Top 5 Laptops With Disk Drive: Best Picks Now

Remember the satisfying *clunk* of a CD spinning up in your old computer? That familiar sound is becoming a distant memory as laptops get thinner and faster. But what if you still need that optical drive—that built-in disc reader and writer? Finding a laptop with a built-in disk drive today feels like searching for a hidden treasure. Most new models skip this feature entirely, forcing you to rely on external gadgets.

This lack of an internal drive creates real problems. Maybe you need to install software from a disc, watch a DVD on the go, or back up important files onto a CD or DVD. Dealing with slow, clunky external drives isn’t ideal when you want simplicity and speed. You want the convenience of an all-in-one machine, but the market often pushes you toward compromises.

This post cuts through the confusion. We will explore why some manufacturers still include this feature, where you can still find these rare machines, and the best alternatives if you cannot find one. By the end, you will know exactly how to choose a laptop that fits your disc-reading needs without sacrificing modern performance. Let’s dive into the world of laptops that still spin discs!

Top Laptop With Disk Drive Recommendations

SaleBestseller No. 1

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

【PLUG & PLAY – EASY CONNECTION】 Simply connect the Amicool External DVD Drive to your computer’s USB or Type-C port, and it will usually be detected right away without the need for extra drivers. For stable operation and sufficient power, we recommend connecting it directly to a USB port on your computer (for desktops, use a rear motherboard port) and avoiding USB hubs or extension cables. This user-friendly design ensures quick setup for both beginners and professionals.
【FAST & STABLE DATA TRANSMISSION】 Featuring dual interfaces (USB 3.0 and Type-C), this optical drive supports data transfer speeds up to 5Gbps. To ensure a reliable connection, please connect it directly to your computer. The drive supports multiple disc formats such as DVD+R, DVD-R, CD-R, and CD-RW. Please note: It does NOT support DVD-RAM, Blu-ray (BD) discs, or certain proprietary formats. Maximum DVD read speed is 8x, and maximum CD read/write speed is 24x.
【UNIVERSAL COMPATIBILITY】 Compatible with Windows 11 / 10 / 8.1 / 7, Linux, and macOS (Note: Some versions may require additional system settings for full functionality). Works with most computers from brands like Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, Acer, and Samsung. 👉 Important: Designed specifically for computers. It is NOT compatible with TVs, tablets, game consoles (e.g., PlayStation, Xbox), car stereos, or standalone Blu-ray players.
【SLIM & PORTABLE DESIGN – BUILT-IN CABLE, READY TO GO】With an integrated cable design, slim body, and stylish matte finish, this lightweight CD/DVD drive is both durable and portable. Easily slip it into your laptop bag or backpack and use it anytime, anywhere—perfect for business, travel, or home use
【MULTIFUNCTIONAL & RELIABLE OPERATION】 Equipped with intelligent error correction and anti-shock technology, this drive supports reading, writing, and burning discs. If the drive is not recognized or a disc cannot be read, try restarting your computer or testing with a different, standard CD-R or DVD-R disc. The pop-up button and built-in cable design offer convenience and portability. For desktop PCs, connecting to a rear USB port is recommended for optimal power and performance.

SaleBestseller No. 2

Dell Latitude 3190 11.6" HD 2-in-1 Touchscreen Laptop Intel N5030 1.1Ghz 4GB Ram 128GB SSD Windows 11 Professional (Renewed)

1.1 GHz (boost up to 2.4GHz) Intel Celeron N5030 Quad-Core
4GB DDR4 System Memory; 128GB Solid State Drive
11.6" HD (1366 x 768) Multi-Touch Display
Combo headphone/microphone jack - Noble Wedge Lock slot - HDMI; 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1
Windows 11 Pro

SaleBestseller No. 3

Rioddas External CD/DVD Drive for Laptop, USB 3.0 CD DVD Player Portable +/-RW Burner CD ROM Reader Writer Disk Duplicator Compatible with Laptop Desktop PC Windows Apple Mac Pro MacBook Linux

