Verbatim Ultra HD 4K CD DVD Blu-ray Writer USB 3.2 GEN 1 USB-C Connectivity Slim Brushed Metal Enclosure Compatible with Mac and PC with Free 25GB Verbatim Blu-ray disc

Works well with my Macbook Air running Sonoma OS. I've successfully burned 75+ GB worth of archive data onVerbatim M DISC BDXL 100GB media. I used the slowest writing speeds to reduce the chance of writing errors.The drive itself is very slim, and I find the build quality to be acceptable. It doesn't seem cheap. It has a USB-C connector in the back, and a USB-C to USB-A cable in the box. Also included is a USB-A to USB-C adapter, which I used to complete the connection to my Mac. For archiving the data files, I used the OSX native burn feature in Finder - no 3rd party software was required.The drive is not quiet, but that's not what I need or expected. I just want it to work and it does.

I received my five drives today (8/01/2025) and MakeMKV detects the drive as a BU40 (LG) firmware version 1.05. After downgrading the version 1.03 MakeMKV is able to decode UHD discs. So out of the box this drive might not work on UHD discs, but spending one minute downgrading the firmware solved the problem.As for the reviewers complaining about a lack of software.... this is a UHD drive where desktop playback software usually won't work due to a lack of SGX support when playing UHD content. So it would be a waste of time and $ to bundle playback software.

You'd think a device that costs this much would come with it's own software, and it does? It comes with a download for an excessively complex software that you then have to pay for individually to get each premium feature (and not small prices either). If there was a way to get all the features in a single package I couldn't see it because it was a beast to navigate and I couldn't get the instructions to open. As far as I could tell, none of the free features of the mentioned software would recognize a Blu-ray. So plan on figuring out how to install software that IS compatible, which is not a simple task. VLC is free, but requires a few add-ons from an insecure site to recognize Blu-ray. PowerDVD is also supposed to work, but you can't try without paying for it first and I'd rather not pay for something and then find out it doesn't work.But the software situation only cost this item one star because otherwise the product does work as advertised. It's a sleek model that ends up being light, but sturdy, and I can tell a major difference between quality when I play a DVD vs a Blu-ray on my computer--my TV is too low end to tell the difference, but my PC is not. The USB connection was tricky to figure out because there's one attachment that is optional. I noticed the noise of the Blu-ray player when using to download the software that comes with it, but not while playing a Blu-ray.So I have some complaints, but it is a good item, especially if you can get it on sale.

Good drive. I have burned mix of 100+ BD-R discs including SL, DL 100GB Mdiscs and 128GB Sony discs imported from Japan with this drive and none of the disc have failed either during burning or verifiying/reading back.Also drive is extremely sturdy while being slim in design and extremely easy to use.

The drive works fine, but the software they force you to use is an absolute nightmare. It forces you to install not only the disk burning program, but a control program whose only function is to try to get you to buy more software from them. Even worse, they sneak in an entirely different program that pushes pop up ads. When I contacted customer support about this they claimed that it was to "keep customers up to date on new products."Buy from someone else, the quality hardware isn't worth the annoying and bloated software that they force on you.

I write a lot of audio CDs for my studio business. Over the years, I've used Sony, Pioneer and Plextor external, USB CD/DVD burners that not only write audio CDs but also CD-Text (the text that pops up on your CD player in your car—er, wait I guess they don't put CD players in vehicles anymore, never mind.)Recently, my Sony drive bit the dust - it's the one I used in the studio. So, I thought I'd buy another Plextor Plextor 24X Hh DVDrw Ls (the USB drive I use in my office) as a replacement and, much to my surprise, discovered they are no longer available.So, I started a multi-day quest on Amazon for a substantial, external drive but simply couldn't find anything similar to my Plextor drive (which is built like a tank.)I finally came across a Verbatim drive that, in its description, had CD-Text capabilities. I then found a 2nd Verbatim drive model at half the price, but there was no mention that this 2nd unit could also write CD-Text. So, I wrote down the model #s and emailed Verbatim support an inquiry. Without going into the bewildering reply I received, trust me when I say Verbatim support sidestepped my question by providing an irrelevant response. I sent them a follow-up and never received a reply.So, I figured I'd take a gamble and order the cheaper Verbatim drive. If it wasn't able to write CD-Text, I'd send it back and order the more-expensive model. When the cheaper one arrived (this item being reviewed), the first thing I noticed was that it was FLIMSY . . . I was almost afraid to handle it, it seemed like the tray could easily be broken. If you imagine the CD/DVD drives that come with most new computers—that's how fragile this tray was.Nevertheless, this Verbatim drive was indeed able to write CD-Text and that was my main concern. So, I've kept it and have used it quite a bit; but each time, I use both hands to stabilize the unit as it weighs less than a pack of gum (well, not really but it seems like it's that light!) And it's a job to seat the CD on its spindle—you gotta use both hands and snap the CD down using your thumbs . . . and if you exert any pressure at all on the top of the unit, the tray won't close, 'cuz the frame is so flexible.A few days after I received this drive, I needed to listen to a test CD (music) and noticed a low "whine" that the drive made as it read the CD. I'd been used to the silent Plextor drive, so this was definitely annoying. But I could live with this minor irritation, as I have now moved my Plextor drive into the studio and will use that one if I really need to do some critical listening.So, that's all the bad stuff . . . I should post a few positives for this undernourished drive, so here goes:1) Inexpensive2) Writes CD-Text3) Doesn't need a power supply4) Reads & writes relatively fast (I think I saw 24X in ImgBurn)So, despite its frailties, I would recommend this drive for anyone who simply needs a utilitarian burner . . . just be gentle with the delicate thing!

Works great on my Mac mini! Using a USB A to USB C adapter this drive has been heavily used in digitizing my movie collection. Works great, very fast and very compact.It’s a bit noisy when running at high speed but that’s not an issue for me.

Really good drive.