Are There Any Laptops with CD Drive

There are several key reasons. For one, manufacturers prioritize portability and slim design. A built-in CD drive takes up valuable space inside the laptop, adding weight and thickness—something that contradicts the trend of ultra-thin and lightweight devices. Additionally, digital distribution has largely replaced physical discs. Most software, music, and movies are now available for download or streaming, making CDs and DVDs obsolete for most users. Storage technologies like USB drives and cloud storage also offer faster, more flexible options for data transfer and backup.
But for users with specific needs—such as professionals who need to access old project files on CDs, educators using optical discs for teaching materials, or audio-visual enthusiasts who collect Blu-ray movies—laptops with built-in CD drives still exist. One notable example is the Fujitsu FMV Note A 2025 series. This laptop stands out by offering either a DVD drive or a Blu-ray drive (in higher-end models), catering to users who require optical disc support. It also comes with decent hardware configurations, such as AMD Ryzen 7 or Intel Core i3 processors, ensuring smooth daily use. While it’s slightly heavier (around 1.9kg) than typical slim laptops, its rich interfaces and built-in optical drive make it a solid choice for niche needs.
If you can’t find a suitable laptop with a built-in CD drive, or if you already own a slim laptop without one, an external disc drive for laptop is a cost-effective and flexible solution. These devices connect to your laptop via USB-A or USB-C ports, are plug-and-play, and compatible with most operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux). They’re also lightweight and portable, easy to carry in a laptop bag for on-the-go use.
When choosing an external disc drive for laptop, there are a few factors to consider.

Compatibility is key—opt for models with dual USB-A and USB-C interfaces to avoid the hassle of adapters. Reading and writing speed is another consideration; look for drives with 8X DVD or 24X CD speed if you frequently handle large files. Durability matters too—aluminum shell models offer better heat dissipation and sturdiness. For data security, some external drives support M-DISC technology, which can preserve data for up to 1,000 years, ideal for long-term backup of important files.
Our website offers a range of high-quality external disc drives tailored to different needs, including Ultra-Thin External DVD Drive and External Blu-Ray Drive, which are perfect matches for laptops. Our Ultra-Thin External DVD Drive is a standout for portability, with a thickness of only 9.5mm and a weight of around 200g, making it easy to slip into any laptop bag or even a jacket pocket without adding extra burden. It adopts a sleek matte black finish that resists scratches and fingerprints, and features plug-and-play functionality—no additional drivers are needed for Windows, macOS, or Linux systems.

With 8X DVD burning speed and 24X CD reading/writing speed, it handles software installation, data backup, and classic movie playback effortlessly, while dual noise reduction technology ensures quiet operation even during long-term use.

For audio-visual enthusiasts and users with high-capacity storage needs, our External Blu-Ray Drive is a top-tier choice. It supports 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray playback, delivering stunningly clear image quality for your Blu-Ray movie collection, and is compatible with a wide range of disc formats including BD-ROM, BD-R, BD-RE, DVD, and CD—truly "one device for all discs". Equipped with a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C interface, it enables fast data transfer and stable burning, with 6X BD-R writing speed and 4X BDXL reading speed; it can also store up to 100GB of data on BDXL discs, making it ideal for long-term archiving of important files, family photos, and video projects. What’s more, it supports M-DISC archiving technology for 1,000-year data preservation, and comes with bundled burning software that offers password protection and electronic signature features to enhance data security. Both drives are designed with anti-slip silicone pads at the bottom for added stability, effectively preventing reading interruptions or burning failures due to vibration.
To sum up: are there any laptops with CD drive? Yes, but they’re niche products designed for specific user groups. For most people, an external disc drive for laptop is a more choice, as it allows you to retain the portability of your slim laptop while meeting occasional optical disc needs. Our website’s ultra-thin and Blu-ray external drives combine portability, performance, and durability—whether you need a lightweight companion for daily use or a high-performance drive for HD entertainment and large-capacity backup, we have you covered.

Do you still use CDs or DVDs regularly? Have you tried an external disc drive for your laptop? Share your experiences in the comments below!