Optical Storage in 2026: Dead or Dead Useful?

Optical storage can offer excellent long-term data retention. In this video we look at the state of the market for optical disc drives (ODDs) and media, and also unbox and test my new Verbatim external Blu-ray writer. My recent video on “Long-Term Data Storage for Home Computer Users” is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulh9z-JluBs And my M-Disc video from 2016 is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pekgrP-v5O0 RECOMMENDED MEDIA for long-term storage: M-Disc Blue-ray BR-R (only work in M-Disc compatible burners): Verbatim M-Disc BD-R - Blu-ray Disc 25 GB: Amazon US: https://amzn.to/480gBwz and Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/4855dQ9 Standard Blu-ray: Verbatim BD-R 25GB 16X Blu-ray: Amazon US: https://amzn.to/4svdELH and Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3ODHFLz (NB, UK link is to 6X media). DVD-R: Verbatim DVD-R 4.7GB 16X UltraLife Gold Archival: Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3O9OynL and Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/4dR1auo Note that the above are affiliate links, and that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. REFERENCES (in order of appearance) Sony kills recordable Blu-ray: https://spectrum.ieee.org/recordable-physical-media Pioneer ends Blu-ray drives: https://www.techpowerup.com/336803/pioneer-has-ended-production-of-computer-blu-ray-drives-transfers-pddm-business-to-shanxi-group LG ends Blu-ray players: https://overclock3d.net/news/misc/lg-discontinues-all-of-its-uhd-blu-ray-and-blu-ray-players/ Panasonic Blu-ray recorders: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/storage/cancelled-blu-ray-recorder-production-leads-to-flood-of-orders-for-panasonic-after-rivals-exit-market-last-supplier-standing-apologizes-for-delays-as-firm-inundated-with-orders Reasons for Shanxi Lightchain purchase (scroll down): https://forum.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=191100#p191100 Shanxi Lightchain optical drive manufacture registration: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/02/2025-24183/notice-pursuant-to-the-national-cooperative-research-and-production-act-of-1993-dvd-copy-control HL Data Storage: https://hitachi-lg.com LG Burners: https://www.lg.com/us/burners-drives Hitachi optical drives end-of-life: https://forum.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40208 Buffalo stops Blu-ray drives: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/storage/japanese-firm-stops-production-of-blu-ray-disc-drives-buffalo-says-there-will-be-no-successors-to-its-current-trio-of-portable-usb-attached-drives Elecom stops Blu-ray drives from June 2026 https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/storage/another-major-japanese-electronics-firm-exits-the-blu-ray-market-elecom-publishes-notice-of-termination-of-nine-external-drives Verbatim Jan 2025 CES press release, inc USB BD-R writer: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250107358223/en/Verbatim-at-CES-2025-New-Brand-New-Products-New-Year-in-Tech Verbatim press release April 2025: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250401157716/en/Verbatim-Americas-Blu-ray-DVD-and-CD-Media-Solutions-Available Verbatim press release January 2026: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260106085707/en/Verbatim-Frames-the-Future-of-Everyday-Tech-at-CES-2026 Ritek Ridata optical media: https://www.ridata.com/english-cd-dvd-bd.html Asus Turbodrive BW-16D1X-U: https://www.asus.com/uk/motherboards-components/optical-drives/external-blu-ray-drive/bw-16d1x-u/ Img Burn website: https://www.imgburn.com/ More videos on computing and related topics can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/@ExplainingComputers And more videos on film and other making, plus retro tech, can be found on my Christopher Barnatt channel: http://www.youtube.com/@ChristopherBarnatt Chapters: 00:00 Titles & Intro 01:04 The Optical Storage Market 09:01 Long-Term Optical Media 12:06 Verbatim Blu-ray Writer 14:51 Windows & Linux (drive test) 16:06 RISC-V & Linux 19:28 Wrap #optical #storage #blu-ray #dvd #dead #verbatim #sony #pioneer #lg #hitachi #ExplainingComputers