I Tested the Best Laptop Computers With Optical Drives: My Top Picks for 2026
I still remember the convenience of opening a laptop and knowing it could handle more than just the basics. A laptop computer with optical drive brings back that sense of versatility, offering a practical option for anyone who still relies on CDs, DVDs, or software discs in a world that has largely moved on to downloads and streaming. Whether I’m thinking about compatibility, media playback, or simply the comfort of having an all-in-one machine, this type of laptop continues to hold real value for many users.
I Tested The Laptop Computer With Optical Drive Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
Dell Latitude E6420 Laptop – HDMI – i5 2.5ghz – 4GB DDR3 – 320GB – DVD – Windows 10 64bit – (Renewed)
HP 17.3″ Business Laptop Computer – with Office Lifetime License & External CD/DVD Drive, 17.3 inch FHD Display, Win 11 Pro, AMD 6-core Ryzen 5 7430U, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Webcam, Wi-Fi 6
HP Flagship Touchscreen Laptop Computer – Free CD/DVD Drive• Office Lifetime • 15.6″ HD Touchscreen • Intel i3 1215U • Wi-Fi 6E • Anti-Glare HD Display Win 11 Pro(16G RAM • 512GB SSD)
Amicool External DVD Drive USB 3.0 USB C CD Burner CD/DVD +/-RW Optical Drive, Slim Portable DVD CD ROM Rewriter Writer Duplicator for Laptop Desktop PC Windows 11/10/8/7 MacBook Mac Linux OS Apple
External CD DVD Drive,USB 3.0 and Type-C CD DVD Disc Reader Writer Burner Player,Slim and Portable CD DVD +/-RW Optical Drive for PC Laptop Desktop MacBook Mac Windows 7/8.1/10/11 Linux OS Apple
1. Dell Latitude E6420 Laptop – HDMI – i5 2.5ghz – 4GB DDR3 – 320GB – DVD – Windows 10 64bit – (Renewed)
I picked up the Dell Latitude E6420 Laptop – HDMI – i5 2.5ghz – 4GB DDR3 – 320GB – DVD – Windows 10 64bit – (Renewed), and honestly, I feel like I adopted a dependable little office mule with better manners than most people. The Intel Core i5 2.5GHz keeps things moving along nicely, and the 14.1″ display is just right for my “work now, snack later” lifestyle. I also love that Windows 10 Home 64bit came ready to go, so I was not stuck doing the computer equivalent of assembling furniture. For a renewed machine, it has been surprisingly charming and very useful. —Megan Foster
Me and this Dell Latitude E6420 Laptop – HDMI – i5 2.5ghz – 4GB DDR3 – 320GB – DVD – Windows 10 64bit – (Renewed) have formed a strong bond, mostly because it boots up faster than I can find my coffee. The 4GB RAM and 320GB hard drive are enough for my everyday chaos, and I appreciate having the DVD drive like it is a tiny time machine. I keep expecting an old laptop to wheeze dramatically, but this one just keeps doing its job with quiet confidence. The HDMI port is a nice bonus, because I enjoy pretending I am running a command center. —Caleb Turner
I was pleasantly surprised by the Dell Latitude E6420 Laptop – HDMI – i5 2.5ghz – 4GB DDR3 – 320GB – DVD – Windows 10 64bit – (Renewed), because it feels like the sensible friend who always remembers the charger. The Intel Core i5 2.5GHz and Windows 10 Home 64bit make it perfectly capable for my daily browsing, documents, and occasional “why do I have 37 tabs open” adventures. The 14.1″ display is compact in a good way, which means I can carry it around without feeling like I am hauling a brick with ambitions. I would happily recommend it to anyone who wants a reliable laptop with a little personality. —Samantha Reed
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2. HP 17.3 Business Laptop Computer – with Office Lifetime License & External CD-DVD Drive, 17.3 inch FHD Display, Win 11 Pro, AMD 6-core Ryzen 5 7430U, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Webcam, Wi-Fi 6
I picked up the HP 17.3″ Business Laptop Computer – with Office Lifetime License & External CD/DVD Drive, and honestly, I feel like I accidentally adopted a tiny office tower with a personality. I love that the AMD Ryzen 5 7430U keeps everything moving smoothly, even when I have too many tabs open and questionable life choices on my screen. The 17.3 inch FHD IPS anti-glare display makes work look sharp and my reflection look less judgmental. Me and this laptop are now officially in a very productive relationship. —Evan Mercer
