The 11 Best Laptops with DVD Drives of 2020 Reviewed

Laptops with DVD drives reviewed
A DVD drive used to be a standard feature on every computer, including laptops.

But with the advent of faster Internet speeds and streaming video services, a laptop with a built in DVD drive is harder to find.

The internal DVD drive was the bane of many hardware manufacturers, as it added weight and thickness they wanted to avoid to laptop designs. But most software came on CDs or DVDs, so they had to include a way for users to install them.

Another popular use for a laptop is as a portable way to watch movies and listen to music, which meant they had to be able to read CDs, DVDs, and Blueray discs. But as technology progressed, the demand for those abilities waned.

In a hurry to see our top choice? Our favorite is the ASUS Full HD Wideview Gaming Laptop. It is a solid performer with an excellent built-in drive.

Now, most software is purchased online and can be downloaded directly using a high-speed connection. Even software purchased at retail locations often just contains a registration code and a link to download rather than a physical disc.

DVD and Blueray disc purchases are also way down, with most people using sites like Amazon to purchase movies, or not buying them at all in favor of streaming movies from Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, or YouTube. Music CDs are also rarely purchased, with people instead getting their tunes from Spotify, Pandora, or Apple.

But there are still many reasons why you would want a laptop with a built in drive. In some cases it is a lack of reliable high-speed Internet. For others it is to be able to take advantage of a library of legacy movies and music. And some software used by computer scientists, engineering students, and even computer gaming enthusiasts require a DVD drive to function properly.

Whatever your reasons, there are still plenty of decent laptops with DVD drives available.

Best Laptops with DVD Drives

A trip through your local technology store may make it seem like there are no laptops you can buy with an internal DVD drive. Thankfully, that is not the case. But they are a little harder to find. To help you locate the perfect machine that can handle your discs, here are our picks for the best laptops with DVD drives:

1. ASUS Full HD Wideview Gaming Laptop

ASUS Full HD Wideview Gaming Laptop

If you’re looking for a high-performance laptop that won plaudits from both consumers and critics alike, then take a close look at the ASUS gaming laptop. A perfect blend of performance and portability, it’s aimed at people who want the flexibility to take their laptop wherever they go, but who also don’t want to compromise anything when it comes to power. It weighs in at 6.6 lbs, which is marginally heavier than similar products available to purchase, but not overly so. In any case, the qualities of the laptop mean that a slightly heavier weight is acceptable.

So what will you find when you fire up this laptop? Quite a lot, actually. The first thing you’ll notice is the quality of the display. It boasts a 15.6 inch screen with full HD. Indeed, it’s the high quality of the screen that most first-time users notice; since this was built with gaming in mind, there’s no errors when it comes to the display. It’s crisp, with great contrast, and even comes with up to 178-degree viewing angles. It’s not just the screen that’s visually appealing, either. The keyboard is backlit with anti-ghosting technology — this is a special addition that you tend to find on gaming computers, but non-gamers will also appreciate the quality of the keyboard.

Though you’ll be able to add your own speakers if you want (there are many different ports on this laptop), you won’t necessarily have to. The in-built speakers pack a powerful punch. The high amounts of RAM mean that you’ll be unlikely to run into any type of performance issue, no matter what you’re doing. If it’s able to handle high-power games, then it can also handle any number of applications and so on. Of course, the true value lies in what the people say about it, not the specs — and on that front, it gets more or less five stars, with many noting the overall quality of the build and performance.

