Since the late '90s, Macs have welcomed DVD movies. Pop a disc in your drive, watch Apple's DVD Player app open, and enjoy the show. Simple. But DVDs' high-definition successors, Blu-rays, never got the same warm reception. Today, the right third-party hardware and software will let you play Blu-ray discs on your Mac. But, uh … maybe you shouldn't?
Tell us how you really feel, Steve
Steve Jobs famously hated the licensing hurdles and hefty fees Blu-ray imposed. With his characteristic taciturn restraint, he publicly called the format a 'bag of hurt' and likened the groups behind it to the Mafia. Apple never built Blu-ray drives into Macs, and eventually ditched optical drives altogether to focus on selling movies through iTunes.
- Best DVD & Blu-ray drives for Mac. Apple may have ditched physical media, but if you have discs you want to watch, play, or rip, then these external DVD and Blu-ray player and burner drives are.
- Blu-ray On Your Mac Select drives include Multi-Interface – eSATA, FireWire 800/400 and USB2.0. Perfect for fast transfers and limiting read/write errors. Blue Laser A blue laser can be focused to a much smaller spot than a red laser can. This smaller, tighter focus means that up to 50GB can be packed onto a.
Top 10 Best External Blu Ray Drives in 2019 Reviews. Updated August 3, 2019. You get high definition quality when you watch blue ray movies on this external blue ray DVD/CD drive. With its Mac blu-ray player software, you can watch and record a variety of CDs and DVDs. But it does not record to blue ray DVDs. Spotify mobile app says offline. Newegg.com offers the best prices on computer products, laptop computers, LED LCD TVs, digital cameras, electronics, unlocked phones, office supplies, and more with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Newegg shopping upgraded ™. Writing and rewriting - The most basic Blu-ray drives are only useful for playing Blu-ray movies. If you want to burn your own Blu-ray discs, look for one that’s capable of writing or rewriting. Drives that can both write and rewrite Blu-ray discs are more flexible, but rewritable Blu-ray discs can’t store as much information as regular ones.
But some Mac users still need to burn their own Blu-rays or read data off BD discs, so there are plenty of third-party Blu-ray drives available for the Mac. And once those drives became available, a few enterprising companies who did (presumably) pay up for the keys to decrypt Blu-ray discs released Mac apps to play regular Blu-ray movies with those drives.
Unfortunately, searching for
mac Blu-ray player
online gets you a lot of highly suspect sites with creatively translated English, each pitching their own totally not-at-all-questionable video player that may or may not actually play Blu-ray discs. But there are a few options respectable enough to make it into the Mac App Store. We'll discuss those in a moment, but first, let's talk about another app that sounds like a good idea, but really isn't.Blu-rays on VLC
VLC is a justly beloved open-source video player — free, robust, and able to play tons of different formats. With the right tinkering, Blu-ray can be one of them. But playing Blu-rays on VLC is like free-climbing a skyscraper without safety equipment: Sure, it's technically possible, but it's also incredibly difficult, full of drawbacks, and almost certainly a bad idea.
For starters, the site I originally used to find the right files that would supposedly enable Blu-ray playback on VLC is, as of this writing, no longer capable of establishing secure connections. (Which is why I'm not linking to it here.)
When it was up and running, its sparse instructions didn't seem to work, and I had to go digging for another site's advice to get VLC playing even sort of nice with Blu-ray. Then I had to separately install Java to have any hope of getting Blu-ray interactive menus working.
Even after all that, VLC wouldn't play most discs I tried with it, ominously warning me of revoked certificates and other things that sound like they involve well-paid lawyers. And when it did play discs, it refused to let me skip past the annoying preview video tracks before the movie; sometimes, trying to do so just dumped me back at the beginning of them.
VLC works great for lots of things. Blu-ray playback isn't one of them. Just don't do it. Especially when you've got another free and far more legitimate option waiting for you in the Mac App Store.