Plug & Play. Easy to use, powered by USB port. No external driver or power adapter needed. Simply plug it into your USB port for automatic detection. For optimal performance on desktop computers, connect directly to a high-power USB port on the back of the motherboard. This hassle-free solution requires no technical setup, and if the drive isn't immediately recognized, trying a different USB port typically resolves most connection issues
High Speed & Reliable Performance. Compatible with USB 3.0 (backwards compatible with USB 2.0), this drive delivers fast data transfer speeds up to 5Gbps. Engineered with strong fault tolerance, it minimizes freezing, skipping, and errors during disc playback or burning. The stable performance ensures smooth, reliable operation and reduces the risk of defective performance
Intelligent Tech & Stable Connection. Features a physical eject button that safely releases discs even when your computer fails to recognize the drive—eliminating the common frustration of stuck media. Enhanced with copper mesh technology, this external component ensures consistently stable data transmission during all your reading and writing tasks
Trendy & Practical Design. Features a brushed texture shell for modern visual and tactile appeal. The innovative embedded cable design keeps your USB cable securely stored and always accessible, eliminating worries about misplacement. This compact, all-in-one solution is perfectly suited for easy transport and organized storage
Wide Compatibility. This external USB CD/DVD drive works with Windows 11/10/8.1/7/Vista/XP, Linux, and macOS 10.16+ (MacBook Pro/Air, iMac, Mac mini). Compatible with most laptops/desktops (HP, Dell, Lenovo, ASUS, Samsung). For optimal performance on desktops, connect to rear USB ports. Supported formats include CD-ROM/R/RW, DVD-ROM/R±RW/R±DL, and VCD. IMPORTANT: Not compatible with ChromeOS, smartphones, tablets, TVs, projectors, vehicles, or Blu-ray/4K discs. Please verify your device type before purchasing

SaleBestseller No. 4

HP 14 Laptop, Intel Celeron N4020, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB Storage, 14-inch Micro-edge HD Display, Windows 11 Home, Thin & Portable, 4K Graphics, One Year of Microsoft 365 (14-dq0040nr, Snowflake White)

READY FOR ANYWHERE – With its thin and light design, 6.5 mm micro-edge bezel display, and 79% screen-to-body ratio, you’ll take this PC anywhere while you see and do more of what you love (1)
MORE SCREEN, MORE FUN – With virtually no bezel encircling the screen, you’ll enjoy every bit of detail on this 14-inch HD (1366 x 768) display (2)
ALL-DAY PERFORMANCE – Tackle your busiest days with the dual-core, Intel Celeron N4020—the perfect processor for performance, power consumption, and value (3)
4K READY – Smoothly stream 4K content and play your favorite next-gen games with Intel UHD Graphics 600 (4) (5)
STORAGE AND MEMORY – An embedded multimedia card provides reliable flash-based, 64 GB of storage while 4 GB of RAM expands your bandwidth and boosts your performance (6)

SaleBestseller No. 5

Dell 15 Laptop DC15250-15.6-inch FHD 120Hz Display, Intel Core 3 Processor 100U Processor, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, Intel UHD Graphics, Windows 11 Home, Onsite Service - Carbon Black

Effortlessly chic. Always efficient. Finish your to-do list in no time with the Dell 15, built for everyday computing with Intel Core 3 processor.
Designed for easy learning: Energy-efficient batteries and Express Charge support extend your focus and productivity.
Stay connected to what you love: Spend more screen time on the things you enjoy with Dell ComfortView software that helps reduce harmful blue light emissions to keep your eyes comfortable over extended viewing times.
Type with ease: Write and calculate quickly with roomy keypads, separate numeric keypad and calculator hotkey.
Ergonomic support: Keep your wrists comfortable with lifted hinges that provide an ergonomic typing angle.

SaleBestseller No. 6

External DVD Drive USB 3.0 Type-C Portable CD DVD Player for Laptop +/-RW Disk Drive CD ROM Burner Writer CD/DVD Burner Reader Compatible with Desktop Windows Linux OS Apple MacBook