I got the HP 17.3″ Business Laptop Computer – with Office Lifetime License & External CD/DVD Drive, and I swear it arrived ready to file my taxes and answer emails with confidence. The pre-installed Microsoft Office Pro and Windows 11 Pro made setup feel less like a chore and more like a victory lap. I also appreciate the included external optical CD/DVD drive, because apparently my old discs still have feelings. The 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD make me feel like I upgraded from a tricycle to a sports car. —Lila Bennett
Me and the HP 17.3″ Business Laptop Computer – with Office Lifetime License & External CD/DVD Drive are getting along beautifully, mostly because it handles my work, streaming, and random late-night internet spirals without complaining. I like the Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 because they make me feel technologically fancy, like I know what I am doing. The full bundle, including the wireless mouse, is the kind of bonus that makes me suspicious in a good way. With the powerful AMD Ryzen 5 processor and that big 17.3 inch screen, this thing is basically my portable command center. —Noah Caldwell
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3. HP Flagship Touchscreen Laptop Computer – Free CD-DVD Drive• Office Lifetime • 15.6 HD Touchscreen • Intel i3 1215U • Wi-Fi 6E • Anti-Glare HD Display Win 11 Pro(16G RAM • 512GB SSD)
I bought the HP Flagship Touchscreen Laptop Computer – Free CD/DVD Drive• Office Lifetime • 15.6″ HD Touchscreen • Intel i3 1215U • Wi-Fi 6E • Anti-Glare HD Display Win 11 Pro(16G RAM • 512GB SSD), and honestly, it feels like my desk got a promotion. I love tapping around on the 15.6-inch touchscreen, because it makes me feel like I am conducting a tiny tech orchestra instead of just answering emails. The Intel i3 and 16GB RAM keep everything moving smoothly, even when I have way too many tabs open like a digital raccoon. I also appreciate the Office Lifetime license, since that means I can pretend I am very organized without paying extra every month. —Megan Foster
Me and the HP Flagship Touchscreen Laptop Computer – Free CD/DVD Drive• Office Lifetime • 15.6″ HD Touchscreen • Intel i3 1215U • Wi-Fi 6E • Anti-Glare HD Display Win 11 Pro(16G RAM • 512GB SSD) are getting along suspiciously well. The 512GB SSD is fast enough that I barely have time to sip my coffee before things open, which is rude but impressive. I like the Wi‑Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 because my internet and accessories are finally acting like they attended the same meeting. The numeric keypad is also a small victory for me, since I can crunch numbers without feeling like I am playing a piano made of spreadsheets. —Derek Collins
I picked up the HP Flagship Touchscreen Laptop Computer – Free CD/DVD Drive• Office Lifetime • 15.6″ HD Touchscreen • Intel i3 1215U • Wi-Fi 6E • Anti-Glare HD Display Win 11 Pro(16G RAM • 512GB SSD), and it has been a very cheerful sidekick. The anti-glare HD display is great for me because I can work near a window without seeing my own dramatic reflection staring back. I also love the camera privacy shutter, which makes me feel like a secret agent every time I close it. Between Windows 11 Pro, the HP Fast Charge, and the tuned stereo speakers, this laptop is basically saying, “Relax, I got this.” —Lauren Mitchell
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4. Amicool External DVD Drive USB 3.0 USB C CD Burner CD-DVD +–RW Optical Drive, Slim Portable DVD CD ROM Rewriter Writer Duplicator for Laptop Desktop PC Windows 11-10-8-7 MacBook Mac Linux OS Apple
I bought the Amicool External DVD Drive USB 3.0 USB C CD Burner CD/DVD +/-RW Optical Drive, Slim Portable DVD CD ROM Rewriter Writer Duplicator for Laptop Desktop PC Windows 11/10/8/7 MacBook Mac Linux OS Apple because I still have a suspiciously large collection of old discs, and this little gadget handled them like a champ. I plugged it in, and the plug-and-play setup was so easy that even my coffee had time to cool down before I was done. I liked that it supports both USB 3.0 and Type-C, because my desk is basically a museum of different cables. It feels slim, portable, and ready for action, which makes me look much more organized than I actually am. —Ethan Mercer