Leawo Blu-ray Player
The two currently available Mac Blu-ray apps come from Chinese companies. Shenzhen-based Leawo's is by far the cheaper – as in, it's free – and while it's perfectly adequate, you definitely get what you pay for.
I tested Leawo's player with a selection of discs from every major studio (plus Criterion, for you cinephiles out there), ranging from titles I bought back in 2009 to discs released in 2018. They all played just fine, with a crisp picture and clear sound. Leawo's menus let me easily switch audio and subtitle tracks, and jump between different video files on the disc with a Playlist option. And unlike hardware Blu-ray players, it's not region-locked, so you can watch discs from all over the world.
But bones don't get much barer than Leawo's offering. It doesn't support Blu-ray menus at all; if you want to view special features, you'll need to guess at their location from the Playlist menu. How to download sims 4 expansions free mac. If you're dying to watch, say, The Sound of Music's pop-over interactive commentary with sing-along mode, Leawo's app will not be one of your favorite things.
The app takes a solid minute (I timed it) just to load a disc, a process that requires multiple un-intuitive menu clicks, and whoever ported it into Mac didn't bother to change the drab Windows-like interface. Sea of thieves iso download.
If you just want to watch Blu-rays on your Mac, Leawo will definitely do that. It's perfectly serviceable. It doesn't seem to install spyware or bother you with ads. But there's a better (and considerably more expensive) choice if you want a more robust experience.
Macgo Blu-ray Player Pro
Hong Kong-based Macgo's Blu-ray Player Pro usually sells for a whopping $79.95, though you can watch for frequent sales that will knock the price down to a still-lofty $39.95. On the App Store, with a 'family' license to run on multiple Macs, it'll cost you $64.99. (There's a marginally cheaper non-Pro version, but like Leawo's app, it doesn't fully support menus, so why bother?)
For that price, you'll get an experience nearly identical to popping a disc into any regular Blu-ray player. Macgo's app played my test discs flawlessly, with full support for menus and a virtual remote that even mirrored the what-are-they-even-there-for red, blue, green, and yellow buttons on the average Blu-ray remote. Its interface isn't Mac-like, but it's clean, intuitive, and unobtrusively minimal.
Apple External Blu Ray Drive
Discs loaded quickly — 15 seconds, tops – and played the same pre-roll ads and trailers they would in a hardware player, though thankfully, I could skip them just as easily as I would elsewhere. The app offers hardware acceleration for smoother playback, though aside from loading speed, I didn't notice a difference in quality between it and Leawo's app. Macgo's app even supports BD-Live online features, though you'll have to go into the Preferences to turn that feature on; it's switched off by default. I couldn't tell or test whether Macgo's app was region-free, but I'd be surprised if it weren't.
The only shortfall I found in Macgo's app, besides its price, was its lack of support for 3D or 4K UHD Blu-rays. I'm sure that's a dealbreaker for some folks, but most users probably won't lament it.
Maybe just don't
In hindsight, Steve Jobs may have been right to keep Blu-ray drives out of Macs. On a laptop screen, you may not be able to fully enjoy the HD splendor of a great Blu-ray picture. (And hauling around an external drive plus discs would make the experience a lot less portable.) Desktop Macs with big screens already have Netflix, iTunes, and lots of other less noisy and expensive ways to watch HD movies.
For the same $120 - $180 you'd shell out for Macgo's app and a good external drive, you could buy a decent Blu-ray player to hook up to your big-screen TV. (Reputable names like Sony and LG offer region-free players you can score for $100 or less with a little comparison-shopping.)
If you don't own a TV or a Blu-ray player, do own a Mac, already own an external Blu-ray drive for some other purpose – like ripping the Blu-ray discs you own for your personal digital collection – and really, really want to watch Blu-rays specifically off the discs, you'll likely be pleased with Macgo's app, and reasonably satisfied with Leawo's.
