Apple Thunderbolt Display (27-inch)

With built-in Thunderbolt technology — the fastest, most flexible I/O ever — the new Apple Thunderbolt Display can do things other displays simply can’t. Of course, it delivers a brilliant viewing experience. But connect it to any Thunderbolt-enabled Mac and it becomes a plug-and-play hub for everything you do. Features include a high-resolution 2560-by-1440 LED-backlit display, a FaceTime HD camera, high-quality audio, three USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire 800 port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a Thunderbolt port for daisy-chaining additional high-performance devices.
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3.5 out of 5 stars

Based on 207 reviews

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$999.00

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Features

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 adapter 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.

Highlights

  • Built-in FaceTime HD camera with microphone
  • Built-in 2.1 speaker system
  • Colors: 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)

What's in the Box?

  • Apple Thunderbolt Display
  • AC power cord
  • MagSafe to MagSafe 2 Converter
  • Printed documentation

System Requirements

  • OS X v10.6.8 or later
  • Thunderbolt-enabled Mac computer, including MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini and iMac

Technical Specifications

  • Screen size : 27 inches (diagonal viewable)
  • Screen type : TFT Active-Matrix LCD
  • Resolution : 2560 x 1440 pixels
  • Color resolution : Colors: 16.7 million
  • Aspect ratio : 16:9
  • Viewing angle : 178° horizontal; 178° vertical
  • Brightness : Brightness: 375 cd/m2
  • Frequency Response : Response time: 12 ms
  • Contrast ratio : Contrast ratio: 1000:1
  • 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: 50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C)
  • Storage temperature: -4° to 116° F (-40° to 47° C)
  • Operating humidity: 20% to 80% non-condensing
  • Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)
Size and weight
  • Height : 19.35 inches (49.1 cm)
  • Width : 25.7 inches (65 cm)
  • Depth : 8.15 inches (20.7 cm) with stand
  • Weight : 23.5 pounds (10.8 kg)
VESA Compatibility

Compatible with VESA Mount Adaptor Kit (sold separately)

Ratings & Reviews

3.5

Based on 207 reviews

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Most Useful Reviews

  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    HORRIBLE FOR IMAC, MULTIPLE DISPLAYS AND LION

    • Written by from sacramento

    I was so excited to get my 27 inch iMac, and thunderbolt display(TBD)...until i opened them up and set them side by side.... and went huh?

    The TBD is shorter than the 27 iMac so the screens do not line up. that is a bad design flaw. if you had the laptop or the 21 inch iMac this wouldn't even matter so I'm lost for why they didn't make them match. did they hire someone from micro$oft to design this?

    Second design flaw for the TBD is actually LION the os... does not work well with multiple displays like snow leopard does! when you use the new FULLSCREEN mode in lion apps it actually dims out the TBD(or any other screens for that matter) and displays a linen style backdrop which make the $1,000 monitor a very nice paper weight. I would hope this would be addressed in a LION update ASAP.

    The third and very irritating design flaw is the lack of a POWER BUTTON. so now your pretty much forced to look at the linen style backdrop because you can't turn off the monitor. its like a reminder how much you paid to look at NOTHING.

    I have been a mac user and customer for over 13 years and have owned/used almost every product apple has made and let me say that I have not been this disappointed from apple ever with both the TBD and LION.     …More

    3110 of 4164 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    Beautiful and full featured yet handicapped by LCD quality control

    • Written by from Frisco

    I purchased two of these beautiful displays a few weeks ago and was wowed with them. The displays have a lot of functionality with the multitude of ports on the backside. The ethernet, firewire, and usb ports are great when docking a computer such as an air. This is the good.

    The bad is that the LCD panel inside of of the two units had a blue/greenish tint to it on the right and bottom area of the display which was very prominent when a light or white background was moved over it. I had that display replaced only to have the new one have yellowing around the bottom left corner and upper middle when on a darker background. Likely is caused by backlight bleed.

    At $1000, I would assume others are using this for creative means and work like myself. Apple since will only replace the panel once. Being in photography, I am unfortunately having to return the display. Disappointing.     …More

    1462 of 1661 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    Ultimate docking station for my Macbook Air

    • Written by from candiac

    Likes:
    - great size, was a bit concerned it would be too large compared to my previous Apple Cinema 20" display, but I quickly appreciated the extra space
    - Clean simple design
    - No fan, no noise - sometimes get fan noise from my MBA when using video chat 9heavy processing i guess)
    - Love the Docking simplicity - I plug 2 FW 800 drives, keyboard, Ethernet (Thunderbolt HD prices are crazy, even by this monitors standards...)
    - no concerns about reflection, I'm in sunny office by a window, no issues with reflection at all
    - Built in FaceTime camera is great - was tired of looking sideways at my laptop during video calls
    - Colors bright and even
    Dislike:
    - undocking - no clear documentation on how to undock when you have multiple drives attached. Found an applescript called "undock" to eject all drives prior to undocking
    - Apple needs to improve communication on how to "undock", sleep computer first ? eject disks, etc...
    - Smell - yes smell, for first few days, like some past macbook pros i've owned, this monitor has a "smell" for few days from the 'electronics" heating up, not too techie, but there's obviously some sort of coating etc. that emits a annoying smell, it eventually goes away, but reminded me of my past macbook pros
    - no USB 3, this is a bit ridiculous, again, considering the price of thunderbolt external HDs
    - would like to have audio out to plug speakers

    Summary:
    would i buy again and recommend - yes.
    hope this was helpful to shoppers     …More

    1129 of 1294 people found this useful

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Most Recent Reviews

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    No regrets. I am enjoying the Display.

    • Written by from phoenix

    Initially, the negative reviews posted gave me pause before I purchased Thunderbolt.
    Spoke to the Apple sales people several times about the posted complaints plus
    they assured me about the return policy.

    Purchased the monitor and it performs great. The color is amazing. I use it everyday.
    I have so much more real estate to work with.

    Fantastic job Apple.     …More

    6 of 7 people found this useful

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  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    Horrible - Forced to "ONLY" use new mac

    • Written by from EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP

    The targeted display mode was removed in this monitor forcing me to purchase a second desk for my room to run my other devices. Total waste of space that this feature was removed. The display is nice and bright but for the first 7 months of ownership it stayed on the floor unplugged gathering dust. Only this week have I pulled it out to start using it on a cheap fold up table I got from BJs. …More

    4 of 34 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Great match for Mac Mini

    • Written by from West Bloomfield

    Purchased to match my 2012 Mac Mini. Works great but need to get use to the smaller font with this high resolution monitor. Also, the ethernet port on the display was labeled incorrectly when hooked up to my router. Had to delete and rename to "display ethernet port" and all is now correct. I like having the hub on the back of the monitor to hook up my firewire 800 Time Machnine hard drive and another USB hub. …More

    11 of 12 people found this useful

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Featured Question

Can I Go from the thunderbolt port on my 2011 macbook pro to this 27in thunderbolt display then chain threw an adapter to an HDMI display?
  • Asked by Jesse L from Virginia Beach
  • Feb 24, 2013
Answer
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