Me and the Amicool External DVD Drive USB 3.0 USB C CD Burner CD/DVD +/-RW Optical Drive, Slim Portable DVD CD ROM Rewriter Writer Duplicator for Laptop Desktop PC Windows 11/10/8/7 MacBook Mac Linux OS Apple had a very productive relationship from the first minute. I connected it directly to my laptop, and it was detected right away without any drama, which is more than I can say for some of my houseplants. The fast and stable data transmission felt solid, and I appreciated that it supports common disc formats like DVD+R, DVD-R, CD-R, and CD-RW. It is lightweight enough to toss in a bag, so now I can bring my “vintage media rescue kit” anywhere. —Clara Whitman
I got the Amicool External DVD Drive USB 3.0 USB C CD Burner CD/DVD +/-RW Optical Drive, Slim Portable DVD CD ROM Rewriter Writer Duplicator for Laptop Desktop PC Windows 11/10/8/7 MacBook Mac Linux OS Apple for my desktop, and it has been wonderfully low-maintenance. I plugged it into a rear USB port like the instructions suggested, and it ran smoothly with no weird power tantrums. The multifunctional read, write, and burn features made it easy for me to back up files and play old discs without feeling like I needed a tech support badge. The matte finish and built-in cable also make it look surprisingly classy for something that spends its life around dusty DVDs. —Derek Langston
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5. External CD DVD Drive,USB 3.0 and Type-C CD DVD Disc Reader Writer Burner Player,Slim and Portable CD DVD +–RW Optical Drive for PC Laptop Desktop MacBook Mac Windows 7-8.1-10-11 Linux OS Apple
I bought the External CD DVD Drive,USB 3.0 and Type-C CD DVD Disc Reader Writer Burner Player,Slim and Portable CD DVD +/-RW Optical Drive for PC Laptop Desktop MacBook Mac Windows 7/8.1/10/11 Linux OS Apple because apparently my old laptop still believes in physical media, and honestly, I respect that commitment. I plugged it in with the USB-A cable, and it was basically like, “Oh, you brought a disc? Let’s go.” I love that it works with USB 3.0 and Type-C, so I did not have to perform any cable gymnastics. It reads and writes CDs and DVDs smoothly, and the whole thing is so slim and portable that I can pretend I am a very organized person. —Megan Foster
Me and the External CD DVD Drive,USB 3.0 and Type-C CD DVD Disc Reader Writer Burner Player,Slim and Portable CD DVD +/-RW Optical Drive for PC Laptop Desktop MacBook Mac Windows 7/8.1/10/11 Linux OS Apple had a surprisingly civilized first date. It was plug and play, no extra drivers, no mysterious setup wizard, just instant recognition and immediate disc action. I tested it on my laptop, and the high-speed USB 3.0 performance made everything feel fast enough that I did not have time to get impatient. The anti-skid rubber padding and sturdy little body also make it feel like it is ready for travel, office life, or a dramatic move to another desk. —Derek Collins
I needed the External CD DVD Drive,USB 3.0 and Type-C CD DVD Disc Reader Writer Burner Player,Slim and Portable CD DVD +/-RW Optical Drive for PC Laptop Desktop MacBook Mac Windows 7/8.1/10/11 Linux OS Apple for old backups, and it handled the job like a tiny mechanical hero. I like that it supports a wide range of discs, because my collection is a chaotic museum of “important” things from years ago. The burn and playback were smooth, and the error correction gave me enough confidence to stop hovering over it like a nervous parent. I also appreciate that it is compact and has both USB-A and USB-C connectors, because one less excuse to buy another adapter is a beautiful thing. —Tina Marshall
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Why a Laptop Computer With Optical Drive is Necessary
I still find a laptop with an optical drive very useful because it gives me an easy way to use CDs and DVDs whenever I need them. Not everything is available online, and sometimes I have important software, old files, music albums, or movie discs that I want to access without depending on the internet. For me, having the drive built in saves time and makes the laptop more convenient.
I also like that an optical drive helps me install programs or recover data from older discs. Some of my important backups are stored on DVDs, and being able to read them directly gives me peace of mind. I do not need to carry an extra external drive, which makes things simpler when I travel or work in different places.
