In 2024, the considered utilizing a CD or DVD in your Mac looks like dwelling prior to now. But, there are occasions when it’s worthwhile to pop one into an optical drive, and that’s the place the Apple SuperDrive is available in. With so many choices obtainable on Amazon, does Apple’s beautiful design do sufficient to warrant its $79 price ticket?
Apple SuperDrive: Worth and availability
The Apple SuperDrive is offered immediately out of your native Apple Retailer or the Apple Retailer On-line. The CD/DVD drive prices $79 and is available in silver aluminum. As an ex-Apple worker, I’ve by no means seen the SuperDrive out of inventory and by no means anticipate to till the product will get discontinued.
You may as well discover the Apple SuperDrive on Amazon in addition to retailers like Greatest Purchase.
Apple SuperDrive: Ease of use
The Apple SuperDrive is strictly what you’d anticipate from a first-party product for Mac. It has a single USB-A connection coming from the again of the optical drive (which is sadly irremovable) that plugs immediately into your Mac. In the event you personal a Mac with USB-C (any of one of the best MacBooks you’ll discover in 2024), you’ll want a USB-A to USB-C adapter. Nonetheless, in the event you personal a Mac with a defective optical drive and are shopping for the SuperDrive to switch it, you’re out of luck — the Apple SuperDrive doesn’t work with Macs which have an optical drive. Bizarre.
I discovered that the SuperDrive wouldn’t work via any of my exterior docks, which can be because of the ones I’m utilizing, however it’s value noting that the one method I might get the SuperDrive to learn a CD was by plugging the USB-A immediately into the again of my M2 Mac mini. As soon as plugged in, the SuperDrive reads CDs immediately in Apple Music, permitting you to import with ease and eject immediately from Finder. It really works simply as you’d anticipate it to, however then once more, third-party choices do the identical.
Apple SuperDrive: Construct
The Apple SuperDrive’s construct high quality is what you’re paying for. As somebody who loves the clear Apple aesthetic, the SuperDrive is the proper addition to a desk with out wanting misplaced. In the event you’re in search of a CD/DVD drive to make use of semi-regularly and wish to have it on show always, you received’t discover a lot better wanting than Apple’s personal answer.
That mentioned, any product I buy in 2024 wants a detachable cable, and I discover the shortage of USB-C makes the drive really feel like a whole afterthought — it’s clear right here that Apple nonetheless sells the SuperDrive as a result of it has to, not as a result of it needs to.
If you’d like your exterior optical drive to appear and feel premium, then the SuperDrive is without doubt one of the finest CD/DVD drives for Macx in the marketplace — however I’m unsure that makes it the one you need to go for.
Apple SuperDrive: Options
The Apple SuperDrive does precisely what you anticipate it to do: it reads and writes CD and DVD drives. Sadly, as I said above, it feels outdated, particularly when you think about it makes use of USB 2.0 as a substitute of USB 3.0. That mentioned, I don’t assume you really want 3.0 for studying and writing CDs and DVDs as 2.0 is quick sufficient for all of your day by day makes use of, however it looks like utilizing tech from a decade in the past — I suppose that’s what CDs and DVDs are, although, proper?
The SuperDrive reads CD-ROM, CD music discs, and DVDs but additionally writes CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-R, DVD-R DL, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, and DVD+RW. You’ll discover Blu-Ray and 4K films are lacking, so in order for you an optical drive to observe high-quality bodily media in your Mac, the SuperDrive isn’t for you.
Apple SuperDrive: Competitors
There are such a lot of CD/DVD drives obtainable in the marketplace. Simply have a look on Amazon, and also you’ll see an limitless sea of choices for less expensive than the Apple SuperDrive. Manufacturers like VicTck supply the same design to Apple’s however go for USB-C as a substitute and cost effectively underneath $40, though will the standard actually be pretty much as good?
Selecting an optical drive actually comes all the way down to what you wish to use it for, I might discover way more use out of a Blu-Ray or 4K DVD participant than one thing just like the SuperDrive, however that, in essence, is a complete totally different market altogether. In the event you’re taking a look at this assessment, you most likely know your use case, and if the SuperDrive checks the bins, it’s a dependable and well-designed product.
Apple SuperDrive: Must you purchase one?
You can purchase one if…
- You need Apple’s design
- You solely wish to learn and write CD/Drives
- You don’t thoughts the worth
You shouldn’t purchase one if…
- You don’t want an optical drive
- You wish to use Blu-Rays
- You want USB-C
Apple SuperDrive: Verdict
The Apple SuperDrive does what it says on the tin, and I can’t fault it for that. The buying determination comes down as to if or not you want an optical drive and what you wish to use it for. That mentioned, contemplating the dated know-how, yow will discover limitless CD/DVD drive choices at on-line retailers, making the SuperDrive a tough promote. Need the Apple design and a pleasant aluminum case? Go for it. Need higher worth for cash? Go for one of many many different choices on the market.
Learn and write CDs in model
The Apple SuperDrive is the CD/DVD drive you’d anticipate Apple to make. Nonetheless, it has its quirks.