Laptop optical disc drives are disappearing – but for some buyers, having internal CD/DVD reading and writing abilities remains essential. This extensive guide will help you discover the top laptop models retaining integrated drives alongside solid performance specifications in 2023.
We‘ve thoroughly assessed today‘s options to spotlight the 5 best laptops with CD drives available. By rating key factors like speed, display quality and price, we make picking the right device for your needs simple.
Let‘s examine why you still might want a DVD drive in 2023, how to shop for a laptop with disc support and the finest models providing modern power with legacy media versatility!
Why Pick A Laptop With An Integrated CD Drive In 2023?
In an era of streaming entertainment and cloud storage, you may wonder why anyone still needs an optical disc drive in their laptop. Here are the main reasons integrated DVD drives remain relevant for some shoppers:
Enjoy Existing Disc Collections – If you own a library of CD music albums, DVD movies or game discs, an internal drive allows enjoying them without added equipment. Far more convenient than portable external units.
Burn Files To Discs – With robust read/write drives, essential files, family photos and important documents can be archived by burning to robust CD/DVD media. Discs make perfect offline backups.
Install Legacy Software – While downloads grow more prevalent, some niche programs still ship on physical media. Internal drives permit quick installs without workarounds.
Share Data And Media – Blanking burning allows easy sharing of data like photos or videos by sending friends and family physical discs of the files.
If any of those applications appeal, picking one of the best laptops with a CD drive makes sense. We‘ll now explore exactly what to prioritize when choosing the perfect model for your specific needs.
Shopping Considerations For Finding The Best Laptop With An Internal Disc Drive
With integrated optical drives now a rarity on laptops, giving extra thought to your ideal specifications becomes important before purchase. Keep these key factors in mind:
Disc Type – Entry-level drives tend to be read-only units that play CD/DVD media but cannot burn records. Choose reader/writers if you require recording abilities too.
Screen Quality – When watching movies or viewing files, you‘ll want a sharp, color-accurate IPS LCD at least Full HD (1080p) resolution on a 15 to 17 inch diagonal.
Internal Specs – Focus on fundamentals like ample RAM (8GB+), fast modern processors and sizable SSD storage for speedy performance beyond disc usage.
Operating System – Most models now run Windows 10 or 11. But some business-centric devices offer Linux or even Chrome OS.
Physical Size – Laptops with internal drives tend to be bulkier and heavier than ultraportables. Expect dimensions starting from 14 x 9.5 x 1 inches and weights from 4.5 lbs.
Getting the above basics right for your work or leisure needs will set you up to enjoy a model boasting both speedy new computing hardware and convenient optical drive integration. Now let‘s examine prime laptop recommendations!
The 5 Best Laptop Picks With Integrated CD Drives
- Overall Winner: Acer Aspire 5
- Top Budget Choice: ASUS VivoBook 15
- Best Battery Life: HP Laptop 17z
- Most Stylish: Lenovo IdeaPad S340
- Ultimate Powerhouse: Dell XPS 17
We‘ve ranked our selection spanning great all-rounders to specialists focused on strengths like low pricing or elite performance. All retain physical optical media abilities alongside other compelling traits. Let‘s closely compare the options…
#1 Overall Winner: Acer Aspire 5
The brilliant Acer Aspire 5 strikes the best overall balance of strong specifications, smooth usability and value pricing. It brings the complete package for work, study and relaxed entertainment courtesy of its 17.3 inch Full HD display and peppy 11th Generation Intel Core i5 processing.
An integrated DVD drive caters to legacy media alongside speedy 512GB solid state storage and 16GB RAM which lets you efficiently hop between numerous apps and browser tabs. Ten hours of battery life coupled with a backlit keyboard optimize outdoor usage while Dolby Audio premium sound enhances streaming video or DVD movies. It all comes wrapped up in an aluminum chassis weighing just 5.51lbs for manageable mobility.
For most buyers wanting capable computing performance alongside disc drive versatility without breaking budgets, the Aspire 5 is a superb solution.
- Intel Core i5-1155G7 Processor (2.5 GHz 4-Core)
- 17.3" Full HD IPS Display
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- 512GB PCIe SSD
- Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- DVD Drive
- 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Ports
- SD Card Reader
- Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 Connectivity
- Windows 11 Home Edition
- 10 Hour Battery Life
- Aluminum Build, Silver/Blue Colors
- 15.71 x 10.04 x 0.78 Inches
- 5.51 Pounds Weight
Pros
- Great everyday performance
- Crisp 17.3 inch 1080p screen
- Loads of storage and memory
- DVD drive playback
- Very fairly priced
Cons
- Fans can get audible when stressed
- Mediocre 720p webcam
#2 Top Budget Pick: ASUS VivoBook 15
The ASUS VivoBook 15 retains DVD support at an affordable sub-$500 price point. It utilizes previous generation AMD processing technology but still delivers smooth everyday task handling courtesy of a Ryzen 5 chip and 8GB RAM.
