Apple LED Cinema Display (27" flat panel)

Reviews for Apple LED Cinema Display (27" flat panel)

Customer Reviews and Ratings

3.5 out of 5 stars

Based on 331 reviews

Write a Review
  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Grade: A

    • Written by from Independence

    The visual quality of the display is stunning. Deep, deep blacks and rich colors. Super accurate color profile. Brilliant super high contrast screen. I have found mine to be reliable and it just works. I have not found the reflection noted by others to be a problem if your workstation is set up properly.

    The 3 foot cord is not an issue for me since my MacPro sits sideways next to the monitor, however, I do know lots of office set ups that the CPU sits under the desk/worktable, and this requires an extension to do. For a 1K USD display this a hassle no one needs and makes no logical sense. I do find it strange that there is no height adjustment for ergonomics. Since I am very tall, >2m, this is not good. I find that the old height boosters used for the old CRTs work fine, but again for a one grand machine, it is a hassle no one needs. I take note that the new iMac8s still don't have height adjustment... On the electronics side, I note that this thing still has USB2 ports, again for the price you would think it have USB3 ports,...but on the other hand my nearly new MacPro doesn't either... But for ordinary stuff connected to the monitor, like keyboards, drawing pads, etc it works OK. I hate to say this, but with Steve Jobs gone, Apple does need a real computer geek with attention to detail to make the final call on what goes in the machine, not the mad money men.

    My monitor does what I need it to, and does it better than anything else out on the market, and its design limitations I can and do work around with no problem. I suspect most everyone else can as well. I do strongly recommend that everyone that gets this monitor or its Tbolt twin buy Apple Care, since it the reliability seems to be less than normal Apple standards.

    116 of 123 people found this useful

    Was this useful?

    Flag as inappropriate

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Very Pleased With the Cinema Display

    • Written by from Brandon

    The display is a perfect match for my iMac 27" and doubles the workspace!

    Pros: Clear, crisp, beautiful, (MUCH better than a 43" 1080P TV that I tried to use before). Also comes with the video cord and USB (sound) in the box, so no extra cords to purchase.

    Cons: Very minor sound configuration issues. Took a little effort to get sound working in concert with the iMac. Also the brightness bar didn't appear at first and I had to reset the USB plug. One last minor detail, the cinema display sits 3/4" lower than the iMac so I had to put a spacer block of wood under the display to get it to sit even with my iMac, ie. it would be nicer if Apple would make a height adjustable screen.

    A word about glare: At first I noticed a terrible glare, but that was because the default brightness was very low at the first. Once I was able to reset the brightness bar, I brought the brightness up to match my iMac, then it looked exactly the same--no glare. If you drive brightness down low on the iMac or the display the glare starts to show, but if you bring the brightness up then no glare at all. Ie. the screen display is exactly the same as the iMac 27".


    Very pleased, should have dished out the money sooner!

    106 of 122 people found this useful

    Was this useful?

    Flag as inappropriate

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    The "professionals" have no clothes.

    • Written by from San Francisco

    Ignore the so called "professionals" that complain about a glass screen. These are the same people who had to be dragged kicking and screaming from CRTs to LCD screens. And guess what CRTs were made of: Glass.

    A matte finish adds a texture to a display that dulls colors and makes images less sharp. It's like frosting a window. Plain glass allows you to see the actual image. It's perfect for color correction. Does it reflect? Not much since the backlight is so strong. Matte screens turn completely grey when hit by direct light, which is worse than a reflection.

    And, besides, if you are doing important, professional color correction you're not doing it outdoors or in a room full of powerful lights and windows. Close the shades.

    113 of 157 people found this useful

    Was this useful?

    Flag as inappropriate

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Glossy, maybe it's ok

    • Written by from Firestone

    Well, at first i was mad that it's glossy, but couldn't pass up the features. Now that I've been using it for a week, you know what? I'm starting to become a fan of glossy. It's actually very clear, good colors and my eyes don't feel like they are blurring out. All, in all, i'm going to have to say I'm becoming a glossy fan. No headaches, and I've been a hardcore matte for a while. Color calibration went fine, and the thing is a beauty. The auto brightness is great for coding, text is crisp and clear and this things just beats the u2711 (seems much clearer). No dead pixels, no issues, a+

    103 of 138 people found this useful

    Was this useful?