But with so many other, less troublesome ways to watch movies on your Mac, maybe you're better off leaving this particular bag of hurt alone.
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It is more advanced than other laser systems and it reads a lot better as well. Now you can get a blue ray writer to help you stay current with technology. The best way to go in the blue ray push is to use one of the top best external blue ray drive in 2019.
These drives are the best of the best. To make good DVDs and CDs, you need the right equipment. These top best external blue ray drive in 2019 are the right equipment. How do you find these best of the best blue ray drives?
Simply keep reading. Our review will provide you with the information you need. Then our Buyer’s guide will provide helpful tips on what to look for. Keeping up with technology is not that difficult.
Table of the best External Blue Ray Drive Reviews:
Preview | Product |
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1. Pioneer External Blu Ray Writer
This slim and lightweight blue ray external writer opens up like a clam. It uses US 3.0 to connect to your computer for the ultimate blue ray writing experience. Plus, it comes with CyberLink Software Silver software to get you started.
You can download blue ray imaging onto a hard drive. But that may be through Windows operating systems only. You can also burn and view regular DVDs with this external system. Works with Linux as well. Check the owner’s manual for complete compatibility.
There is a strict warranty and return policy on this unit. Make sure you read the instructions first before purchasing.
2. ASUS Computer Direct Blu-Ray Writer
This pop out external blue ray writer will help you preserve your memories and work for a very long time. You can write at 16x with a 25GB back up. Plus, with BDXL support, you will receive up to 128GB storage on one disc.
What you need to operate this external blue ray drive is an Intel Pentium® D 945 with 1GB of Ram. Also, you will need 10GB of hard drive space and a graphics card NVIDIA GeForce 7600GT or ATI X1600. This are all minimums requirements.
Check the owner’s manual for all the details on operating system compatibilities.
3. Pioneer BDR-XS06 Blu-Ray
To work with this external blue ray writer, you need an operating system Windows XP or higher. It will work with Windows 10. With BDXL capabilities you can reach 128GB of quad layering or 100GB triple layer. https://memphisrenew187.weebly.com/blog/download-driver-hp-laserjet-1536dnf-mfp-for-mac.
![Blu ray disk drive for mac Blu ray disk drive for mac](https://www.ubergizmo.com/photos/2008/10/amex-mac-bluray.jpg)
But that is not all. This external writer will burn at BDR 6x, DVD 8x and CDs at 24x speeds. The corresponding reading speed is equal to the burn speeds. Plus, you get 4mb buffer and this writer can use either 3.0 or 2.0 USB connections.
Everything you need, USB 3.0 cable, software, and instructions are included in your purchase.
4. ASUS Computer International Powerful Blu-ray Drive
Its diamond shape will help spruce up your computer equipment layout. Its 8-disc Cyber Link Power2Go process will also provide you with extra privacy functions. Plus, with the BDXL support, you can burn up to 128Gb to a single disc.
This writer is Windows and Mac compatible. Also, it will work with Android cloud features as well. The external writer will also burn at BDR 16x speed while using a USB 3.0 port.
Again, make sure you read all warranty details and understand the return policy before opening. Strict rules apply when dealing with electronics and computer software.
5. Pioneer Slim Portable USB 3.0 Blu-Ray Burner
With this external blue ray writer, you will get BDR 6x speed on single and double layer burning chores. Then it will burn at 4x BDR speed for triple and quad layers. Plus, there is a 4MB cache with a BDXL storage of 128GB on quad layering and 100GB on triple layering.
It will automatically adjust disc rotation to cut down on noise and it will allow you to edit your home movies. You can transfer them to blue ray DVDS if you want. Then it will help smooth over sound problems with scratched or dirty discs.
A specially formulated cleaning cloth is included with your purchase.
6. MCE Technologies MCE Super-BluDrive
You get high definition quality when you watch blue ray movies on this external blue ray DVD/CD drive. With its Mac blu-ray player software, you can watch and record a variety of CDs and DVDs. But it does not record to blue ray DVDs.
