External optical drives

ASUS BW-16D1X-U Blu-ray Drive ($180)

ASUS Powerful Blu-ray Drive with 16x Writing Speed and USB 3.0 for Both Mac/PC Optical Drive BW-16D1X-U

• Blu-ray, DVD, and CD formats (16x Blu-ray / 16x DVD / 40x CD write speeds)

• MacOS and Windows Compatiblity via USB 3.0 (USB 3.1 Gen1) connection

• BDXL format support - up to 128GB data storage in one disc

• Support for M-DISC provides archival-quality storage to protect your precious data, photos, and videos for up to 1,000 years

• Includes Nero BackItUp, CyberLink Power2Go 8, CyberLink PowerBackup 2.5, and 12 month subscription to ASUS Webstorage Cloud Service

ASUS BW-16D1X-U supports Mac OS X and Windows without any installation that will be operated directly when plugging the USB in the notebook or PC.

ASUS BW-16D1X-U provides a complete, easy-to-use backup solution. Intuitive, bundled software called CyberLink Power2Go 8 simplifies the disc-burning process and offers optional encryption functionality to protect your private files. ASUS BW-16D1X-U also comes with on online backup solution for Android smartphones and tablets. Together, these powerful functions protect your information and minimize the risk of data loss to give you peace of mind.

Dimensions: 243 x 165 x 63 mm (L/W/H); 9.5" X 6.5"

https://www.amazon.com/Computer-International-BW-16D1X-U-Powerful-Blu-ray/dp/B071VP89X1 

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No special software is required to get started with the ASUS Powerful Blu-ray Drive - it works with both Mac and Windows through plug-and-play functionality.

However, you will need software for specific tasks:

• For basic data backup/burning: Included CyberLink Power2Go 8 software

• For playing Blu-ray movies: Not included - you'll need third-party software like PowerDVD or free alternatives like VLC Media Player (requires AACS decryption keys)

• For ripping discs: Popular free options include MakeMKV or HandBrake

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Here are the best free Blu-ray software options that customers successfully use with the ASUS Powerful Blu-ray Drive:

For Playing Blu-ray Movies:

• VLC Media Player (Free) - Most popular choice, though requires AACS decryption keys for copy-protected discs

• Leawo Blu-ray Player (Free) - Dedicated Blu-ray player software

For Ripping/Converting Blu-rays:

• MakeMKV (Free for DVD, trial for Blu-ray) - Highly recommended by customers for backup purposes

• HandBrake (Free) - Popular for video conversion after ripping

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Here are the best Mac Blu-ray software options that customers successfully use with the ASUS Powerful Blu-ray Drive:

Recommended for Mac Users:

• Toast Titanium 19 (Paid) - Top recommendation from Mac users for both burning and disc creation

• Aiseesoft Mac Blu-ray Player (Paid) - Highly recommended for reliable Blu-ray playback on Mac

• Jriver Media Center 26 (Paid) - Excellent for CD playback and CD ripping

Free Options:

• VLC Media Player (Free) - Works for some Blu-ray discs but may have compatibility issues with copy-protected content

• Leawo Blu-ray Player (Free) - Mentioned by Mac users as a decent free alternative

For Advanced Users:

• MakeMKV (Free for DVD, trial for Blu-ray) - Popular for ripping and backing up Blu-ray content

• Aimersoft Video Converter Ultimate (Paid) - For video ripping and conversion

Important Notes:

• macOS has built-in DVD Player but no native Blu-ray support

• The drive works with Mac OS X 10.6 and higher, including recent versions like Big Sur and Monterey

• Many customers report that Toast Titanium provides the most reliable Mac experience

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Yes, you can burn Blu-ray discs with a MacBook, but you'll need an external Blu-ray drive and third-party software like Roxio Toast or DVDFab, as macOS doesn't natively support video Blu-ray authoring, only basic data burning. You'll drag your HD video into the software, choose Blu-ray as the format, select a BD-R disc, and burn. 

What you need:

• External Blu-ray Writer: A USB drive that can read/write Blu-ray discs.

• Blu-ray Media: Blank BD-R or BD-RE discs.

• Burning Software:

  • Roxio Toast: A popular choice that handles Blu-ray burning, authoring, and menu creation.

  • Blu-ray Creator Apps: Other options like Wondershare DVD Creator, DVDFab Blu-ray Creator, or Leawo Blu-ray Creator. 

If you want to burn video format Blu-Ray discs that could be played using a standard Blu-Ray player then you need to buy Toast Titanium Pro for Mac.

See - https://www.roxio.com/en/products/toast/pro/

ASUS SBW-06D5H-U BDXL External Ultra Slim Blu-ray and MDisc Burner USB 3.1 USB-C 2 Cables Black

OWC Mercury Pro 16X Blu-ray, 16X DVD, 48X CD Read/Write Solution

archgon Premium Aluminum External USB 3.0 UHD 4K Blu-Ray Writer Super Drive for PC and Mac       Brand: SEA TECH

Verbatim Ultra HD 4K CD DVD Blu-ray Writer USB 3.2 GEN 1 USB-C Connectivity Slim Brushed Metal Enclosure Compatible with Mac and PC with Free 25GB Verbatim Blu-ray disc

https://www.verbatim.com/en/external-optical-drives/products/43888-ultra-hd-4k-blu-ray-writer-usb-c 

Verbatim External Slimline Blu-ray Writer

6486545

Write speeds of 8X for DVD and 24X for CD.

Compact CD writer design allows for easy traveling.

Compatible with Windows and Mac OS.

USB 2.0/3.X compatibility.

Includes a USB Type-C adapter.

optical drive write compatibility Blu-ray BD-R

M-DISC Ready: Fully compatible with M-DISC technology for long-term archival data preservation.

Software: Comes with Nero Burn & Archive and Verbatim 3-2-1 Eternity Backup software.

Connectivity: USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB 3.0) compatible, with a USB-C to USB-A cable and adapter included for broad compatibility.

Speeds: Up to 24x for CD, 8x for DVD, and 6x for BD. 

External Slimline Blu-ray Writer drive

USB-C to USB-A cable

USB-A to USB-C adapter

Nero Burn & Archive software (on CD)

Ultra HD 4K Blu-ray Writer – USB-C

https://www.bestbuy.com/product/lg-8x-external-usb-2-0-blu-ray-disc-double-layer-dvdrw-cd-rw-disc-rewriter-black/JXTZZL27X9

However, you will need software for specific tasks:

For basic data backup/burning: Included CyberLink Power2Go 8 software

For playing Blu-ray movies: Not included - you'll need third-party software like PowerDVD or free alternatives like VLC Media Player (requires AACS decryption keys)

For ripping discs: Popular free options include MakeMKV or HandBrake

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Full-size (5.25") drives have more robust, larger mechanisms, which generally provide better stability