You get a vibrant 15.6 inch Full HD display panel optimized by ASUS Tru2Life Video technology alongside expansive 1TB HDD storage capacity. Integrated AMD Radeon Vega 8 graphics prove capable for light photo editing and media playback while Dolby Audio contributes immersive sound.
With a DVD drive enabling access to an existing physical media library plus strong enough performance for web tasks, document editing and casual gaming, the capable VivoBook 15 is ideal for students on tight budgets.
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500U Processor (2.1 GHz Quad-Core)
- 15.6" Full HD LED Display
- 8GB DDR4 RAM
- 1TB HDD
- AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics
- DVD Drive
- 1x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Port, 2 x USB 2.0 Ports
- HDMI and MicroSD Card Reader
- 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1
- Windows 10 Home Edition
- 5 Hours Claimed Battery Life
- Plastic Construction, Silver Color
- 14.1 x 9.1 x 0.8 Inches
- 3.75 Pounds
Pros
- Extremely affordable pricing
- Respectable performance for essential tasks
- Sharp 15.6 inch 1080p visuals
- Huge 1TB hard disk capacity
Cons
- More demanding software/games struggle
- Mediocre battery runtimes
- Lots of bloatware preinstalled
#3 Best Battery Life: HP Laptop 17z
The HP 17z emphasizes epic battery life alongside its expansive 17.3 inch screen real estate rather than outright performance power. Over 13 hours of runtime for web browsing or DVD movie playback is achievable from its huge 70Wh four-cell lithium-ion pack.
Smooth everyday speed is still delivered by a Ryzen 5 5500U chip and 8GB RAM which comfortably handles essential work/study web apps, office tools or streaming media. Performance is also modestly boosted by switchable AMD Radeon graphics.
240GB of NVMe SSD storage aids swift booting while the integrated optical drive maintains support for existing disc libraries. If your priorities are marathon battery abilities for travel plus a bigger screen over maximum computing speed, the 17z is a great fit.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Processor (2.1 GHz Hexa-Core)
- 17.3" Full HD IPS Display
- 8GB DDR4 RAM
- 256GB NVMe SSD Storage
- Switchable AMD Radeon Graphics
- DVD Drive
- 720p Webcam with Dual Array Microphone
- 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A Ports
- 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A Port
- HDMI and Media Card Reader
- Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2
- Windows 11 Home Edition
- 13+ Hour Claimed Battery Life
- Gray Plastic Construction
- 16.5 x 10.8 x 0.9 Inches
- 5.84 Pounds
Pros
- Huge 17.3 inch 1080p display
- Extreme 13+ hour battery life
- Respectably quick productivity performance
- DVD drive included
Cons
- Merely adequate gaming abilities
- Significant footprint
#4 Most Stylish: Lenovo IdeaPad S340
The graceful IdeaPad S340 proves laptops boasting DVD functionality can still deliver slick contemporary aesthetics. Premium metal construction in cool Mineral Grey sets it apart style-wise while narrow display bezels supply a 81% screen-to-body ratio for immersion.
Performance is smooth and responsive courtesy of a 10th Generation Intel Core i5 chip, 8GB DDR4 RAM and PCIe SSD storage. Entertainment abilities are enhanced by Dolby Audio tuning and an optional IPS 1080p touchscreen. DVD drive integration even permits playing your old disc collection.
If wanting DVD abilities in a slimmer 0.7 inch thin package with aluminum premium design is important, the gorgeous Lenovo IdeaPad S340 hits the mark.
- Intel Core i5-10210U Processor (1.6 GHz Quad-Core)
- 15.6" Full HD IPS Touch Display
- 8GB DDR4 RAM
- 256GB PCIe SSD Storage
- Integrated Intel UHD Graphics
- DVD Drive
- 720p Webcam with Privacy Shutter
- 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A Ports
- HDMI, 4-in-1 Media Card Reader
- Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 Connectivity
- Windows 10 Home Edition
- Up to 7 Hours Battery Life
- Aluminum Construction in Mineral Grey
- 14.1 x 9.6 x 0.7 Inches
- 3.96 Pounds Weight
Pros
- Sleek, premium design
*Good general task handling - Quality IPS touch display
- Respectably portable
Cons
- Battery life merely average
- Occasional fan noise intrusion
#5 Ultimate Powerhouse: Dell XPS 17
Creative professionals and hardcore gamers craving blistering performance in a big-screen laptop with disc drive support need look no further than Dell‘s magnificent XPS 17.
It packs a 10th Gen Intel Core i9 colossus – the fastest laptop processor available – alongside NVIDIA RTX 3060 graphics perfect for intensive workstation apps or maxed-out AAA gaming. Visuals display sublimely on a massive 17 inch 4K touch panel equipped with 100% Adobe RGB and 94% DCI-P3 for color accuracy.