Its easy loading tray makes placing your discs inside the machine very quick and simple. This reader is compatible with USB 3.0 as well as USB 2.0. The necessary cables are included. It is compatible with iTunes, iDVD, iPhoto and much more.
Using a USB hub s not recommended as these do not bring enough power to the unit.
7. LG 6x Blu-ray Rewriter
This slim blue ray writer and reader uses USB 2.0 to power all of its functions. It will burn and read CDs at 24x as well as rewrite CDs at 16x. Then it will burn DVDs at 2x and read at 8x. It will also rewrite DVDs at 8x speed.
It has a triple layer support system inside. Unless things have changed you get the Cyberlink Media Suite 10 software included in the package. You can upgrade to more recent versions if you want.
If you want to watch blue ray movies on your HDTV then you will need HD cables for the right connection.
8. SEA TECH Aluminum External Blu-Ray Writer
Its aluminum shell houses a Panasonic UJ-260 drive. This drive supports BDXL burning and 3D reading. It will also read and burn regular CDs and DVDs. It has a USB 3.0 cable connection, but it is also USB 2.0 compatible.
Blu-ray Drive For Mac Mini
The major drawback to this external blue ray writer is that it does not come with any software. You have to get your own software from another quality source. The external drive is compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems.
Check the instructions to find all the operating systems it is compatible with. Check the warranty claims as well before purchasing this unit.
9. Archgon External Blu-ray Combo
This pop out external drive will handle your tough blue ray reading needs. Powered by a Panasonic combo drive, works with either USB 3.0 or 2.0 connections. It will not burn any information to your blue ray DVDs. It will read them and only write and read regular CDs and DVDs.
This aluminum made external drive will work with most up to date operating systems. Check the package to find out which ones work best with this system. It is bundled with a Cyberlink Media Suite custom software but not the retail version.
Check the package to read and understand the return policy and warranty guarantees.
10. Pioneer Internal BD/DVD/CD Writer
To work with this external reader and writer you need a Windows 10 operating system. Plus, a 7th generation Intel processor, 6GB memory, Intel HD Graphics 630 and a lot more.
Once you have the correct equipment you can burn at speeds 16x for both BDR and DVD and 40x for CDs. Then you can read at 12x for BDR, 16 for DVDR and 40 for CDR. A 4MB buffer is added to the discs.
It will work with a USB 3.0 connection and supports ultra HD blue ray. It will also record the standard 128GB & 100GB for quad and triple layering. https://drpdiz.weebly.com/blog/postman-for-mac.
Our Buyer’s Guide
If you are not a computer whiz, a few helpful tips will come in handy. To find one of the top best external blue ray drive in 2019 you will need to understand the basic technical language. Here are those tips:
- Brand name- go with a brand name you know and trust
- Capabilities- will it read and write blue ray DVDs? Will it do the same for other discs?
- USB Compatibility: Doe sit work with 3.0 only? Or 2.0 Only? Or both?
- Operating System Compatibility- Does it work with all operating systems or just one or two? Mac, Windows, Linux…
- Speed- What burn speeds does it have? What read speeds does it use?
- Special features- besides reading and burning, will it work with HDTVs or other electronic equipment or social media?
- Warranty- Make sure you read all warranty information. These are strict
- Price- make sure you can afford the unit. Cheap does not always mean bad and expensive does not always mean good.
Some Final Words
Technology has a way of making computer equipment better. Upgrading to a blue ray writer is not that difficult. Especially when you are moving up to one of the top best external blue ray drive in 2019.
You get great versatility, compatibility, and quality with each blue ray writer. Just make sure you understand all the technical language and what these units are capable of doing.
Voice changer for mac discord. Alexa for mac. Using one of the top best external blue ray drive in 2019 will enhance your computer experience.
Contents
- Table of the best External Blue Ray Drive Reviews:
- Our Buyer’s Guide