Portable CD/DVD Burner & Player - This external cd/dvd drive can be a CD/DVD burner, writer, player, reader, or ripper. Use this disk drive to play or burn music or movies, back up, store or transfer all files or material you wanted, like copying photos, reading X-ray on disk, or ripping some DVDs to your Apple MacBook Air. Also use this cd reader for laptop to download and install games or any other programs
Wide Compatibility - This plug-and-play external cd drive for mac is compatible with many OS systems and laptop models. Windows 98/SE/ME/XP/10/8/7/Vista/Linux OS/Mojave OS/all version Mac OS system (ios 8.6 to 10.14). Ideal for PC and laptops like Mac laptop 2015/MacBook Pro/ASUS gaming laptop/Apple MacBook Air 2020/iMac/Mac Mini and more. For desktops, connect the usb dvd burner to the back USB port of the motherboard (Not support TV, car, iPad, Chromebook, Surface Pro, Ubuntu)
High Speed - This dvd player portable is compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 and USB 1.0, this cd reader for pc provides high speed of data transfer. With Max 8x DVDR Write Speed and Max 24x CD Write Speed, this external cd drive for pc provides maximum 5Gbps data transfer speed without lag or distortion. Plug this usb dvd player/cd dvd burner into your USB port, your laptop wwil recognize it without stuttering and noise nor jammed discs
Well-Designed - This compact and light external cd/dvd drive for laptop is solid enough to be durable and to hold its own weight down while it is spinning discs. With anti-skid rubber on the bottom, brushed texture shell, embedded usb cable slot, dual USB-A and USB-C connector, this cd reader for laptop/cd dvd burner can be easily carried and used anytime anywhere, no matter in the office, school, at home, or during a trip
All Kinds of Disc - This dvd drive for laptop/cd is compatible with multiple discs (standard 120mm) including CD-ROM, CD-R, CD +/-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+/-RW, DVD-R DL, VCD-ROM discs. Unlike other CD/DVD players, this usb cdrom drive external gives the disc more clearance inside the disc bay so no more ruined discs due to extra-thick disc label issues! For some cd/dvd players for laptop, sometimes the disc would skip off the top of the drive and the burning or reading process would be ruined

SaleBestseller No. 7

HP Ultra Slim Laptop for Students and Business | 1 Year Office 365 | 1.1TB Storage (1TB Cloud and 64GB Hard Drive) | Intel Quad-Core, 8GB RAM | Windows 11 Home w/o Earbuds

【Make the most out of your 365】Bring your ideas to life.Your creativity now gets a boost with Microsoft 365. Office - Word, Excel, and Power Point - now includes smart assistance features that help make your writing more readable, your data clearer and your presentations more visually powerful. 1 -Year subscription included. Or Lifetime Office 365 for the web allows users to edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents online at no cost, as long as an internet connection is available.
【14" HD Display】14.0-inch diagonal, HD (1366 x 768), micro-edge, BrightView. With virtually no bezel encircling the display, an ultra-wide viewing experience provides for seamless multi-monitor set-ups. The storage capacity is 64GB hard drive, which includes a 64GB onboard drive.
【Processor & Graphics】Intel Celeron N4120, 4 Cores & 4 Threads, 1.10 GHz Base Frequency, Up to 2.60 GHz Burst Frequency, 4 MB Cahce, Intel UHD Graphics 600, Handle multitasking reliably with the perfect combination of performance, power consumption, and value.
【Ports】1 x USB 3.1 Type-C ports, 2 x USB 3.1 Type-A ports, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack, and there's a microSD slot
【Windows 11 Home in S mode】You may switch to regular windows 11: Press "Start button" bottom left of the screen; Select "Settings" icon above "power" icon;Select "Activation", then Go to Store; Select Get option under "Switch out of S mode"; Hit Install. (If you also see an "Upgrade your edition of Windows" section, be careful not to click the "Go to the Store" link that appears there.)

SaleBestseller No. 8

HP Rose Gold Ultrabook Laptop with Microsoft Office 365, Intel 2-Core CPU, 1.1TB Storage (1TB OneDrive and 64GB SSD), 8GB RAM, Windows 11, No Mouse

【Exceptional Storage Space】Equipped with DDR4 RAM and eMMC Solid State Drive, runs smoothly, responds quickly, handles multi-application and multimedia workflows efficiently and quickly.
【Processor】Intel Celeron N4500(2 Cores, 2 Threads, Max Boost Clock Up to 2.80Ghz, 4MB Cache). Intel UHD Graphics 600. This 14-inch laptop is also equipped with Windows 11 S, which makes your work or study easy and convenient.
【Tech Specs】1 x USB-C 3.0. 2 x USB-A 3.0. 1 x HDMI. 1 x Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack. 1 x SD Card Reader. Wi-Fi. Windows 11 S, 1-Year Microsoft Office 365, Bluetooth. Up to 11 hours and 30 minutes battery life. HP Imagepad with multi-touch gesture support. HD Audio with stereo speakers.
【Designed for the Office】With Windows 11, Intel UHD Graphics 600, Bluetooth. Up to 11 hours and 30 minutes battery life. HP Imagepad with multi-touch gesture support. HD Audio with stereo speakers, it ensures a stylish and innovative look, excellent portability, and is suitable for daily work and play. It is a great choice for businesses, offices, or students.