    Flag as inappropriate

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Fantastic Monitor, Best in Class

    • Written by from Stittsville

    First off, don't buy this monitor if you can't deal with glossy displays. Period. Also, unless you actually own this monitor don't post a review. I do, and I love it. I actually use this with PC hardware and since new ATI/AMD 6xxx series cards support mini display port, this was a great choice.

    The quality is top rate, no other monitors in this price range are solid aluminum nor do they have the screen fidelity of this monitor. Again, in this price range. There are pro-level monitors for more money but at this price range, it's the top of the heap. There are other 27" monitors bet very few with 2560x1440 resolution most of the cheaper ones are 1080p - 1920x1080. The difference is a big deal IMO, so be sure to compare Apples-to-Apples (no pun intended).

    If you have an Apple laptop (pre-thunderbolt) then this is a great choice - the convenience of the power supply, USB hub, iSight and speakers is great. Even for my use with PC hardware it works great - colours are awesome, it's bright and clear and looks great. It works fine with Windows if you need it to.

    66 of 79 people found this useful

    Was this useful?

    Flag as inappropriate

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Extremely satisfied

    • Written by from 豊見城

    Pros
    Huge.
    Color temperature and grayscale tracking are excellent.
    No inverter noise.
    Does not generate significant heat.
    Brightness range is incredible - more than comfortably usable in pitch dark rooms.
    Amazingly easy connection to macbook pro. the magsafe charger is a godsend.
    Built-in speakers surprisingly good quality. can easily surpress need to connect to a real audio system.
    Uniformity is surprisingly good to the naked eye. Only some edge bleeding near the bottom, visible only on test patterns. No yellow tinging.
    Sleek and sexy design, second to none, apple elegance all the way.

    Cons
    No height or left-right swivel adjustment
    Only one display port input, no HDMI, no HDCP, cannot display video game material without some serious conversions.
    Extremely glossy coating makes it unsuitable for watching dark material (eg movies) in harsh lighting.
    More usb ports would've been nice.

    75 of 97 people found this useful

    Was this useful?

    Flag as inappropriate

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Super quality monitor; it's a bit bright; may be a bit glossy.

    • Written by from Miami Beach

    Colors are bright and the 'light sensor' works perfectly; the only negative thing I've noticed about the monitor, is that it turns too bright in well lit rooms, but it adjusts very well when it starts to get dark in the afternoon, or if it rains and it gets dark all of a sudden. Be sure to position the desk or monitor in a way that the window(s) or other light sources do not reflect directly on the monitor. If there's little that can be done about repositioning the monitor, then at least avoid wearing white or other bright colors while working with this monitor; bright clothing will be seen on the monitor’s screen a lot more than darker clothing. Images are neatly displayed at it’s impressive 2560 x 1440 resolution; most colors are displayed bright and vibrant, as in inviting to look at the monitor even for extended periods of time; all this without the disliked image 'Ghost' effect. There's a lot of space on this 27” screen so, shortcuts and features such as Expose and Screen Zoom options can be awesome tools to use.
    About the audio: it's very good; the way it should be. The sound from my HP 23" is very low quality compared with the audio obtained from this monitor. And also, I always questioned the quality of my $450.00 HP 23" monitor; it's squeaky, very low to the desk level; and it’s very glossy; and according to a small survey run with Apple’s 27” monitor, which I'm facing as I type this review, the 23" HP monitor (which is right next to Apple’s monitor) is glossier than Apple's 27" monitor, according to all my friends answers. About the price ($999.00) for this Apple 27" monitor, sounds expensive, but the quality is there; the HP monitor makes noise with minimal touch; the screen and the components surrounding it make squeaky sounds that indicate the monitor is not solid built; Apple’s monitor is built strong, solid and with great quality materials; and like always, the design is super cool; I use mine at home, with the MacBook Pro 15” and an accessory used to keep the MBP standing and therefore takes a fraction of the desk space the MBP would take; this way the MacBook Pro focus all it’s resources on a single monitor and I have a lot of space to work with; I don’t want to even know about the return policy on this item; worth the $999.00.

    66 of 80 people found this useful

    Was this useful?

    Flag as inappropriate

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Excellent display

    • Written by from Santa Clara

    After working with the Apple Cinema Display 23" for five years, I decided to upgrade to the new 27" LED display when I updated my desktop and laptop systems. I was a little concerned with the glossy surface of the 27" LED model, worrying that there would be too many reflection issues.

