LG GP65NB60 Ultra-Slim Portable DVD Writer Review
A lightweight external DVD and CD writer with USB power, DVD M-DISC support, Silent Play, Jamless Play and LG's unusual TV Connectivity feature.
What It Is
The LG GP65NB60 is an ultra-slim external DVD and CD reader/writer designed to restore optical-media capability to computers that no longer include an internal disc drive.
It measures only 14 mm high and weighs approximately 200 grams, making it one of the more portable drives in this Rockin Box Tech external optical-drive lineup.
LG rates it for up to 8× DVD±R writing and 24× CD writing. It also supports DVD M-DISC, DVD-RAM, Silent Play, Jamless Play and TV Connectivity.
Key Specifications
| Model | LG GP65NB60 |
|---|---|
| Drive Type | External ultra-slim DVD / CD reader and writer |
| Blu-ray Support | No |
| DVD±R Write | Up to 8× |
| DVD+RW Write | Up to 8× |
| DVD-RW Write | Up to 6× |
| DVD+R DL Write | Up to 6× |
| DVD-RAM Write | Up to 5× |
| DVD M-DISC Write | Up to 4× |
| DVD-ROM Read | Up to 8× |
| CD-R Write | Up to 24× |
| CD-RW Write | Up to 24× |
| CD-ROM Read | Up to 24× |
| Interface | USB 2.0, up to 480 Mbit/s; USB 3.0 compatible |
| Power | USB bus-powered |
| Buffer | 0.75 MB with buffer underrun prevention |
| Special Features | Silent Play, Jamless Play and TV Connectivity |
| Dimensions | 141 × 14 × 136.5 mm |
| Weight | Approximately 200 g / 0.4 lb |
| Color | Black |
What Owners Are Saying
The GP65NB60 gives us one of the strongest consumer-feedback pools in this external optical-drive category.
Best Buy currently reports 332 reviews for the exact GP65NB60, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5. Ninety-one percent of reviewers say they would recommend it.
Easy to Use
Ease of use is the strongest recurring consumer theme. Owners frequently describe straightforward connection and quick recognition by their computers.
Good Everyday Performance
Overall performance is another major positive theme, with owners reporting successful DVD, CD and software-installation use.
Compact Size
Its roughly 200-gram weight and 14 mm chassis are repeatedly appreciated by users who need something that can travel with a laptop.
Legacy Disc Access
Recent owners continue buying it specifically because their newer computers cannot read older CDs and DVDs on their own.
Noise Is Mixed
Some users describe the drive as acceptably quiet while others specifically mention noticeable operating noise. Noise appears repeatedly in the review themes rather than being a single isolated complaint.
Bundled Software
The included software receives more criticism than the basic drive hardware. Some owners simply use other compatible media software instead.
What People Are Actually Using It For
Current owner feedback makes the GP65NB60's real-world role very clear: people are using it to bridge the gap between modern computers and older physical media.
Old Data Discs
A recent owner used the drive to read a CD containing dental X-rays because the current computer had no built-in optical drive.
Older Software
Owners report using the LG to install CD- and DVD-based applications on newer computers that lack internal drives.
Music CDs
The drive continues to be used for playing and importing personally owned audio-CD collections.
DVD Movies
Owners use compatible playback software to access personally owned DVD movie collections on laptops and desktops.
Disc Creation
DVD±R, rewritable DVD, DVD-RAM and CD recording support covers a broad range of conventional optical-disc projects.
Portable Optical Access
Its thin, light chassis lets users store the drive until a physical disc actually needs to be accessed.
TV Connectivity
TV Connectivity is one of the more unusual features in this category. LG designed the GP65NB60 so it can work with compatible televisions that support USB-connected optical-drive access.
This can provide a way to access supported media files stored on compatible discs without using a computer as the playback device.
Silent Play
LG's Silent Play technology recognizes that maximum rotational speed is not always desirable during media playback.
Playback
The drive can adjust operating behavior to reduce unnecessary noise during supported playback situations.
Real-World Feedback
Owner reports on noise are mixed. Some users consider the drive quiet while others notice mechanical noise, so Silent Play should not be interpreted as silent operation under every workload.
Jamless Play
LG also lists Jamless Play as a supported feature. It is designed to improve playback behavior when the drive encounters certain damaged areas of compatible optical media.