32GB of 2933MHz DDR4 RAM lets you effortlessly juggle dozens of browser tabs and programs simultaneously while there‘s abundant fast PCIe storage capacity available up to 2TB. A backlit keyboard and giant trackpad optimize usage comfort. Expect all of this desktop-class power in a svelte 0.77 inch aluminum chassis with six-speaker audio and a DVD drive too!
If you want the ultimate prosumer machine without compromises, it‘s impossible to beat the Dell XPS 17 on performance and features. Just make sure to budget accordingly!
- Intel Core i9-10885H Processor (2.4 GHz 8-Core)
- 17” 4K UHD+ Touch Display
- 32GB 2933MHz DDR4 RAM
- 1TB PCIe SSD Storage
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Graphics
- Tray-Loading DVD Drive
- 1080p IR Webcam with Dual Speakers
- 4 x Thunderbolt 4 Ports, SD Card Slot
- Killer Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1
- Windows 10 Pro Edition
- 6-Cell 97WHr Battery
- CNC Machined Aluminum in Silver
- 14.7 x 9.8 x 0.77 Inches
- 5.53 Pound Chassis
Pros
- Unbeatable performance
- Sublime 4K touch display
- Huge capacity specifications
- High-end metal construction
- DVD drive included
Cons
- Very expensive!
- Battery life just okay
- On the heavy side
Now you‘ve seen the best laptop picks retaining optical drives today across various priorities like budget pricing or maximal power. Next let‘s cover real-world ownership…
What‘s The Experience Like Using A Modern Laptop With Disc Support?
Since integrated DVD drives are now rare on new laptops, you may wonder what living day-to-day with one of the above recommendations sporting this legacy feature is like.
In general workflow, high performers such as the Acer Aspire 5 or Dell XPS 17 operate similarly to mainstream laptops without optical bays when web browsing, creating documents or watching streaming video.
Their ample specifications like new 11th or 12th Gen Intel processing, dedicated graphics cards and large solid state storage options ensure great speeds for typical mobile productivity or entertainment. Any disc abilities are additive on top.
It‘s when you want to tap that integrated DVD drive support where these machines differentiate themselves! For movie buffs with an existing DVD collection, just slide in a disc for crisp playback on those crisp 1080p or even 4K displays. Peacefully enjoy flicks during travel without packing external drives or dongles.
Gamers with aging disc-only titles can insert them directly too and relive nostalgic PC classics no longer sold digitally. And anyone with archived photos, videos or music CDs lying around gets effortless importing into modern editing suites. Burning data to durable discs remains conveniently possible as well.
There are still times swapping to a thin external drive makes sense – watching rented DVDs in cramped economy airplane seats for example! But for most stationary usage, choosing a laptop with integrated support like our recommendations neatly solves access to legacy and optical media alongside all the speed of modern computing hardware internally too.
More Advice For Finding The Perfect Laptop With Disc Drive
Beyond our top 5 recommendations, keep the below additional guidance in mind when evaluating laptop options sporting integrated disc functionality:
External USB Drives – If you spot an ideal machine without an internal drive, adding a compact external DVD unit via USB remains possible from $20. But built-in drives reduce clutter and hassle.
Get Maximum Drive Speeds – When playing or burning discs, opt for laptops with the very fastest DVD drives to reduce waiting around. Look for 12x write/read speeds or quicker.
Processor And RAM Aid Performance – When performing disc operations, an older laptop can get bogged down easily. Choosing the latest fast chips like 11th or 12th Gen Intel Core helps tremendously alongside 8GB+ RAM.
Consider Cloud Storage – While it‘s fantastic having DVD backup abilities, supplementing disc archives with secured cloud storage across services like Google Drive covers more failure scenarios.
Carefully Store Disc Media – Get the longest lifespan from written DVD/CD backups by storing them correctly – lay flat, space evenly, avoid direct light and extreme temperatures. Handle gently!
We hope this advice alongside our recommendations for the ideal laptops with optical drives helps guide your buying choice in 2023. Just remember to keep practical aspects like display quality and overall system specifications in focus alongside the presence of a DVD reader or burner before deciding!
Final Thoughts On Finding A Laptop With An Internal CD/DVD Drive
Finding a capable modern laptop in 2023 that retains an integrated optical disc drive bay for playing and recording legacy media is trickier with each passing model generation.
But for buyers who still need internal support for existing CD/DVD collections across movies, software, music or backing up data, there remains some compelling choices covering various performance levels and budgets.
Our top recommendations stand out thanks to hitting the right balance between smooth speed for daily mobile tasks courtesy of new internal hardware alongside handy optical functionality. Focus your search on models meeting the basics like bright 1080p+ displays, sufficient RAM/storage specifications, extensively tested durability and at least 12x maximum DVD drive speeds.
Getting these fundamental facets sorted ensures that – whether you crave maximum power for creative workloads or basic web browsing with disc convenience on a tight budget – your chosen laptop with integrated CD/DVD drive will satisfy dependably for years ahead.
