Best Touch Screen Laptops With a CD Drive to Buy in 2026 (2026)

Finding the best touch screen laptops with cd drive takes care, because almost no current laptop has a built-in disc drive. The real options are older touch laptops with a DVD drive that reads CDs, or a current touch laptop with an external USB drive. This guide separates the two groups and names the right model for each use.

Quick verdict: the best touch screen laptops with cd drive

The HP Envy 17 TouchSmart is the best touch screen laptop with a built-in CD drive for most buyers, because its large touch display pairs with a SuperMulti DVD burner that reads and burns CDs. If you want a current laptop instead, buy the Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 and add an external USB CD drive, which gives you modern speed with full disc access.

This guide covers two different groups, and mixing them up is the most common mistake buyers make. The first group holds older touch laptops that shipped with a built-in optical drive, so they read discs with no add-on. The second group holds current touch laptops with no built-in drive, where a slim external USB drive adds disc access. Older models appear as used or refurbished units, while current models are sold new, so your choice also decides what condition and age you accept.

Best touch screen laptops with cd drive: comparison table

This table puts the seven picks side by side so you can see at a glance which laptops have a built-in drive and which need an external USB drive. Check the drive column first, because it decides whether the laptop reads discs on its own or only with an add-on. Display, RAM, and storage follow for quick comparison.

How we selected the best touch screen laptops with cd drive

Every laptop in this guide has a real touch screen and a real path to reading CDs, either through a built-in drive or an external USB drive. We kept only models whose touch panel and drive type appear in maker spec sheets or service guides. We dropped models when sources disagreed on the touch screen, and each pick had to suit a clear use.

Touch and drive claims in this guide come from maker spec sheets and service guides, not from listings that repeat each other. The HP Envy 17 TouchSmart and the HP Pavilion 17 TouchSmart come from HP data sheets and service guides, the Dell Inspiron 17 5759 comes from the Dell spec sheet, and the ASUS Q551LN comes from maker and retailer spec listings. Current models come from the same kind of maker listings used across this project. One model was dropped during research: the Lenovo IdeaPad Y700-17, because one review source states its 17-inch models have no touch screen support while other listings suggest a touch option, so the defining feature could not be settled.

Built-in CD drive picks: older touch laptops

These four laptops shipped with a built-in optical drive and a touch screen, so they read and burn CDs with no add-on. All four are older models, so you will find them used or refurbished, and you should confirm the exact unit has both the touch panel and the drive. They are the only honest answer when a built-in drive is a must.

A built-in drive changes how you use the laptop day to day. You slide a disc in, it spins up, and the disc appears on the desktop without cables or extra parts to carry. That convenience is why these older models still sell, even though their processors and batteries are far behind current laptops. Buy one when the drive matters more than speed, and skip this group when you want a new laptop with a warranty.

HP Envy 17 TouchSmart: best big-screen legacy pick

The HP Envy 17 TouchSmart leads this group because it pairs the biggest touch screen here with a SuperMulti DVD burner. Its 17.3-inch HD+ touch display makes tapping easy, and the 1 TB hard drive holds a large music and movie collection. It is heavy and old, but no other pick matches its screen and built-in drive.

The model covered here is the 17-j130us, with a 17.3-inch HD+ BrightView LED-backlit touchscreen at 1600 x 900, an Intel Core i7-4700MQ processor, 8 GB of DDR3 memory, and a 1 TB 5400 rpm hard drive with HP ProtectSmart drive protection. The SuperMulti DVD burner reads and writes CDs and DVDs, and some configurations add a Blu-ray player beside it. A full-size island-style backlit keyboard with a numeric keypad suits long typing sessions, and Beats Audio with four speakers suits movie nights.

Buy it if you want the largest touch screen among the built-in drive picks and a drive that handles both CDs and DVDs. Skip it if you carry your laptop often, because a 17.3-inch machine from this era is heavy and its battery is old. Ask the seller for the exact model number, since the Envy 17 TouchSmart line covers several configurations with different screens and drives.