DVD M-DISC
The GP65NB60 officially supports compatible DVD M-DISC media at up to 4× writing speed.
DVD-RAM Support
One feature that is easy to overlook is DVD-RAM. LG specifies DVD-RAM writing at up to 5× and reading at up to 6×.
DVD-RAM is now a niche format, but support can still matter to consumers with older archives, equipment or media created during the format's more active years.
USB 2.0 & Bus Power
USB 2.0
The interface supports up to 480 Mbit/s and is compatible with USB 3.0 ports. The optical mechanism itself operates far below modern SSD transfer rates, so USB 2.0 is less restrictive here than the specification might initially suggest.
USB Powered
No external AC adapter is required. That is a major convenience compared with full-size external Blu-ray writers that require their own power supplies.
LG GP65NB60 vs ASUS SDRW-08D2S-U
LG GP65NB60
Offers the familiar 8× DVD and 24× CD performance class while adding LG-specific features including Silent Play, Jamless Play, TV Connectivity and DVD-RAM support. It also has an unusually large exact-model owner-feedback pool.
ASUS SDRW-08D2S-U
Targets essentially the same portable DVD/CD role with 8× DVD, 24× CD, DVD M-DISC and USB bus power. ASUS differentiates its package with its own software features and distinctive exterior design.
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- External-only ultra-slim design
- Up to 8× DVD±R writing
- Up to 24× CD writing
- DVD M-DISC support
- DVD-RAM support
- USB bus-powered
- No external AC adapter
- Silent Play
- Jamless Play
- TV Connectivity
- Only 14 mm thick
- Approximately 200 g
- Large exact-model owner-feedback pool
- Official LG support remains active
Limitations
- No Blu-ray support
- USB 2.0 rather than native USB 3.x
- Traditional USB connection rather than integrated USB-C
- DVD M-DISC only, not Blu-ray M-DISC
- Lightweight construction can feel less substantial
- Noise receives mixed owner feedback
- Bundled software receives some criticism
- Official OS specification list reflects the model's age
- Firmware must match the exact service-code variant
Works Best With
Modern Computers
Ideal for restoring DVD and CD access to laptops, mini PCs and desktops that no longer include an optical mechanism.
Older Disc Collections
Useful for accessing personally owned music, software, documents, photographs and video stored on CD or DVD.
Portable Users
The 14 mm chassis, roughly 200-gram weight and USB power make it particularly easy to carry and store.
Optical Media Is One Backup Layer
Rockin Box Tech Summary
The LG GP65NB60 is one of the clearest examples of why external DVD/CD drives still have a place in 2026. New computers continue dropping optical hardware, but consumers have decades of discs that did not disappear with the drive bay.
LG covers the fundamentals with up to 8× DVD and 24× CD writing, DVD M-DISC, DVD-RAM and USB bus power. At only 14 mm thick and approximately 200 grams, it is much easier to carry than a full-size external optical workstation.
Its special features add some genuine differentiation. Silent Play addresses unnecessary drive noise during suitable playback, Jamless Play helps the drive deal with certain problematic disc areas, and TV Connectivity provides an additional way to use supported optical media with compatible televisions.
The consumer evidence is particularly valuable. With 332 exact-model Best Buy reviews, 4.5 out of 5 stars and 91% recommending it, we have a much larger feedback sample than is available for many current optical drives. Ease of use, performance and compact size repeatedly receive praise.
The feedback is not universally positive. Mechanical noise is mentioned by some owners, the very light construction can feel less substantial than a desktop mechanism, and the bundled software has attracted criticism. The USB 2.0 interface and older official OS specification list also reveal how long this design has been on the market.
What keeps the GP65NB60 relevant is what people are actually doing with it. Owners are using it to retrieve medical files from old CDs, install older programs, play DVDs, access music collections and give new computers a capability manufacturers removed years ago.
For consumers who need DVD and CD rather than Blu-ray, the GP65NB60 remains a practical external optical drive with a stronger body of real-world consumer feedback than most products in this increasingly specialized category.
Research Disclosure: Rockin Box Tech reviews are research-driven. Information is compiled from current manufacturer specifications, support documentation, retailer information and exact-model owner feedback. Rockin Box Tech does not represent that this product was physically tested unless explicitly stated. Consumer experiences are used to identify recurring real-world strengths and complaints and are kept separate from manufacturer specifications. Firmware, compatibility, software, pricing and availability may change over time.