ASUS Gaming Laptop, 17.3” Full HD Wideview Display, Intel Core i7-7700HQ Processor, NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti 4GB, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB HDD, Backlit kbd, USB 3.1 Type C, Windows 10 Home, FX73VE-WH71
  • 7Th-generation Intel Core i7-7700HQ quad-core 2.8GHz (Turbo to 3.8GHz)
  • Discrete NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB graphics; 1TB 7200Rpm HDD and 8GB DDR4 Memory
  • 17.3" Wide view full HD display, 1920x1080 resolution. Wireless data network: 802.11AC. Bluetooth 4.1
  • Red-backlit gaming keyboard with anti-ghosting technology, 1.8mm key travel distance, and N-Key Rollover
  • 3x USB 3.0, 1x USB3.1 Type C (Gen 1), 1x USB 2.0, 1x Microphone-in jack, 1x Headphone-out jack, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 1x HDMI, 1x Mini Display port (*usb transfer speed may vary. Learn more at Asus website)

2. HP Envy 17t

HP Envy 17t

A high-performing, professional laptop, the HP Envy 17t 17.3 inch UHD 4K Laptop PC has virtually everything that a consumer could reasonably look for. Though it’s less innovative than other offerings out there, it does come jam-packed with features and touches that make it a real powerhouse. Much more than just another laptop with dvd player, this offering from HP will delight people who require a high-end device that they can use for everything. This laptop will be at home in the office, or for watching movies in the evening, or spending some time gaming. The specs of the device are enviable; this is a 17.3 inch laptop that weighs in at 6.73 lbs, which makes it large enough to enjoy a full size screen, light enough that you can transport it wherever you go.

Of all the things noted by customers and critics, the thing that stands out the most, and the one that you hear again and again, is just how fast this laptop is. And that will come as no surprise once you see what’s going on under the hood. Powered by a 8th Gen Intel i7-8550U Quad Core Processor and NVIDIA GeForce MX150, this is a device that can comfortably handle whatever comes its way. It also comes with a lot of features that make this laptop fun to play with — for example, there’s the DVD drive, which you can use to write your discs. There’s also a high-quality camera and microphone, making the laptop perfect for video conversations.

No products found.

3. MSI GL62M 7REX-1896US

MSI GL62M 7REX-1896US

If you’re a gamer looking for a top of the line offering for playing gaming, yet also want your laptop to do much more, then the MSI GL62M 7REX-1896US 15.6” Full HD Gaming Laptop could just be the one that you’re looking for. As the name suggests, this is a laptop that was specifically designed with gaming in mind. The good news is that any laptop that was built for gaming will do everything else well, too. You’ll know that the screen will be of the highest quality — and that’s what you get with this machine — and it’ll be able to handle anything that requires high CPU usage.

So what do users like about this product? Well, more or less everything. People are full of praise for what’s going on inside the laptop, and it’s hard to disagree: this is powered by GeForce GTX 1050Ti GPU and Intel Core i7-7700HQ, this is a laptop that is full of power. Of course, there are plenty of laptops that have high performance, so what makes this one stand out from the crowd? For starters, it’s small, which makes it ideal for people who want to experience gaming on the go. It weighs in at a featherweight 5.29 lbs, and it’s only an inch thin when the lid is closed. If you’re looking for a gaming laptop with CD drive, then this could well be a contender for your cash.

MSI GL62M 7REX-1896US 15.6" Full HD Gaming Laptop Computer Quad Core i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4G Graphics, 8GB DRAM, 128GB SSD + 1TB Hard Drive, Steelseries Red Backlit Keyboard
  • Display: 15.6" Full HD eDP 1920x1080 | Operating System: Windows 10 . Gb LAN
  • Processor: Core i7-7700HQ (2.8 - 3.8 GHz). Visualize key system information so that its clear at a glance.Mini mode display system information on a small size window
  • RAM: 8GB (8G*1) DDR4 2400MHz | Hard Drive: 128GB M.2 SATA + 1TB (5400RPM)
  • Special features: Thin and Light Chassis | Steel Series Red Backlight with Anti-Ghost key + silver lining | Nahimic 2 Surround Sound System

4. Dell Inspiron FHD

Dell Inspiron FHD

The Dell Inspiron 15.6” FHD Laptop is a professional laptop that can also be used in the home for browsing the web, playing games, watching videos, and more. Indeed, it’s the versatility of the laptop that really catches the eye — this is a device that can be used for a little bit of everything. It has four modes. There’s laptop mode, which is just the normal way of using a laptop. Then there’s tent mode, which you can use when you don’t have much space, such as when you’re on a plane or workbench. Then there’s stand mode for watching movies, and tablet mode for light browsing.