HP Pavilion 17 TouchSmart: best value legacy pick

The HP Pavilion 17 TouchSmart is the value pick here, with a 17.3-inch touch screen and a DVD drive that plays and burns CDs. Its AMD A8 processor and 6 GB of memory handle everyday work, media playback, and light multitasking without fuss. It is older and slower than the Envy, but it does the same disc jobs.

The model covered here is the f020us, with a 17.3-inch HD touch-screen display, an AMD A8 quad-core processor, 6 GB of memory, and a 750 GB hard drive. The DVD±RW Double Layer SuperMulti Drive plays and burns CDs and DVDs, and the HP service guide lists the same drive across the Pavilion 17 TouchSmart line. Ports include two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, HDMI, and Ethernet, and the machine weighs about 3.5 kg, so it suits a desk more than a bag.

Buy it if you want the cheapest route to a big touch screen with a built-in drive and your work is mostly browsing, documents, and media. Skip it if you need speed for heavy apps, because the AMD A8 and the spinning hard drive feel slow beside a current laptop. Other Pavilion 17 TouchSmart configurations exist with Intel Core i5 processors and 12 GB of memory, so confirm the exact unit before you buy.

Dell Inspiron 17 5759: best Dell legacy pick

The Dell Inspiron 17 5759 is the Dell pick for buyers who want a large touch screen and a built-in DVD drive. Its 17.3-inch Full HD touch display is sharper than the HP picks, and the DVD drive reads and writes CDs and DVDs. Touch and the drive were both options, so confirm them on the exact unit before you buy.

The Dell spec sheet lists a 17.3-inch FHD WLED touch screen at 1920 x 1080 as one display option, beside HD+ and FHD non-touch panels, and a 9.5 mm DVD+/-RW drive as an optional optical drive. The configuration covered here has a 6th generation Intel Core i5-6200U processor, 8 GB of DDR3L memory, and a 1 TB 5400 rpm hard drive, while other units ship with a Core i7-6500U, 12 GB of memory, or a 256 GB solid state drive. The touch model weighs 3.34 kg, and ports include HDMI, USB 3.0, Ethernet, and an SD card reader.

Buy it if you want the sharpest screen among the built-in drive picks and a Dell machine with a standard DVD drive. Skip it if the seller cannot confirm both the touch panel and the drive, because this model also shipped without either one. Test the touch screen across the full display and play a CD and a DVD before you commit.

ASUS Q551LN: best convertible legacy pick

The ASUS Q551LN is the only convertible in the built-in drive group, with a 360-degree hinge that folds into tablet mode. Its 15.6-inch Full HD IPS touch display looks sharp from wide angles, and the SuperMulti DVD drive reads and writes CDs and DVDs. A dedicated graphics card adds light gaming, which the other legacy picks lack.

The model covered here has a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS LED touch screen at 1920 x 1080 with 10-point multi-touch, an Intel Core i7-5500U processor, 8 GB of DDR3 memory, and a 1 TB 5400 rpm hard drive. The SuperMulti DVD±RW drive reads and writes CD-R, CD-RW, DVD+R, DVD-RW, and DVD-R media, and an NVIDIA GeForce 840M graphics card with 2 GB of memory handles light games and video work. Earlier configurations used an Intel Core i7-4510U processor with the same screen, memory, storage, and drive.

Buy it if you want a convertible that still has a built-in drive, because no other pick here folds into tablet mode with a DVD drive inside. Skip it if you want a light laptop, because a 15.6-inch convertible from this era is still heavy beside a current ultrabook. Confirm the hinge moves smoothly through the full range, since a loose hinge is the most common wear point on a used convertible.

Current touch laptops with an external USB CD drive

No current touch laptop ships with a built-in CD drive, so this group pairs modern touch laptops with an external USB CD drive. The laptops below are current models with strong touch screens, and a slim USB drive adds CD reading and burning. This is the better route when you want modern speed and a screen that still feels new.

