- Top Pick: HP Student Business Laptop Computer – Free CD/DVD Drive • 16GB Memory • 128GB eMMC • Intel 4-Core Processor • 14" Anti-Glare HD Display • Intel UHD Graphics • HD Display • Win11 Pro(Rose Gold)
- Best Value: Dell New Inspiron i3583 15.6" HD Touch-Screen Laptop – Intel i5-8265U – 8GB DDR4-256GB SSD – Windows 10 – Wireless-AC – Bluetooth, SD Card Reader, HDMI & USB 3.1 -Waves MaxxAudio Pro- Black
- Premium Choice: Dell 2027 Portable 11-inch IPS Touchscreen Convertible Laptop, Intel Pentium Processor Up to 3.3GHz, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Ultra-Fast 6th Gen WiFi, Windows 11 OS, Dale Gray (Renewed)
Searching for a touch screen laptop with a CD drive means you have a shelf of discs that still matter: tax software, family video archives, music collections, installation media for a legacy program, or a stack of photo CDs from a relative. The awkward truth is that thin touchscreen laptops almost never include a built-in optical drive anymore. The practical solution is to pick the touch laptop first, then pair it with an external drive that connects over USB.
That shapes this list. Only one listing below states that a DVD drive is included, and the other five are touchscreen laptops whose titles do not mention a disc drive at all, so plan on adding one. A separate HP listing that includes a drive but has no touchscreen was left out, and so was a standalone external drive, because neither fits the full request. What remains is a set of touchscreen models in several sizes, from an 11-inch convertible to a 17.3-inch display, for 2026 buyers who want both touch input and access to their old media.
Quick Picks
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| Product | Best for | Key spec from the title |
|---|---|---|
| Dell Inspiron i3583 | Older software on Windows 10 | 15.6 in HD touch, Core i5-8265U, 256GB SSD |
| Dell 11-inch Convertible (Renewed) | Tablet-style use | 11 in IPS touch convertible, 8GB, 128GB SSD |
| Dell 15.6-inch FHD Touchscreen | Everyday Windows 11 use | Core i5-1334U, 512GB SSD |
| Dell Inspiron 3535 | Disc access out of the box | External DVD drive, Ryzen 7 7730U, 32GB, 2TB |
| HP 17.3-inch Touchscreen | Large display with security | Fingerprint reader, webcam shutter, Microsoft 365 |
| HP OmniBook 16 | High-resolution workspace | 16 in 2K touchscreen, Ryzen 5 |
How to Choose
Plan the disc drive before the laptop
If a listing says nothing about an optical drive, assume it has none. An external USB drive works with any laptop that has a free port, so check the port list: at least one USB-A port is the easiest match, while USB-C only machines need an adapter. Bus-powered drives draw energy from the laptop, which is fine on most models. Decide whether you need a burner or only a reader, since playback and writing are separate features. If you plan to keep the drive in a laptop bag, a slim portable model is easier to carry than a bulky one, and a drive that supports both CD and DVD formats covers the widest range of old media. Keep a short cable handy so the drive does not dangle off the edge of a lap, and place it on a flat surface while a disc spins.
Touch quality and form factor
A touchscreen is useful for scrolling, signing documents and tapping through apps. Convertible designs fold back into tablet posture, while standard clamshells only add touch. Tap-heavy use, like annotating PDFs, rewards a responsive panel, so favor newer models for that. Resolution matters too: FHD or 2K is noticeably sharper than basic HD at 15 inches. Glossy touch glass reflects more than matte, so think about where you will use the machine. Screen size changes the experience as well: an 11-inch panel is a travel companion, 15.6 inches is the common middle, and 16 to 17 inches suit anyone watching ripped video or editing family photos for long sessions.
Processor, memory and storage
For everyday work, a recent Core i5 or Ryzen 5 with 8GB of RAM handles browsing, documents and video calls. Anyone ripping discs to digital libraries should prefer more storage; 256GB fills quickly once media files arrive, while 512GB or more gives room. Faster solid-state storage cuts waiting when you copy files from disc. If a laptop has a small drive, an SD card reader or spare USB port lets you move finished archives onto removable media.
Operating system and what to ignore
Windows 11 receives current security updates, and older Windows 10 machines are riskier for online use. If your old disc software only runs on an older version, that can be a reason to keep one. Ignore catchphrases such as AI-ready unless they come with a named processor. Entry-level models usually cut corners on brightness, speakers and build thickness, and touch panels on the lowest tier can feel less responsive. Also be skeptical of any title that crams in several unrelated bundle items; the processor, memory and storage lines tell you far more than the accessories do.
The 6 Best Options
Dell Inspiron 15 3583 (Touch)
This 15.6-inch HD touch-screen Dell lists a Core i5-8265U, 8GB DDR4, a 256GB SSD, Windows 10, wireless AC, Bluetooth, an SD card reader, HDMI, USB 3.1 and Waves MaxxAudio Pro.
- Strength: Core i5 with an SSD and 8GB of memory is a balanced everyday setup.
- Strength: SD card reader and USB 3.1 are handy for importing photos and attaching a disc drive.
- Trade-off: It ships with Windows 10, an older operating system.
It makes sense for someone whose old programs expect an older Windows release and who wants a conventional 15.6-inch layout. Skip it if you want Windows 11 or a built-in disc drive, which the title does not name, or if you need a sharper full HD panel.