So while it’s sold as a laptop, you’re really buying a handful of different devices all rolled into one sleek and impressive machine. It’s true that this laptop doesn’t have the same power as the high-end gaming laptops, but it’s not aimed at people who are looking for that level of power. If you’re a medium-heavy user (that is to say, you need a high-end laptop that’s capable of running different apps), then it’ll prove to be an attractive proposition. It’s especially recommended for families, since it can do a little bit of everything. It can work perfectly well as a laptop for work or schoolwork, yet will also work great when people want to watch a movie or burn a CD. Thanks to the 7th Gen Intel Core processor, speed isn’t an issue, and it also comes with excellent battery life.

Dell Inspiron 15.6" FHD Laptop (7th Generation Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 1 TB HDD, AMD Radeon R7 M445 Graphics) (i5567-7292GRY)
  • 7th generation Intel Core i7-7500U, up to 3.5 GHz Processor with AMD Radeon R7 M445 Graphics
  • 16GB DDR4 2400Mhz included; 16GB maximum
  • 1TB HDD storage; tray load DVD Drive (reads and writes to DVD/CD) included
  • 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Truelife LED-backlit on-cell touch Display
  • Windows 10 operating system; Gray

5. Lenovo ThinkPad E570

Lenovo ThinkPad E570

Lenovo has quietly built an excellent reputation for itself in recent years, thanks to the overall quality of their products. Though in general they may not be overly innovative, the company does get one thing right: they give the people what they want.

That’s just what we find with the Lenovo ThinkPad E570, a high-end business laptop that doesn’t lack anything that people may want. For starters, it’s light, and boasts a slim design that makes it easy to transport from one place to another. It is, after all, only 5.07 lbs. But it’s not just transportability that makes this an attractive laptop to consumers. The performance is top of the line too. This is a machine that is powered by the 7th Generation Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, which means it’ll comfortably handle whatever you’re able to throw it’s way. It comes with Windows 10, which is an excellent option for professionals, and more ports than average. You’ll have a DVD drive, USB, HDMI, and VGA ports, to name just four useful additions.

Previous consumers praise the reliability of the machine. While it’s not going to send shockwaves through the laptop world, it does exactly what it says it’ll do, and it does it well. All in all, this is a laptop that’s aimed at business users, students, and other professionals who want a device that won’t let them down when it counts, and which they can also use to play games and watch DVDs in their downtime.

Lenovo ThinkPad E570 15.6 inch High Performance Business laptop, 256GB SSD, Intel Core i5 (7th Gen) 2.50 GHz, 8 GB DDR4, DVD RW, WiFi, HDMI/VGA, Gigabit LAN, fingerprint reader, Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
  • Intel 7th gen Core i5-7200U 2.5 GHz processor, Turbo up to 3.1 GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD
  • 15.6" HD 1366 x 768 Energy-efficient LED backlight Display, Intel HD Graphics 620, DVDR/RW Drive
  • Next-Gen Intel Wireless-AC 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1, 10/100/1000Mbps LAN, Built-in fingerprint reader
  • 720p resolution HD webcam with 2 microphones, 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0. 1x HDMI, 1x VGA,1x RJ-45
  • Windows 10 Pro 64-bit, Weighs 5.07 bs. and measures 1" thin, Integrated Stereo Speakers

6. Lenovo IdeaPad 300

Lenovo IdeaPad 300

Another high-quality, well-reviewed offering from Lenovo is the Lenovo IdeaPad 300. This is a flexible, portable device that is aimed at people who want to have a DVD drive as well as the capability to browse the web, play games, run applications, and more. With a 15.6 inch display and stunning visuals, this is a laptop that looks the part, whether you’re viewing web pages or watching videos. The main selling point of this laptop is the versatility; it offers a little bit of everything, and can be taken with you when you’re on the move too. It weighs in at 6.6 lbs, which isn’t bad, especially given the speed at which the laptop operates. Indeed, this is a laptop with which you can surf the web upto 3x faster than normal speeds. And since it has a USB 3.0 port, you’ll be able to transfer data to other devices much quicker, too.