An external USB drive is a small box about the size of a paperback, and most models draw power from the USB port, so one cable is all you need. Plug it into a USB-A port, or use a USB-C adapter when the laptop has only USB-C ports, and the drive appears as a disc drive on the computer. Keep the drive in a drawer when you do not need it, and your laptop stays light for travel.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 14: best current convertible

The Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 is the best current touch laptop to pair with an external USB CD drive, thanks to its sharp 2.8K OLED touch display. Its Core Ultra 5 processor and 8 GB of memory handle everyday work, and the included pen suits notes and sketches. Add a USB drive and you get disc access without giving up modern speed.

The model covered here is the Yoga 7i 14 Gen 9, with a 14-inch 2.8K OLED touch display, an Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor, and 8 GB of soldered memory. The maker lists a 71 Wh battery, and the convertible hinge folds the screen into tablet mode for reading and drawing. There is no built-in optical drive, so a USB CD drive connects through a USB port and handles discs while the laptop handles everything else.

Buy it if you want the best screen in the current group and a convertible that works as both a laptop and a tablet. Skip it if you need more than 8 GB of memory, because the memory is soldered and cannot be upgraded later. Confirm the exact configuration on the listing, since the Yoga 7i line also sells 16 GB versions.

HP Envy x360 14: best current everyday pick

The HP Envy x360 14 is the everyday pick here, with a bright 14-inch touch screen and a fast 512 GB SSD. It folds into tablet mode for reading and sketching, and the maker lists a 43 Wh battery. Pair it with a bus-powered USB CD drive and you have a light setup that still reads discs.

The model covered here has a 14-inch WUXGA touch display and a 512 GB NVMe solid state drive, which loads apps and files far faster than the spinning hard drives in the legacy picks. The 360-degree hinge turns the laptop into a tablet, and the slim body suits carrying between rooms or to class. There is no built-in optical drive, so disc access comes from an external USB drive that plugs into a USB port.

Buy it if you want a light everyday laptop with a fast SSD and a touch screen that folds flat. Skip it if you rip discs for hours at a time, because a bus-powered USB drive and a small laptop share one workspace and the setup suits occasional use better. Confirm the processor and memory on the exact configuration, since they vary by listing.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714: best Chromebook pick

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is the Chromebook pick, with a clear 14-inch touch screen and a slim body. It runs ChromeOS, so an external USB drive reads data discs, while audio CD playback is limited and needs the right app. Buy it when your discs are data discs, or when you rip them on another computer first.

The model covered here has a 14-inch WUXGA touch display and a maker-listed 56 Wh battery, with a USI pen included for notes and sketches. ChromeOS reads files from data CDs through an external USB drive, so photos and documents on disc open without fuss. Audio CD playback is limited on ChromeOS, and ripping a music CD needs a Linux app or a Windows computer, so plan around that limit before you buy.

Buy it if you live in ChromeOS and your discs hold files rather than music. Skip it if your collection is mostly audio CDs, because ripping them takes an extra step on another machine. Confirm the pen is included on the exact listing, since pen inclusion varies by configuration.

Buying guide: how to choose

Start with how often you use discs, because that answer decides whether a built-in drive or an external drive fits better. Daily disc use points to an older laptop with a built-in drive, while occasional use points to a current laptop plus a USB drive. The checks below keep you from buying the wrong unit.

Built-in drive or external drive: which fits your discs

A built-in drive suits buyers who use discs every day, because the drive is always there and needs no cable or extra power. An external USB drive suits buyers who use discs once in a while, because it stays in a drawer until needed and works with any laptop. Match the drive to your habit, not to the laptop you like most.

Think about where you use discs as well as how often. A built-in drive suits a desk setup where the laptop rarely moves, while an external drive suits travel, because you leave the drive behind on days you do not need it. Ripping a large music collection suits either route, but a current laptop with an external drive finishes the job faster, since its processor and storage are far newer.

Check the exact unit before you buy

Legacy laptops shipped in many configurations, and touch screens and optical drives were often options. Ask the seller to confirm the touch panel and the drive on the exact unit, and test both before you commit. A tap test across the screen and a CD read test take minutes and catch most bad units.

Check the model number on the bottom of the laptop against the listing, and look for the drive slot on the side of the machine. Open the display settings to confirm the touch panel responds across the full screen, not just in the center. Play a CD and a DVD, and burn a disc if burning matters to you, because a drive that reads but cannot write is a common fault on old machines.

