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The Apple USB SuperDrive was a DVD±RW (±R DL) drive, originally released as the MacBook Air SuperDrive with the first MacBook Air in early 2008. It was rebranded as the “Apple USB SuperDrive” as Apple continued phasing out optical drives from its entire Mac product line by 2013. The Apple USB SuperDrive was the last remaining option from Apple to play optical media. It supported CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, CD-R, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, and DVD-RW.[1] However, it was finally discontinued around August 2024.[2]
Specifications[]
MacBook Air SuperDrive[]
- Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
- Writes DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL discs at up to 4x speed
- Writes DVD-R and DVD+R discs at up to 8x speed
- Writes DVD-RW discs at up to 6x speed and DVD+RW discs at up to 8x speed
- Reads DVDs at up to 8x speed
- Writes CD-R discs at up to 24x speed
- Writes CD-RW discs at up to 16x speed
- Reads CDs at up to 24x speed
- Size: 5.47 x 5.47 x 0.67 inches; 139 x 139 x 17 mm
- Weight: 0.71 pounds; 320 grams
Apple USB SuperDrive[]
- Drive Type DVD writer
- Product Type DVD±RW (±R DL) drive
- Enclosure Type external
- Interface USB 2.0
Storage specifications[]
- Speeds 8x/8x
- Read Speed 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)
- Write Speed 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD±R) / 6x (DVD±R DL)
- Rewrite Speed 16x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW)
- Supported Media Formats CD-ROM
- Supported Media Types CD-R, CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD+RW, DVD-ROM
- Media Load Type slot-load
- Type DVD±RW (±R DL)
Interface[]
- Connector Type 4 pin USB Type A
- Interface USB 2.0
Dimensions[]
- Width 5.5 in
- Depth 5.5 in
- Height 0.7 in
- Weight 11.82 oz
Usage with other devices[]
Windows PC[]
- Plug the SuperDrive into an available USB port on the Windows PC.
- Download that latest Boot Camp drivers from Apple.
- Right-click on the Boot Camp zip file in the Downloads folder, and then, click Extract All.
- Launch the AppleODDInstaller64.exe file, that is located at: /BootCamp/Drivers/Apple/AppleODDInstaller.exe, and then, follow the steps to install the driver on your PC.
- After successfully installing this driver, you should be able to use the SuperDrive as you normally would.[3]
Other macOS systems[]
The USB SuperDrive only supports Macs without a built-in optical drive. Lockout of other models occurs though the USB-to-IDE bridge between the cable and the drive mechanism within the case. Replacing this part with a generic version will allow it to support other systems.[4] 3rd-party options are available for unsupported Macs and the ability to read Blu-Ray discs.[5]
iOS and iPadOS devices[]
iPhones (and iPads) normally do not support optical drives such as the USB SuperDrive. However, users can browse the contents of CD-ROM and DVD-ROM media with the Files app if the following conditions are met:[6]
- The optical drive supports (and is set to) "Flash drive mode" or "TV mode" to make itself appear as a flash drive.
- The drive is connected to its own power source, such as a powered USB hub, which is connected to the iPhone though a compatible adapter, such as a Lightning to USB Camera Adapter.
- The disc is formatted as an ISO 9660 or FAT32 volume. Audio CDs are not supported, but the contents of MP3 CDs can be browsed and played back. The contents of unencrypted video DVDs and the multimedia partition of enhanced CDs can be browsed, but videos not encoded in a supported MPEG format will require a 3rd-party app for playback.[6]
- HFS Plus discs cannot be browsed through a directly connected optical drive;[6] they need to be mounted through a separate file server without encryption.[7]
Discontinuation[]
The Apple USB SuperDrive was no longer in stock at the Apple online store in early August 2024 with no indication that it would become available again.[2]
References[]
- ↑ Apple USB SuperDrive - DVD±RW (±R DL) drive - Hi-Speed USB Series Specs, C|NET. Accessed 2021-02-10.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Apple’s SuperDrive for reading disks seemingly discontinued with no inventory online by Filipe Espósito, 9to5Mac. 2024-08-05.
- ↑ How do I use my Super Drive on my Windows 10 PC iphone6splususer, Apple Communities. 2018-02-05.
- ↑ MacBook Air SuperDrive for all by Myriam Joire, TnkGrl. 2008-06-24.
- ↑ Best apps for playing Blu-rays on your Mac in 2021 by Nathan Alderman, iMore. 2020-12-07.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Niles Mitchell video: iPhone to CD/DVD by Steve Sande, Apple World Today. 2021-01-18.
- ↑ Use the Files app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, Apple Support. 2020-03-24.
See also[]
External links[]
- Apple USB SuperDrive at Apple
- Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive (archived 2008-05-06)
- How to connect the Apple USB SuperDrive (2018-11-13)
- Get help with the slot-loading SuperDrive on your Mac computer (2020-12-07, archived 2022-08-08)