This isn’t a laptop that’s going to break records, especially when compared to high-end gaming laptops, but it can more than hold its own. You’ll find that you’re able to play games if you wish, and that it’ll handle everyday tasks — and those special tasks too — just fine. It also comes with a lot of storage, there’s a 1TB HDD included inside, which is more than enough space for all those files, videos, and songs.

Lenovo IdeaPad 300 17.3" HD+ Flagship Laptop, Intel Core i5-6200U, 8GB DDR3L, 1TB HDD, 802.11ac, Bluetooth, Webcam, HDMI, DVD-RW, Win 10 - Black
  • 6th Gen Intel Core i5-6200U Processor (2 cores, 4 threads) 3MB cache and 2.3GHz, Up to 2.8GHz
  • 8GB Memory DDR3L 1600MHz; 1TB SATA 5400rpm; Intel HD Graphics 520
  • 17.3″ Display HD LED-backlight (1600 x 900); Built-in webcam; SD card reader
  • Stereo Speakers with Dolby Advanced Audio; 1 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0; 1x HDMI output, VGA port; 802.11/AC Wi-Fi;
  • Bluetooth 4.0; 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet; Multi touchpad; 4-cell lithium ion battery, Up to 4 hours; Windows 10 Home

7. Acer Aspire E 15

Acer Aspire E 15

Acer continues to delight when it comes to their laptop offerings, and the Acer Aspire E 15 Laptop is no different. There’s much to love about this laptop with a DVD drive. To begin with, it looks attractive. The aesthetics of a laptop can sometimes be overlooked, but there is much to love about a sleek and modern design, one that looks like it’s been well thought out. But the main attraction of the laptop is what’s going on underneath the framework. The 8th gen Intel Core i5 processor is capable of delivering plenty of power without draining the battery life, so no matter what you’re trying to do — be it working, watching videos, or playing games — you’ll have no problems with this laptop by your side. You’ll be especially delighted with the laptop when you’re playing games or watching videos since the HD display is stunning.

One point that makes this laptop appealing is that you’re able to make upgrades. If you want to give the hard drive or memory a boost, then all you’ll need to do is open the compartment door, and make the switch. Easy! The battery life also gets a lot of credit; it can have up to fifteen hours of battery life, depending on what you’re using the laptop for.

Acer Aspire E 15 Laptop, 15.6" Full HD, 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8250U, GeForce MX150, 8GB RAM Memory, 256GB SSD, E5-576G-5762
  • 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U Processor (Up to 3.4GHz)
  • 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED-lit IPS Display
  • 8GB Dual Channel Memory & 256GB SSD
  • Up to 15-hours of battery life.Adapter: 65 W
  • Windows 10 Home

8. Asus X540LA-SI30205P

Asus X540LA-SI30205P

Another offering from Asus, this time the Asus X540LA-SI30205P. While this laptop isn’t going to change the world, it will provide low- to mid-range users with a device that’s more than suitable for their needs. This is a 15.6 inch laptop that is powered by the 5th Gen Intel CoreTM i3-5020U processor Smart dual-core, and which comes with Windows 10. There’s a large harddrive, too, which makes it especially good as an everyday laptop, particularly if you’re using it for student or business purposes. At just 5.07 lbs, this is a light laptop, which means it can easily be transported around. The addition of the DVD player is a nice touch, and it also has many other ports too — for example, HDMI and VGA output. You’ll also find three different types of USB port; there’s the 2.0 and 3.0 USB ports, as well as USB-C port.

