Apple Thunderbolt Display
27-inch Thunderbolt monitor with integrated camera and speakers.
The Apple Thunderbolt Display is a 27-inch monitor from Apple, on the market from July 2011 to June 2016. It cost $999 at launch and took over from the 27-inch Cinema Display. Built into the screen are a 720p webcam, speakers, a microphone, a Gigabit Ethernet port, FireWire 800, a downstream Thunderbolt port, and three USB 2.0 ports. It only works with computers that have a Thunderbolt port, and Apple officially supports it solely on Macs.
The display has a 2560×1440 resolution in a 16:9 aspect ratio, with an aluminum and glass body that matches the look of iMacs and MacBook Pros from that era. It includes a 720p FaceTime HD camera (replacing the older iSight), a microphone, and a 2.1-channel stereo speaker system with a subwoofer. A permanently attached cable provides Thunderbolt and MagSafe connections for data and charging MacBooks. On the back, there is a Thunderbolt port, FireWire 800, three USB 2.0 ports, and Gigabit Ethernet. The Thunderbolt port allows daisy-chaining multiple displays or connecting other Thunderbolt devices like hard drives. Starting in July 2012, Apple included a MagSafe to MagSafe 2 adapter in the box.
Apple discontinued the Thunderbolt Display on June 23, 2016, and announced it was leaving the standalone display market. It then worked with LG to create the Thunderbolt 3 UltraFine line—21.5-inch (later 24-inch) 4K and 27-inch 5K displays—which Apple sold from 2016 to 2019. In December 2019, Apple released the Pro Display XDR, its first branded display since the Thunderbolt Display. In March 2022, the Apple Studio Display arrived as the first Apple-branded consumer display since the Thunderbolt Display, also with integrated speakers and a webcam.
The Thunderbolt Display does not support older standards like VGA, DVI, or DisplayPort. It is incompatible with computers lacking a Thunderbolt port, including pre-2011 Macs and most PCs. The 12-inch Retina MacBook, 2012 Mac Pro, and MacBook Neo do not support Thunderbolt. Compatible Macs without an adapter include MacBook Pro (2011–2015), MacBook Air (2011–2017), Mac Mini (2011–2014), iMac (2011–2015), and Mac Pro (2013). For Macs from 2016 onward with Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C), an Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter is required, but no adapter exists for the MagSafe charger on those laptops.
Multiple display setups vary by model.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Apple Inc.
- Release Date
- 2011-07-20
- Discontinued
- 2016-06-23
- Predecessor
- Apple Cinema Display
- Successor
- LG UltraFine (consumer, Apple-endorsed third party) / Apple Studio Display (consumer, Apple-branded) / Pro Display XDR (professional)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Thunderbolt Display features a chassis made of aluminum and glass, resembling the contemporary unibody designs of iMac and MacBook Pro. Its resolution is 2560×1440 pixels in a 16:9 aspect ratio. The display includes a built-in 720p FaceTime HD camera, microphone, and a 2.1-channel stereo speaker system with subwoofer. An octopus cable with Thunderbolt and MagSafe is permanently attached to the back for data and charging MacBooks. On the rear are a Thunderbolt port, FireWire 800 port, three USB 2.0 ports, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. The Thunderbolt port allows daisy chaining of multiple Thunderbolt Displays or other Thunderbolt devices. In July 2012, Apple began including a MagSafe to MagSafe 2 adaptor in the box.
The Thunderbolt Display drops compatibility with VGA, DVI, and DisplayPort. It is not compatible with computers lacking a Thunderbolt port, including pre-2011 Macs and most desktop PCs. The 12-inch Retina MacBook, 2012 Mac Pro, and MacBook Neo do not support Thunderbolt. Supported Macs without an adapter include MacBook Pro (2011 to 2015), MacBook Air (2011 to 2017), Mac Mini (2011 to 2014), iMac (2011 to 2015), and Mac Pro (2013). Macs released after 2016 with Thunderbolt 3 and later are compatible using Apple’s Thunderbolt 3-to-2 adapter, but no adapter exists for the MagSafe charger.
On June 23, 2016, Apple announced it was discontinuing the Thunderbolt Display and exiting the stand-alone display market. Apple then worked with LG to design the Thunderbolt 3-enabled UltraFine line, which were the only displays sold by Apple from 2016 to 2019. In December 2019, Apple released the Pro Display XDR, the first Apple-branded display since the Thunderbolt Display’s discontinuation. In March 2022, Apple released the Apple Studio Display, the first Apple-branded consumer display since the Thunderbolt Display’s discontinuation, similarly including integrated speakers and a webcam.
Reader's Guide
The Thunderbolt Display was notable as Apple’s primary stand-alone monitor from 2011 to 2016, succeeding the 27-inch Cinema Display. Its integration of a Thunderbolt port, webcam, speakers, and MagSafe charging made it a cohesive accessory for Mac users, particularly those with MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops. The display’s aluminum and glass design aligned with Apple’s contemporary product aesthetics. Its discontinuation in June 2016 marked Apple’s exit from the stand-alone display market, leading to a partnership with LG for the UltraFine line. The Thunderbolt Display’s legacy continued as Apple later returned to the display market with the Pro Display XDR in 2019 and the Apple Studio Display in 2022, the latter being the first Apple-branded consumer display since the Thunderbolt Display. The display’s compatibility requirements—Thunderbolt-only, no support for Mini DisplayPort or USB-C without an adapter—limited its use to Macs with Thunderbolt ports, but its daisy-chaining capability allowed multiple displays on supported systems. The Thunderbolt Display remains a reference point for Apple’s integrated monitor design philosophy.
Did You Know?
- The Thunderbolt Display was originally priced at $999.
- It integrates a 720p FaceTime HD camera, replacing the iSight in the previous model.
- The display requires a computer with a Thunderbolt port and is officially supported only on Mac computers.
- It was discontinued in June 2016 and replaced by LG UltraFine displays on the consumer end.
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