What an external USB CD drive can and cannot do

A USB CD drive reads data CDs and audio CDs, and it burns CD-R and CD-RW discs with the right software. Most models draw power from the USB port, so no separate adapter is needed, and they work on Windows with no extra driver. They cannot read Blu-ray discs unless the drive is a Blu-ray model, and they cannot fix a badly scratched disc.

A USB drive also cannot add a drive bay to a laptop, so it always sits beside the machine on a desk or a table. That is fine for ripping and watching, but it is awkward on a train or a plane, where a built-in drive would sit flush inside the laptop. Choose a drive with a USB-C cable or an adapter when your laptop has only USB-C ports, and check that the drive supports both reading and burning if you need both.

Software and discs: what still works

Windows reads CDs without extra software, and a media player handles audio CDs and movie DVDs out of the box. Burning a disc needs a burning app, and ripping a music CD needs a ripper that saves files to your hard drive. Old software discs may need compatibility settings, so test one disc before you rely on the setup.

Keep your discs clean and stored upright, because dust and scratches cause more read errors than any drive fault. Copy important files from disc to your hard drive or cloud storage when you get the chance, since discs age and drives wear out. A disc that plays today may not play in five years, so a backup matters more than the drive itself.

Frequently asked questions

These answers cover the questions buyers ask most about touch screen laptops and CD drives, from whether new models still ship with a drive to how USB drives behave on ChromeOS. Read them before you buy, because a wrong assumption about a drive or a disc format is the most common mistake in this category.

Do the best touch screen laptops with cd drive still ship new

No current mainstream touch laptop ships with a built-in CD drive, because makers dropped optical drives to make laptops thinner. The last touch laptops with built-in drives date from around 2013 to 2016, and they now appear only as used units. If you want a new laptop, pair it with an external USB CD drive instead.

That change is not a flaw in new laptops, it is a design trade that favors thin bodies and large batteries over a drive most buyers stopped using. If your discs matter, the trade is easy to work around, because a USB drive costs little and works with any laptop. Keep the drive with your discs rather than in your laptop bag, and you will have it when you need it.

Can a USB CD drive read and burn discs on a modern laptop

Yes, a USB CD drive reads data CDs and audio CDs on a modern Windows laptop, and it burns CD-R discs with burning software. Most drives draw power from the USB port, so one cable is enough and the drive appears in File Explorer. Burning a DVD needs a DVD-capable drive, so confirm the drive type before you buy it.

Windows handles the drive without extra drivers, and most burning apps recognize a USB drive the same way they recognize a built-in one. Use a short, good quality USB cable and a flat surface, because a drive that moves during a burn can ruin the disc. If a burn fails twice, try a slower burn speed or a different brand of blank disc.

Will a CD drive work on a Chromebook

An external USB CD drive works on a Chromebook for reading data discs, such as files and photos stored on a CD. Audio CD playback is limited on ChromeOS, and ripping a music CD needs a Linux app or a Windows computer. If your discs are mostly music, rip them on another computer and copy the files over.

ChromeOS mounts a data disc like a USB stick, so you can open files and copy them to local storage or cloud storage. That covers the most common Chromebook disc job, which is reading files from an old disc. For music, the simplest route is to rip the CD on a Windows computer, save the files, and then move them to the Chromebook.

Is it safe to buy a used laptop with a CD drive

Yes, if you test the laptop before you commit. Play a CD and a DVD in the drive, tap every corner of the touch screen, and open the hinge fully. Ask about the battery age and returns, because an old battery and a worn drive are the two most common problems.

A seller who allows testing is a good sign, and a return window matters more than any promise about condition. Check the screen for dead touch zones, the keyboard for dead keys, and the drive tray for smooth opening and closing. Walk away when the seller refuses a test, because a hidden fault costs more to fix than the laptop is worth.

Conclusion

A touch screen laptop with a CD drive still exists, but only as an older model with a built-in drive or a current model with a USB drive. The HP Envy 17 TouchSmart is the best built-in pick, while the Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 with a USB drive is the best current route. Pick the group that fits your disc habit and confirm the drive on the exact unit.