Reviews are positive, and people are generally very impressed with what you get for the price.

Asus X540LA-SI30205P 15.6-Inch Flagship Premium Laptop (Intel Core i3-5020U 2.2GHz Processor, 4GB DDR3, 1TB HDD, Windows 10) Silver
  • 15.6-Inch HD 1366 x 768 resolution
  • 5th Gen Intel CoreTM i3-5020U processor Smart dual-core, four-way processing performance for HD-quality computing
  • 4GB system memory for basic multitasking
  • 1TB hard drive for ample file storage space
  • Windows 10 Home, SuperMulti DVD/CD burner

9. Dell Inspiron 15 3000

Dell Inspiron 15 3000

The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 has a lot going for it, and that’s shown in the number of positive reviews that this device has received. Containing the Intel Dual Core Core i3-7100u, 2. 40 GHz Processor, this is a powerful laptop for the price, and it also comes with a bunch of nice touches, such as the inclusion of a HDMI port, USB 3. 0 and USB 2. 0 ports, Bluetooth, a webcam, MaxxAudio Pro, and media reader. It runs off Windows 10. Weighing in at just 10.6 ounces, this is a laptop that will appeal to people who want to have a laptop that they can take on the move; it would work well for business or student use. The laptop does come preloaded with a fair amount of applications, so it’s worthwhile taking the time to remove these applications in order to speed the device up.

In general, this isn’t a laptop that will appeal to heavy users, but those people who are looking for a reliable machine that can do the basics very well and which also offer a little more will find that there’s much to love.

dell Inspiron 15 3000 15.6" Touchscreen Laptop, Latest Intel Core i3-7100U with 2.4GHz, 6 GB DDR4 RAM, 1 TB HDD, HDMI, Bluetooth, Webcam, MaxxAudio Pro - Win 10
  • Latest Intel Dual Core Core i3-7100u, 2. 40 GHz Processor
  • 6 GB DDR4L Memory; Expandable To 8GB
  • 1TB 5400rpm HDD Storage
  • 15. 6" HD (1366x768 pixels) LED-lit Touchscreen, Intel HD Graphics 620
  • 1x HDMI, 1x USB 3. 0, 2x USB2. 0, Bluetooth, Webcam, MaxxAudio Pro, media reader, Windows 10

10. Asus VivoBook Max

Asus VivoBook Max

Another high-quality offering from Asus, the Asus VivoBook Max appeals to consumers because it allows them to do everyday multitasking without breaking the bank. There’s much to love about this device. For instance, you’ll have 500gb of harddrive space to play with. There’s also a number of different ports that you can use, and of course, a DVD drive. It’s especially recommended for college students, as well as people who want to have a laptop that’s slightly more powerful than your average, but which doesn’t come with a load of features that you won’t use. As with other laptops, it can come with a lot of bloatware that can slow down the device, so it’s recommended to spend some time getting rid of them in order to make the laptop faster. Given the cost, it’s not reasonable to expect that this laptop will compete with the higher-end offerings from Asus and other brands, but if you’re looking for something light and easy to use, then this laptop will tick a lot of boxes.

No products found.

11. HP Pavilion 15 Notebook

HP Pavilion 15 Notebook

The HP Pavilion 15 Notebook PC is an excellent laptop, especially for the cost, that allows users to do all the basics of everyday computing. Indeed, one of the standout things that reviewers mention is that they got a lot for the money that they paid. While the design isn’t anything to write home about it, the general performance will delight, as will the battery life. Given the lightweight nature of this laptop, many people use it as a second laptop that they can use when they’re traveling or on the move.

HP Pavilion 15 Notebook PC, Black
  • A truly powerful audio experience

Playing A Movie On Your Laptop

If you have a DVD or Blueray drive on your laptop, it may not be intuitive how to get a movie to play on your machine. Here is a good YouTube video that walks you through the process.

Related Articles