The Essential Buying Guide for Laptops with Built-In Disk Drives

Finding a laptop with a built-in disk drive (CD/DVD drive) might seem tricky today. Many new laptops skip this feature. However, if you still use CDs or DVDs for software, movies, or backups, you need this guide. We help you find the perfect machine that still spins those discs.

Key Features to Look For

When shopping for a laptop with an internal optical drive, focus on these important parts:

Optical Drive Type: Check if it’s a DVD-ROM (read-only) or a DVD-RW (read and write/burn). If you want to save your own discs, choose RW.
Processor Speed: A modern processor (like an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5) keeps everything running smoothly, even when the laptop is reading an older disc.
RAM (Memory): Aim for at least 8GB of RAM. This lets you run programs and browse the web while a CD plays in the background.
Storage Type: Look for an SSD (Solid State Drive) for fast startup times. The disc drive handles the discs; the SSD handles the speed.

Important Materials and Build Quality

The materials used affect how long your laptop lasts and how easy it is to carry.

Chassis Durability

Aluminum or Magnesium Alloy: These metals make the laptop strong and light. They resist dents better than plastic.
Sturdy Hinges: The hinges connecting the screen and keyboard must feel solid. A weak hinge can break if you open and close the laptop often, especially important if the drive mechanism puts extra stress on the frame.

Keyboard and Trackpad

Since these laptops are often used for work or watching media, a comfortable typing experience matters. Test the keys if possible. A good trackpad makes navigation easy without needing a mouse.

Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality

Not all laptops with disc drives are created equal. Some design choices make them better than others.

Quality Boosters

Slim-Profile Drives: Modern optical drives are often thinner than older ones. This allows manufacturers to build a sleeker laptop body.
Good Cooling System: Running a disc drive can generate some heat. Good vents and fans keep the internal parts cool, making the laptop last longer.
High-Resolution Screen: If you watch movies on DVD, a Full HD (1080p) screen shows the picture clearly.

Quality Reducers (Things to Avoid)

Excessive Weight: Built-in drives add weight. If the laptop is too heavy, it becomes annoying to travel with.
Slow Hard Drives (HDDs): Older models might only use slow mechanical hard drives instead of fast SSDs. This makes the entire computer feel sluggish.

User Experience and Use Cases

Why do people still need a built-in drive? The experience is very specific.

Best Use Cases

Archiving Old Data: If you have important family photos or documents saved on CDs, a built-in drive lets you access them easily.
Software Installation: Many specialized or older professional programs still come only on discs.
Media Consumption: For watching DVDs without needing an external dongle, the built-in drive is perfect.

The user experience is often a trade-off. You gain convenience for disc use, but you typically accept a slightly thicker, heavier laptop compared to modern ultra-thin models.

10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Laptops with Disk Drives

Q: Are laptops with built-in drives rare now?

A: Yes, they are becoming rare. Most big brands focus on thin designs, so you often need to look at slightly older models or specific business/educational lines.

Q: Is it cheaper to buy a separate external drive?

A: Usually, yes. An external USB drive is much cheaper than buying a whole laptop with one already installed.

Q: Will a built-in drive slow down my laptop?

A: A little, but not much during normal use. The drive only uses power and speed when you are actively reading or writing a disc.

Q: What is the difference between a DVD drive and a Blu-ray drive?

A: A DVD drive reads standard DVDs. A Blu-ray drive can read DVDs *and* high-definition Blu-ray discs.

Q: Do these laptops support Windows 11?

A: Many newer models with drives will support Windows 11, but older hardware might be limited. Check the minimum system requirements.

Q: How do I know if the drive is fast enough?

A: Look for the drive speed listed as “8x” or higher for DVD writing. Higher numbers mean faster burning times.

Q: Can I replace the disk drive later if it breaks?

A: Sometimes. On older, thicker laptops, the drive might be replaceable like a standard component. On newer, slimmer models, it might be soldered in, making replacement difficult.

Q: Do I need special software to use the drive?

A: No. Windows or macOS automatically recognizes the drive. You only need playback software (like VLC) for movies or burning software for creating discs.

Q: Will a built-in drive make the battery life shorter?

A: Yes, slightly. Using the optical drive uses more power than just using the screen or keyboard. However, the battery size in these laptops is often larger to compensate.

Q: Should I buy a new or used laptop to get a drive?

A: If budget is key, used or refurbished laptops often provide better built-in drive options than brand-new, budget-focused machines.