    Half a year on and I have experienced no issues with reflections. The larger display is easier to get my work done with (I'm a technical writer and photographer). I've calibrated the display with an Xrite ColorMunki to my desired target values. Having done that, I have no issues whatever with a color managed printing process, etc ... what I see on screen closely matches what comes out of the printer.

    Very happy with it.

    55 of 61 people found this useful

    Was this useful?

    Flag as inappropriate

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    best display in the market, bad customer service

    • Written by from New York

    comparing the 27" Cinema Display to other alternatives, it's a great bang for the buck. awesome colors, contrast etc, minus the fiddling one has to do with other displays. BUT my display started showing vertical lines just one month out of warranty and Apple doesn't do anything about it - replacement of the LED panel costs $700 for an obvious manufacturing issue.

    do yourself a favor and purchase this item with AppleCare - I sure have learned my lesson

    FIVE stars for the display, ONE star for customer service

    52 of 56 people found this useful

    Was this useful?

    Flag as inappropriate

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Yes I have one of these

    • Written by from Antelope

    Why is it that some people chose to review a product based on spec, when they have never owned or used that product?

    To actually use this display is dreamy. I would rather pay extra money to block ambient light than choose another display. For the most part tilt the display and your glare will go away. If you are a PRO, then work in a light appropriate environment. You do not see/hear an audio specialist working in a noisy environment. (they have sound proof specially designed rooms to record in.) Don't cut yourself short by working in a light filled environment, have drawn curtains, no overhead lighting, and control your light source... master it. A mat finish is horrible.

    The Apple LED Cinema Display 27" is beautiful.

    81 of 114 people found this useful

    Was this useful?

    Flag as inappropriate

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Great 27" LED Display

    • Written by from Frisco City

    I needed a display for Photography image enhancing using Photoshop CS5 Extended and Lightroom 3 ....The display on my 17" MacBook Pro was good but too small to see the details I wanted to see as I work turning images into ART oil paintings.....The New 27" Display works Super great. The Display connected right up to my 2010 Model MacBook Pro with the provided cables.....I recommend the Display to anyone that needs to work on Photos....The LED is a must have for me.....I looked at the reviews before I purchased this product and there were a lot of reviews talking about the display glare , However I have not had that problem. ....I Love This 27" Display of Mine.

    I hope this helps.

    50 of 56 people found this useful

    Was this useful?

    Flag as inappropriate

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Functionally excellent

    • Written by from San Diego

    A huge investment for my start-ups, used with a Mac Pro quad for a digital photo lab, was well worth the money over an off brand cheap-o. While there is credence to some other posts about gloss, this only seems to be an issue when backlit (e.g. you have your display in front of a window).

    What really makes this worth it is the size? it allows me to work on images in near real scale with room for my tool bars which keeps me from zooming in and out constantly.

    What really makes it worth the money? It is a simple, elegant multifunctional interface that renders true colors right out of the box. What I get on the screen is what I get in a print.

    49 of 55 people found this useful

    Was this useful?

    Flag as inappropriate

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Best Monitor Ever!

    • Written by from Las Vegas

    This is by far the best monitor out there. I liked it so much I bought a second one. Nothing can compare to how crisp the images are on this thing. Two other people from my office bought them and they fell in love with them also. I truly will never buy a different brand monitor as long as Apple keeps producing these.

    60 of 78 people found this useful

    Was this useful?

    Flag as inappropriate

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Best monitor ever

    • Written by from Middlebury

    I had problems with the 24" Cinema Display and replaced it with this one. I am SO glad I did. This is the most beautiful display I've ever seen. It blows the 24" out of the water. The colors are so vibrant. The resolution is fantastic. And having all this real estate to work in is a dream. I love love LOVE this monitor! It is just stunning. Worth every red cent.

    The glass is beautiful. I would not want it any other way. My office is perfectly lighted for computer work so glare is absolutely not a problem. If you don't like or have concerns about the glossy display then I would recommend that you don't buy it. It's not for you. However, if you can look past that and/or adjust your lighting environment then I don't think you'll have a single regret.

    48 of 56 people found this useful

    Was this useful?

    Flag as inappropriate

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Older Mac Pro users read here...