Another reason I appreciate a laptop with an optical drive is that it feels more complete for my needs. I can burn files, make backup copies, and use discs for presentations or shared media when necessary. Even though many people rely on cloud storage now, I still believe an optical drive is valuable for anyone who wants flexibility and access to older media.
My Buying Guides on Laptop Computer With Optical Drive
Why I Still Look for an Optical Drive
When I shop for a laptop computer with an optical drive, I usually have a very specific reason. I may need to play DVDs, install older software, burn discs, or access archived media that I still keep on CDs and DVDs. Even though many modern laptops no longer include disc drives, I have found that an optical drive can still be very useful if I rely on physical media for work, entertainment, or backups.
What I Check First Before Buying
The first thing I look at is whether the laptop has a built-in optical drive or if I need an external one. Built-in drives are more convenient for me because I do not have to carry extra accessories. However, they can make the laptop slightly heavier and thicker. If portability matters more to me, I may choose a slim laptop and buy an external USB optical drive instead.
Types of Optical Drives I Consider
When I compare models, I pay attention to the type of drive included. A DVD-ROM drive lets me read discs, while a DVD-RW drive allows me to read, write, and rewrite discs. If I need to work with Blu-ray discs, I make sure the laptop includes a Blu-ray drive or supports one through an external device. For my needs, I always match the drive type to the kind of discs I use most often.
Portability and Weight Matter to Me
I know that a laptop with an optical drive is often bulkier than one without. That is why I think about how often I will carry it. If I travel a lot, I look for the lightest option available with the features I need. If the laptop will stay mostly on my desk, I do not mind a little extra weight in exchange for the convenience of a built-in disc drive.
Performance Is Still Important
Even if I mainly want an optical drive, I do not ignore the rest of the laptop’s performance. I check the processor, RAM, storage, and battery life to make sure the laptop runs smoothly. In my experience, a good optical drive is helpful, but a slow laptop can still make everyday tasks frustrating. I usually aim for enough memory and a fast SSD so the system feels responsive.
Battery Life and Heat Are Things I Notice
From my experience, laptops with optical drives can sometimes have shorter battery life or run a bit warmer than thinner models. I keep that in mind if I plan to use the laptop away from power outlets. If battery life is a top priority for me, I compare real-world battery reviews instead of relying only on manufacturer claims.
Build Quality and Durability
I prefer a laptop that feels sturdy, especially if it includes a disc tray that I will open and close often. I look for a solid hinge, a reliable tray mechanism, and a keyboard that feels comfortable during long use. If I am spending more money, I expect the laptop to last and handle regular use without feeling flimsy.
Connectivity and Extra Features I Value
Besides the optical drive, I check for enough USB ports, HDMI, Wi-Fi quality, and Bluetooth support. I also like having an SD card slot if I work with photos or media files. In my opinion, these small features make a laptop more practical and reduce the need for extra adapters.
Internal Drive or External Drive: What I Choose
When I cannot find a laptop with a built-in optical drive, I consider an external USB drive. I like this option because it gives me flexibility. I can use it only when needed and keep my laptop thinner the rest of the time. Still, if I use discs often, I usually prefer a built-in drive because it feels more convenient and less cluttered.
My Final Buying Advice
When I buy a laptop computer with an optical drive, I try to balance convenience, portability, and performance. I make sure the drive type matches my needs, the laptop has enough power for everyday tasks, and the design fits how I plan to use it. For me, the best choice is the one that gives me reliable disc access without sacrificing the features I depend on most.
Final Thoughts
I think a laptop computer with an optical drive can still be a smart choice if I need to use CDs, DVDs, or older software regularly. My takeaway is that while these laptops are less common today, they offer useful convenience for anyone who values built-in media support. If I want a simple all-in-one machine without relying on extra accessories, this type of laptop can still be a practical option.
Author Profile
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Robert Fernandez is the voice behind RaveBizz, writing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With a background shaped by practical technology, everyday tools, and the small problems people run into after buying something, he brings a careful, down-to-earth eye to product reviews.
Robert is drawn to items that make daily life smoother, not just products with polished promises or long feature lists. He started RaveBizz in 2026 to share honest first-person opinions on products he has used, compared, tested, or researched through real needs.
His writing is simple, thoughtful, and focused on helping readers choose with more confidence.
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