Dell 11-Inch Convertible Touchscreen (Renewed)
A small IPS touchscreen convertible with an Intel Pentium up to 3.3GHz, 8GB RAM, a 128GB SSD, Wi-Fi 6 and Windows 11, sold renewed.
- Strength: The convertible form lets you fold it into a tablet for reading or forms.
- Strength: Wi-Fi 6 and 8GB RAM are solid for such a compact machine.
- Trade-off: An 11-inch screen is small for spreadsheets or watching a movie from a disc.
Its small footprint makes it a practical secondary machine for a household, perhaps for a kitchen or a hobby desk. Skip it if you want a big display, a factory-new unit, or enough room to store a large disc library.
Dell 15.6-Inch FHD Touchscreen (Core i5-1334U)
A newer Dell with a 13th generation Core i5-1334U, 8GB RAM, a 512GB PCIe SSD, a full HD touch display, Wi-Fi 6, a 1080p webcam, HDMI and Windows 11.
- Strength: 512GB of fast storage leaves space for ripped movies and music.
- Strength: A 1080p webcam and Wi-Fi 6 suit video calls.
- Trade-off: The title says nothing about a disc drive, so an external one is required.
It is a sound daily laptop for someone who values a modern processor generation and plans to buy a drive separately. Skip it if you want a drive included in the box or a convertible body for tablet-style use. Its 8GB of memory is adequate for documents and playback, but heavy multitasking would call for a larger configuration, such as the Inspiron 3535 above.
Dell Inspiron 3535 Touchscreen with External DVD Drive
The only listing that names a drive: it pairs a 15.6-inch FHD touch display and an AMD Ryzen 7 7730U with 32GB of RAM, a 2TB SSD, an HD webcam, Windows 11 Pro and lifetime Office software.
- Strength: The external DVD drive is part of the listing, which solves the disc problem immediately.
- Strength: 32GB and 2TB are generous for archives and ripping projects.
- Trade-off: Memory and storage this large go beyond what basic disc playback needs.
A family archivist converting stacks of discs to digital files will appreciate both the drive and the room to store the results. Skip it if you want a lightweight machine for simple tasks, or if you only need to read a disc once in a while.
HP 17.3-Inch Touchscreen Laptop
Microsoft 365, 8GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD plus 128GB UFS, a webcam shutter, a fingerprint reader, a backlit keyboard, a Copilot key and an Intel quad-core processor with Windows 11, in Lavender.
- Strength: A large 17.3-inch touch display is comfortable for viewing media.
- Strength: Fingerprint reader and webcam shutter add privacy.
- Trade-off: Total storage is split between SSD and UFS, which is small for a media library.
It is aimed at users who read, watch and browse in a comfortable size and want a keyboard they can use in dim rooms. Skip it if you prefer a lighter body or lots of local space, or if you want a drive named in the listing.
HP OmniBook 16 Touchscreen
A 16-inch 2K touchscreen business laptop with an AMD Ryzen 5, 8GB RAM, a 128GB PCIe SSD, a Copilot key and Windows 11, in Glacier Silver.
- Strength: The 2K display gives text and photos more detail than basic HD.
- Strength: Ryzen 5 with a PCIe SSD supports everyday work.
- Trade-off: 128GB leaves little space for ripped disc content.
A business-oriented design with a crisp panel suits office documents, scanned records and presentations. Skip it if you plan to copy a large disc collection to the internal drive, or if you need a laptop that arrives with a disc drive.
Which One Fits Your Situation
You want everything in one order
The Dell Inspiron 3535 is the only option that names an external DVD drive, so the touch laptop and the disc solution arrive together.
You will rip a large disc collection
Prioritize storage: the Dell 15.6-Inch Core i5-1334U with 512GB is a good midpoint, and the Inspiron 3535 with 2TB is the extreme.
You like a tablet-style layout
Take the Dell 11-Inch Convertible, remembering it is renewed and compact. Folded flat, it works for reading recipes, signing forms or following along with a disc-based course.
You want a bigger canvas
The HP 17.3-Inch and HP OmniBook 16 both offer large touch screens, with the OmniBook leaning toward sharper resolution. Pair either with a USB drive and you have a comfortable media-viewing setup for family video discs, with room for the whole household around the screen.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming a laptop has a disc drive when the listing never mentions one.
- Buying an external drive without checking the free USB ports on the laptop.
- Choosing a small drive for a laptop you plan to fill with ripped discs.
- Confusing a drive that only reads discs with one that can write them.
- Expecting a renewed or older laptop to match the speed of a recent model, or overlooking the operating system when an older disc program must install.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do any touchscreen laptops have a built-in CD drive?
They are rare today. Most modern designs drop the internal drive for thinness, which is why an external USB drive is the standard answer.
Will an external drive work with any of these?
Generally yes if the laptop has a matching USB port and runs a supported Windows version. Check the drive's listed operating system support before buying.
Can I play movie discs on the laptop?
DVD playback depends on the drive and playback software installed. Many users instead copy their discs to files and watch them on the laptop screen.
Is touch worth having?
It helps with reading, signing and quick navigation, especially in convertibles. If you mostly type and use a mouse, it is a nice bonus rather than a necessity.
