Does Apple still sell an external DVD drive for my MacBook Air?

neuroanatomist wrote:

The Apple USB SuperDrive is still available new from some sellers. It’s USB-A, and you’ll need a simple pass-through USB-A to -C dongle (not a hub) to use it with a recent Mac.

YMMV here...

In my experience, I needed a powered USB-C hub to properly use my Apple internal optical drive (actually the internal DVD drive with the proper Slimline SATA to USB adapter from my MacBook Pro (Late 2011)) as well as an old (from 2017) "LG Slim Portable DVD Writer" external drive. Using just a USB-A to USB-C adapter (I tried numerous ones), both drives would seemingly power on but not have enough required current directly from the MacBook Air (2022, M2) to be able to spin up either of the drives.

Once I connected using a powered USB-C hub, both drives performed flawlessly.

The Apple USB SuperDrive is still available new from some sellers. It’s USB-A, and you’ll need a simple pass-through USB-A to -C dongle (not a hub) to use it with a recent Mac.

SergZak wrote:

neuroanatomist wrote:

The Apple USB SuperDrive is still available new from some sellers. It’s USB-A, and you’ll need a simple pass-through USB-A to -C dongle (not a hub) to use it with a recent Mac.

YMMV here...

In my experience, I needed a external-powered USB-C hub to properly use my Apple internal optical drive (actually the internal DVD drive with the proper Slimline SATA to USB adapter from my MacBook Pro (Late 2011)) as well as an old (from 2017) "LG Slim Portable DVD Writer" external drive. Using just a USB-A to USB-C adapter (I tried numerous ones), both drives would seemingly power on but not have enough required current directly from the MacBook Air (2022, M2) to be able to spin up either of the drives.

My mileage does vary.

I was not referring to using an Apple internal optical drive with an external connection, nor was I referring to using a 3rd party DVD drive.

I was referring to the Apple USB SuperDrive. I have one, it works just fine with several different models of Mac laptops (including a 2019 Intel MB Air, a 2023 M3 MB Air and several MB Pros with both Intel and Apple Silicon). This is it connected to my prior personal Mac, a 2019 16" MBP Intel i9, with the mounted disc visible on the desktop:

I have a small handful of the little nonda adapters that I purchased on Amazon. Apple's USB-C-to-USB adapter also works.

I have tried the Apple USB SuperDrive with several different powered hubs and my Stone Pro dock, and it doesn't work because they don't output sufficient power. This has been well documented on these forums.

You can use most DVD players with your Mac. My Samsung drives work fine but my favorite is a Pioneer BDR-X13U.

They previously did but discontinued it in 2024.

(260736)

Just putting out a different option for the OP.

You can basically use any older 3rd party external DVD drive with current MacBooks but they likely will not work as-is with just an adapter due to their power requirement...if they are not already externally powered.