Apple Thunderbolt Display (27-inch)
Apple Thunderbolt Display (27-inch)
Product Information
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Introducing the world’s first Thunderbolt display.
Thunderbolt technology built in.
Thunderbolt I/O technology lets you move data between your devices and your computer with unprecedented speed. With two channels of 10-Gbps throughput in both directions, it’s up to 20 times faster than USB 2.0 and up to 12 times faster than FireWire 800. And it allows you to connect as many as six devices through a single, compact port.
The ultimate docking station.
With just one cable, connect any Thunderbolt-enabled Mac and get 27 inches of high-resolution screen space, high-quality audio, a FaceTime HD camera, FireWire 800 and Gigabit Ethernet ports — and a Thunderbolt port you can use to daisy-chain additional high-performance peripherals such as hard drives and video capture devices.
Plug in and power up.
The Thunderbolt Display includes a MagSafe connector that powers and charges your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air.1 The connector sits on your desk, ready and waiting. No need to unwind the cord to the power adaptor that came with your notebook. Leave it exactly where it is, in your bag.
Made for the new MacBook family. A bigger display for your biggest ideas.
Connect your Thunderbolt-enabled Mac to the Thunderbolt Display for a panoramic viewing experience unlike any other. This huge 27-inch glossy widescreen display features a cinematic 16:9 aspect ratio and an astonishing 2560-by-1440 resolution. That gives you more room to work with apps on your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. And a worthy desktop companion to your iMac or Mac mini.
LED backlighting.
Full brightness with no waiting. That’s the big advantage of LED backlight technology. Unlike most displays that take time to warm up before they reach maximum brightness, an LED-backlit display is instantly on and uniformly bright. LED backlighting also gives you greater control over screen brightness. So you can tune the Thunderbolt Display to suit the ambient light in even the dimmest room.
Built-in FaceTime HD camera and microphone.
With the built-in FaceTime HD camera and microphone, you can connect your Mac desktop or notebook — open or closed — and make HD video calls2 or take a few snapshots using Photo Booth.
Thunderbolt Display compatibility.
Thunderbolt-enabled Macs, including the current generations of MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac are fully compatible with the Apple Thunderbolt Display. Customers with Macs that only support Mini DisplayPort output, such as the Mac Pro and MacBook, as well as previous generations of MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini and iMac can use the 27-inch LED Cinema Display.
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Highlights
- Built-in FaceTime HD camera with microphone
- Built-in 2.1 speaker system
- Colours: 16.7 million
- Viewing angle: 178° horizontal; 178° vertical
- Brightness: 330 cd/m2
- Contrast ratio: 1000:1
- Kensington security slot
- Energy saver mode: 1W or less
- Compatible with VESA Mount Adapter Kit (sold separately)
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What's in the Box?
- Apple Thunderbolt Display
- AC power lead
- MagSafe to MagSafe 2 Converter
- Printed Documentation
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Tech Specs
- Screen size : 27 inches (diagonal viewable)
- Screen type : TFT Active-Matrix LCD
- Resolution : 2560x1440 pixels
- Color resolution : Colours: 16.7 million
- Aspect ratio : 16:9
- Viewing angle : 178° horizontal; 178° vertical
- Brightness : Brightness: 375 cd/m2
- Contrast ratio : Contrast ratio: 1000:1
- Frequency Response : Response time: 12 ms
Cables
- Cable type : Thunderbolt
Ports
- Three powered USB 2.0 ports
- Firewire 800
- Gigabit Ethernet port
- Kensington lock slot
- Thunderbolt
Camera and Microphone
- Built-in FaceTime HD camera with microphone
Speaker Configuration
- 2.1
Electrical Requirements
- Power : 100V to 240V AC 50-60Hz
- Maximum power : 250W (Thunderbolt Display while charging MacBook Pro)
- Energy saver mode : Energy saver mode: 2W or less
Environmental Requirements
- Operating temperature: 10° to 35° C (50° to 95° F)
- Storage temperature: -40° to 47° C (-4° to 116° F)
- Operating humidity: 20% to 80% non-condensing
- Maximum operating altitude: 3,000 metres (10,000 feet)
Size and weight
- Height : 49.1 cm (19.35 inches)
- Width : 65 cm (25.7 inches)
- Depth : 20.7 cm (8.15 inches) with stand
- Weight : 10.8 kg (23.5 pounds)
VESA Compatibility
Compatible with VESA Mount Adaptor Kit (sold separately) -
System Requirements
- OS X v10.6.8 or later
- Thunderbolt-enabled Mac computer, including MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini and iMac
Ratings & Reviews
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Great display but minor niggles
Used with 13" MacBook Air the image quality is great. Only niggles are the MBA gets hot and fan noisy when watching streamed media and the Thunderbolt cable and power cable routing could be improved by fitting a 90 degree connector to the Thundebolt cable (as per MagSafe connector) . As it stand the cable tends to put a sideways strain on the MBA socket. Apart from that all is good but it should be perfect at this price and the inclusion of a 90 degree thunderbolt adaptor would make it perfect with all Apple devices. …
- Written by Colin P from Liverpool
143 of 168 people found this useful
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Careful what you hear
I abandoned a Samsung 23" as too difficult to set up with my MacBook. Had I turned off mirroring and dragged the menu bar over to the monitor, i might have got more than a giant distorted view of the laptop screen.