    • Written by from San Francisco

    Will only work with older Mac Pro if you upgrade the graphics card to something like the Radeon 5770 -- this was the only way I could use this monitor with my 2007 era Mac Pro 2,1

    49 of 59 people found this useful

    Was this useful?

    Flag as inappropriate

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Apple Thunderbolt Display

    • Written by from vienna

    I read now and again all the pros and cons as well as to see if other who bought it are 'thunder bolted" as i am . I think the display is one of the best money can buy. With mini server and windows in parallel it works great for me. I only had to add extra Ram to increase the speed of my mini. I would say a very good product for your moneys worth.

    43 of 48 people found this useful

    Was this useful?

    Flag as inappropriate

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Beauty Meets Function = Great Quality!

    • Written by from SAN DIEGO

    I upgraded from a Windows laptop connected to an external HP 24" display to a late 2010 MacBook Air with an Apple 27" Cinema Display. The MacBook Air and 27" Cinema Display make a beautiful, elegant, practical, and fast pair. The Apple 27" Cinema Display is more expensive than other monitors on the market, however, it is of superlative quality. This monitor itself is gorgeous and the image quality is stunning! My eyes are ecstatic! Some reviewers have lamented about the monitor's reflective glass, however that didn't bother me. Overall this is a great monitor that I highly recommend. If you like high quality products, you will not be disappointed.

    54 of 71 people found this useful

    Was this useful?

    Flag as inappropriate

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Designers delight

    • Written by from Everett

    As a graphics professional in imaging and video processing I'd rather have a slightly dim office and control placement of the lighting in my office to eliminate any glare issues. The "flat" finishes that are non-glare are at the expense of fine detail. Any surface that scatters light to reduce the glare, well, scatters light. If you _must_ have a "non-glare" surface because of your particular environment and you must compromise, then there are antiglare films you can apply to the monitors glass. Or buy a spare glass from Apple parts and get it treated. But if you want the utmost in fidelity then move the lights in your office or put up drapes.

    56 of 75 people found this useful

    Was this useful?

    Flag as inappropriate

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Enough with the anti-glossy nonsense...

    • Written by from Astoria

    The do-or-die remarks constantly pouring in from people who claim how unusable this display is for "designers" at large is misleading. Many designers are fine with and prefer this finish. The gloss has made the color range wider, blacks darker, and the details sharper. Not sure why you'd give up the better display quality for a blurry matte finish just because your light bulbs point in the wrong direction, because those matte displays give you a visual which is of much lower quality than this one in my opinion.

    67 of 97 people found this useful

    Was this useful?

    Flag as inappropriate

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    A picky pro photographer and videographer give thumbs up

    • Written by from San Luis Obispo

    When I read some of the negative reviews of this monitor I find it hard to believe we're talking about the same product. I have been a professional photographer and videographer for more than 30 years and I have found this monitor to be one of the best I have ever used, including some that cost considerably more.

    The main complaint seems to focus on the glossy monitor face. It's interesting that some of the so-called "pros" here admitted that they do their critical editing at their kitchen table or in a brightly lit office. This is nutsI. Everyone I know whose livelihood depends on critically accurate, repeatable color has a work room with subdued lighting. In fact, that's a requirement for most monitor calibrators. The glossy surface presents a saturated, sharp image that is beautiful to behold with no reflection problem whatsoever in a room with subdued lighting.

    I employ a total color-managed workflow from camera to printing press, and this was one of the easiest monitors to professionally calibrate. It was not overly saturated or too bright (as many other monitors are) and the difference between before and after calibration was slight

    What about more casual users in brighter rooms? Here I think the room configuration and personal taste will be most important. When I'm not doing critical work and open the windows shades that are to the immediate right of the monitor, the reflections don't bother me even though I'm now fairly brightly lit. When I open the shades behind me I can see the window reflection, but, it's no worse that my beloved iPad. Usually tilting the monitor (practical because of the great viewing angle) solves the problem. But, obviously, some can tune out reflections better than others.

    My only complaint: the short 4' cords. I understand why Apple made the cords short (to eliminate desktop clutter for MacBook users) but they should have included an extension for the many MacPro users like me who find it about 2 feet too short.

    This monitor isn't for everybody, but, for me it's been the perfect balance of quality, usability, and price.

    40 of 44 people found this useful

    Was this useful?

    Flag as inappropriate