What are the best CD/DVD drives for Mac mini M4?

A bit late but.....

I have a new M4 Mac mini and a very old Apple SuperDrive. Plugged in the SuperDrive (with an adapter) directly to the front USB-C port. The old drive worked perfectly. That being said, newer drives are better based on my experience.

Simply because it “does not” state “compatible for mac” would not mean it won’t work. Often (and it’s same for external some hard drives or ssd) they have some useless software for which they simply don’t have a macOS version.

As long as you have an available port for the relevant connector of the player/reader, it should work.

While i have not used cd/dvd/blue-ray in several years, the thing to search is if/how newer versions of macOS deal with this with or without a third party software.

Apple used the name "SuperDrive" both as the name of a floppy disc drive, and as the name of a CD/DVD drive.

The CD/DVD one comes with a USB-A cable, not a USB-C one. It has a reputation for being finicky about power, and for not working unless plugged directly into

• A USB-A port of a Mac without a built-in optical drive, or
• An Apple USB-C to USB adapter plugged directly into a USB-C port on a Mac without a built-in optical drive

It might or might not work for you if plugged into a third-party hub, dock, or USB-C to USB-A adapter.

I am using a desktop CD/DVD drive from Other World Computing; one that has its own power source. So far, no problems – except that the cables that came with it were very short. The USB 3.0 B to USB-A cable is separate from the drive, and it is possible to substitute a longer USB 3.0 B to USB-C cable from another supplier.

Avs_Fan wrote:

What cd/dvd drives work with new Mac mini m4? I’m seeing that a lot of them are not compatible. I have one on order and will need once it arrives.

Where are you seeing they’re not compatible exactly?

Pretty much any drive should work fine though you will need a usb-a to usb-c adapter for them.

click here ➡️ Anker USB-A to USB-C Adapter - Amazon.com

Mac mini M4, external CD Drive to install software on CD: Reading many reviews that say the older model external apple SUPER DRIVES are incompatible with the new Mini. Without talking in circles, which model of APPLE SUPER DRIVE can I reliably purchase (USB C) that is guaranteed to work for the MINI M4? Please, if you have not actually successfully used one, don't tell me what you THINK might work. I simply need to get one that I can plug in and use without wishing I had not gone down some rabbit hole concerning possibilities. It doesn't have to be an APPLE drive, but I trust Apple. If some other brand works fine, please, what model number. Thanks and happy holidays.

As others have noted, a CD/DVD drive is a commodity item. If it works on a PC it will work on a Mac. There are lots of inexpensive USB powered drives on the market and you probably should avoid them because USB ports don't provide sufficient power. My optical drive at work came with a plug that took up TWO usb ports because it ended the power from two to function. Thankfully it could also use an external power supply.

used this one from asus SBC-06D2X-U｜Optical Drives｜ASUS United Kingdom

is a blueray burner, though never tried to read or burn blueray discs (never owned any)

but it did read dvds just fine, though it's usb powered so it have an y cable and needs 2 usb ports to work, one of them only for power I connected that to an ac usb charger worked fine both for macos and windows

Purchased Asus ZenDrive V1M on Amazon, usb c plug, worked instantly using thunderbolt socket on mini m4. came with a disk, didn't need it to start using the drive. the link on amazon is https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Cable-Storage-Interface-Compatible-SDRW-08V1M-U/dp/B0B6D8XB74?pd_rd_w=BIKdg&content-id=amzn1.sym.59910fa8-b73c-408a-aa5f-d0b4e0aa42cb&pf_rd_p=59910fa8-b73c-408a-aa5f-d0b4e0aa42cb&pf_rd_r=AAD3MFD3B6Z60EWE3S66&pd_rd_wg=qtwlQ&pd_rd_r=4575ece1-0055-444d-83b0-1034b56a3999&pd_rd_i=B0B6D8XB74&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_d_grid_rp_0_1_ec_ppx_pt2_dt_b_ba_button_t

$25, and from a known company. Thanks for all the tips, this looks like a keeper.

Note that Macs do not have built-in software for

• Authoring DVD-Video discs. (They can play them, but Apple discontinued iDVD a long time ago. Now, you would need separate software such as Toast.)
• Playing or authoring Blu-Ray video discs.

WarForTheWorld wrote:

Mac mini M4, external CD Drive to install software on CD: Reading many reviews that say the older model external apple SUPER DRIVES are incompatible with the new Mini.

Either those reviews assumed things, or are out right mistaken.

Without talking in circles, which model of APPLE SUPER DRIVE can I reliably purchase (USB C) that is guaranteed to work for the MINI M4?

There is only one model of Apple Super Drive, not multiple.

There is no incompatibility with it. It should work fine with the new Mac mini M4 with the proper adapter. Though it's unnecessarily expensive. The Mac mini M4 has been out less than a month, unless someone that owns a M4 Mac mini, has already tried it and sees your post and chooses to answer, it's going to be pretty hard to get a definitive answer at this point.

Please, if you have not actually successfully used one, don't tell me what you THINK might work. I simply need to get one that I can plug in and use without wishing I had not gone down some rabbit hole concerning possibilities. It doesn't have to be an APPLE drive, but I trust Apple. If some other brand works fine, please, what model number. Thanks and happy holidays.

We can offer what should work based on our knowledge and experience. You are free to believe us or disregard our help.

For third party drives, I use the following one just fine with a M1 MacBook Air and a powered dock so I know it works and there's no reason to think it won't work with an M4 Mac mini, again with the proper adapter.

click here ➜ Goteg USB CD/DVD Drive - Amazon.com

Macsales.com specializes in Macs and everything they sell is well tested and works. I'd recommend the following for a simple CD/DVD drive:

24X OWC Mercury Pro

That last info was the solution, I believe. Just ordered the drive you recommended, was priced with significantly discount, so perfect timing. thanks.