-in optical drives. Measuring just 5.4 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches and weighing a mere 7.1 ounces, it's one of the most compact DVD drives available, sliding easily into a laptop bag or desk drawer. The tray-loading mechanism accepts standard-size CDs and DVDs, and the drive supports a full range of formats including DVD±R, DVD±R DL, and standard CDs for both reading and writing operations.

Setup is entirely plug-and-play — connect the USB-A cable to your computer and the drive is recognized immediately on supported Windows systems without any driver installation. The DW316 is bus-powered, drawing its 8W of power directly from the USB port, so there's no external power brick to carry or plug in. Write speeds reach 8x for DVD±R and 24x for CD media, while dual-layer DVD±R DL writing operates at 6x. The drive includes CPRM support for compatible protected media. While the USB 2.0 interface and official support limited to Windows 7 through 10 reflect the drive's original design era, it continues to serve as a dependable option for users who need straightforward, portable disc access.

Key Features

Device Type: External DVD±RW Drive (Color) Black

Interface: USB2.0 [Media Load Type] Tray

Speed (Read/Write) CD: 24x/24x, DVD±R: 8x/8x, DVD±R DL: 8x/6x

[Dimensions/Weight] 5.4 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches (13.7 x 14.4 x 1.4 cm) / 7.1 oz (200 g); Compliance Standards: Plug & Play, CPRM Support. Power Consumption: 8 W

[Supported OS] Microsoft Windows 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10 [Service & Support] Hardware Limited Warranty - 1 Year

Specifications

Device Type
External DVD±RW Drive
Color
Black
Interface
USB 2.0
Media Load Type
Tray
CD Read/Write Speed
24x / 24x
DVD±R Read/Write Speed
8x / 8x
DVD±R DL Read/Write Speed
8x / 6x
Dimensions
5.4 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches (13.7 x 14.4 x 1.4 cm)
Weight
7.1 oz (200 g)
Power Consumption
8 W
Supported OS
Windows 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10
Compliance
Plug & Play, CPRM Support
Warranty
1-Year Hardware Limited Warranty

Frequently Asked Questions

The DW316 is powered entirely through its USB 2.0 connection, drawing up to 8W from the host computer. No separate power adapter is needed.
Yes, the DW316 is a DVD±RW drive capable of both reading and writing CDs and DVDs, including dual-layer DVD±R DL discs.
The drive reads and writes CDs at 24x speed, reads and writes DVD±R at 8x speed, and reads DVD±R DL at 8x while writing DVD±R DL at 6x speed.
Dell officially lists compatibility with Windows 7 through Windows 10. While the drive may function on Windows 11 or macOS as a basic USB mass storage device, official support and guaranteed compatibility are limited to the listed Windows versions.
Very portable — it weighs just 7.1 oz (200 g) and measures only 0.5 inches thick, making it easy to slip into a laptop bag alongside an ultrabook or notebook.

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