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Compatibility · updated June 2026

MakeMKV drive & firmware compatibility (2026)

Not every Blu-ray drive can read 4K UHD. Only drives whose firmware can be patched for LibreDrive work with MakeMKV for UHD — and the list of those drives is shrinking. Here's what currently flashes, what to avoid, and how to check your own.

Drives that currently flash to LibreDrive

  • LG BU40N — the slim 9.5mm drive inside the Verbatim 43888 external. The most popular choice; ~6x UHD. Our flagship.
  • LG WH16NS60 — 5.25" desktop burner, the fastest common option at up to 8x. Needs the right desktop firmware.
  • LG WH16NS40 / WH14NS40 — older 5.25" desktop drives, still flashable in the right revisions.
  • ASUS BW-16D1HT — 5.25" desktop, UHD-friendly and good value for a fixed rig.
  • LG slim externals — BP60NB10, BP50NB40, WP50NB40 and similar slim USB units.
  • Pioneer BDR-212-series — among the few flashable Pioneers left; rare and premium now production has ended.
Two ways to brick a drive

First, age: the drive should be manufactured after 2016 (the platform that matters in MakeMKV is MT1959). Second, never cross-flash: desktop (5.25") and slim firmware are not interchangeable — flashing the wrong one will kill the drive. This is exactly the risk our pre-flashing removes.

How to check your own drive

Open MakeMKV with the drive connected and read the drive information panel. A working UHD drive shows LibreDrive: Enabled, platform MT1959, and "Yes" for DVD all-regions and raw BD read. If it says LibreDrive is not enabled, the drive can't read UHD until it's correctly flashed.

MakeMKV drive-information readout showing LibreDrive enabled
The drive-info panel: this is what a correctly flashed drive looks like.

Pioneer vs LG — which is better now?

Pioneer drives were long regarded as the premium choice, but Pioneer has ceased global production of optical drives, so genuine flashable Pioneer units are now rare and expensive — increasingly collector's items. Verbatim's current 4K models (the 43888) ship with LG internals, and for good reason:

  • Faster 4K burning — LG drives burn 4K Blu-rays at up to 6× versus Pioneer's 4× maximum, a real time-saver across a large library (you can see 6.0× in our ripping guide's screenshots).
  • Fully LibreDrive-enabled — every LG unit we sell is pre-flashed and ready for MakeMKV, no modifications needed.
  • Same compatibility, same quality — identical support for MakeMKV, HandBrake and VLC, with no difference in read/write accuracy in our testing.
  • Actively manufactured — LG still makes and supports these drives, so they're current and available; Pioneer stock only comes from old inventory.

We very occasionally get Pioneer units in, sold at a premium due to scarcity — if you specifically want one, get in touch. For everyone else, the LG BU40N (or the WH16NS60 for a desktop) is the practical, faster, current choice.