As it was the Apple guys made it easy to make a decision by showing me how on the MacBook Pro, but better still in store pointed out that I had Thunderbolt on the MacBook Pro which I didn't realise. I can't sing its praises high enough. Not only is the screen excellent res at 2560 x 1140 setting but my basic 13" MacBook now has loads of screen estate to play with - exactly what I wanted.
With Bluetooth Mouse and Keyboard, I can have my MacBook shut and treat it like a desktop machine. Meanwhile, the Thunderbolt connection means just one (included) magsafe power connector and one Thunderbolt connector. In the back of the display, I've hooked up an old Firewire 400 drive using an adapter cable, and ethernet network printer, a cable to recharge the iPhone and I may get around to some other stuff. All this runs seamlessly through the one Thunderbolt connection. Genius. Using a modest about of cable trunking the wiring is invisible. Oh yes and the Thunderbolt runs the audio output through the displays speakers as well.
So what used to run miles of cable and use the national grid now sits unobtrusively around one desk which I can reclaim for paperwork whenever I want it. The display even works nicely with Parallels. Stupidly expensive but the concept of a single hub adds glory to what is already a very sharp monitor. Those concerned about the gloss screen: Don't use it outside, then. …- Written by Stephen D from Newport
113 of 139 people found this useful
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Stunning
I have it connected to an 11 inch Macbook Air and all I can say is that the display is stunning. Surprisingly it has given me mor e room on my desk as the MacBook Air is in a cradle now and the display has such a small front to back footprint. When I got it home I did think it may be too big but it is just spot on. Also it gives me additional powered USB ports for a backup device and an external disk. Bluetooth keyboard and trackpad connected with no problem at all. Pricey yes but when you know it will work perhaps the premium is worth it. I hope so. Also I see this as a way to keep an excellent display and will only need to upgrade the laptop as and when - just hope the Thunderbolt connection remains standard. …
- Written by Kathryn D from Woking
85 of 101 people found this useful
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Great Monitor and Dock
I bought this shortly after discovering its ability to connect to the Thunderbolt port on my Mac and I have not been disappointed. Even though I would say it's a little on the pricy side, I was not sorry about my purchase.
The hardware quality of the screen feels solid and acts as the perfect dock compliment, only requiring me to plug one Thunderbolt plug in after coming back from using my laptop away, to access all my desktop accessories which are connected into the back of the monitor. The integrated webcam is a lovely touch, and the image quality is superb - sharp, crisp and colourful. The MagSafe power adaptor is also a lovely touch, meaning I no longer require a separate power adaptor.
My main gripe is the the lack of USB 3 connectors in the back as they are all USB 2. It would also be nice if there were audio out adaptors (the screen has inbuilt speakers, but no audio out ports). But these are minor, and I would still recommend this product. …- Written by Adrian P from Truro
8 of 8 people found this useful
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Thunderbolt display vs iMac
I was stuck deciding between the 27 inch Thunderbolt display (for use with a 2011 Macbook Pro) or a brand new iMac, and what made it more difficult was knowing that Apple could be about to release an updated Thunderbolt display. I use a new iMac in work, which makes the Macbook's screen feel very cramped (despite being the now-discontinued 17 inch model).
In the end, I went with the Thunderbolt display. I get the display size of an iMac with the occasional portability of the Macbook Pro, without the Macbook Pro becoming more or less redundant (even though the iMac has target display mode, no doubt the iMac would put the MBP to retirement). There is no performance slow down in general use, and games take a surprisingly small performance hit compared to playing solely on the Macbook Pro. The Macbook Pro's screen becomes a secondary monitor too.
The USB ports and connections on the Thunderbolt display help keep the desk tidier - there is less cabling running around the desk which would otherwise route to the Macbook, and the display size forces you to keep the display towards the back of the desk.
Note that the small envelope that comes in the box also has the Magsafe converter for newer devices.
Though a small feature, the display's ability to power the Macbook makes it noticeably convenient when taking the Macbook on the road - everything else is already in the bag.
I haven't noticed any display problems which others have been reporting - no differences in brightness across the screen, etc.
In short, iMac's supreme display quality and size, but for less than a grand - providing you already have a Mac with a Thunderbolt connector. …- Written by James E from CARDIFF
15 of 16 people found this useful
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Why does it have an old fashioned Magsafe connector?
Why does my brand new Thunderbolt display have the old Magsafe connector?
Not very impressive - shame, the screen is fantastic, but for £800+ I expect better.
Apple - this is why you shouldn't mess around with power connectors - you make things incompatible and your customers mark you down... …- Written by David W from ROMSEY
31 of 50 people found this useful
