Apple Cinema HD Display (30-inch, DVI) vs Apple LED Cinema Display (27-inch)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleCinema HD Display (30-inch, DVI) | AppleLED Cinema Display (27-inch) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | October 2004 | September 2010 |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 29.7″ | 27″ |
| Resolution | 2560 × 1600 (WQXGA) (better) | 2560 × 1440 (QHD) |
| Sharpness | 102 pixels per inch | 109 pixels per inch (better) |
| Panel | IPS (TFT active-matrix LCD (Apple June 2004 Technology Overview); S-IPS identification from PRAD’s exact aluminium 30-inch datasheet. Main brightness and contrast describe the original published generation.) | IPS |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Brightness (typical) | 270 nits | 375 nits (better) |
| Contrast ratio | 400:1 | 1,000:1 |
| Screen finish | Matte | Glossy |
| Shape | Flat | Flat |
| Colour depth | Up to 16.7 million colours; Apple does not specify panel bit depth | Up to 16.7 million colours; panel bit depth is not specified |
| Response time detail | Original June 2004 Apple Technology Overview specifies typical 16 ms without identifying grey-to-grey transitions, so main grey-to-grey response is omitted. Original brightness is 270 cd/m² and contrast 400:1. Archived support table later gives 400 cd/m² and 400:1; Japanese specifications give 400 cd/m², 700:1 and 14 ms. These later figures are not substituted into the original main fields. | Typical 12 ms without a specified transition; omitted from the grey-to-grey row |
| Viewing angles | Original archived Apple specifications give 170° horizontally and vertically; a later Japanese sheet gives 178°. | 178° horizontally and vertically |
| Eye care | – | Ambient light sensor adjusts brightness automatically |
| Pixel pitch | 0.250 mm | – |
| Connections | ||
| Video inputs | DVI | Mini DisplayPort |
| USB-C charging | None | None |
| USB ports | 2 × USB-A | 3 × USB-A |
| Speakers | – | Yes |
| Webcam | – | iSight camera with microphone |
| DisplayPort detail | – | Captive Mini DisplayPort cable; audio support depends on the host Mac |
| Other connections | Captive DVI, USB 2.0, FireWire 400 and DC power cables; two downstream FireWire 400 ports and Kensington security slot | – |
| USB hub detail | Two-port self-powered USB 2.0 hub; upstream USB cable must connect to computer | Three powered USB 2.0 Type-A ports; upstream USB cable required for data, camera, microphone and speakers. Device charging works without a host connected. |
| Speaker detail | – | Built-in 2.1 system with 49 W output |
| Webcam detail | – | Built-in iSight; maker specifications do not publish a megapixel figure |
| Design | ||
| Stand adjusts | Tilt | Tilt |
| VESA mount | Yes | Yes |
| Weight with stand | 12.5 kg | 10.7 kg |
| VESA pattern | Optional Cinema Display VESA Mount Adapter Kit; VESA FDMI MIS-D 100 C | Requires the separately sold Apple VESA Mount Adapter Kit |
| Size with stand | 688 × 543 × 215 mm (width × height × depth), from Apple's archived technical specifications | Current UK specifications give 650 × 491 × 207 mm (width × height × depth). Original manual gives 651.7 × 488.1 × 208.13 mm; both give 10.7 kg. |
| Controls | Side power and brightness buttons; resolution and colour settings through Mac OS X Displays preferences | Brightness, colour profile and calibration through Mac OS X Displays preferences; no physical image controls (Macworld) |
| Colours | Aluminium enclosure | Aluminium enclosure with black glass bezel |
| Power and support | ||
| Power use | Maximum 150 W; energy saver mode 3 W or less | Maximum 250 W while charging a MacBook Pro; energy saver 1 W or less |
| Power supply | External A1098 150 W adaptor; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; 24.5 V DC output | Internal power supply; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz |
| Laptop charging | – | Separate captive universal MagSafe connector supplies up to 85 W; no USB-C power delivery |
| Software | Apple's June 2004 UK press release promised August sale, but delivery slipped into autumn (Computerworld/Macworld). Main release month follows MacRumors' October 2004 shipping report. At launch Apple specified Power Mac G5 with NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL for native resolution; a dual-link DVI graphics connection is required. Original manual explicitly specifies 2560 × 1600 at 60 Hz and 29.7-inch viewable diagonal. Main weight follows June 2004 maker Technology Overview (12.5 kg); original manual gives 12.31 kg and archived support table 12.47 kg. No basis for the discrepancies is stated. | Original requirement Mac with Mini DisplayPort and Mac OS X 10.6.4 or later. July 2010 announcement specifies September availability. |
| Certifications | – | ENERGY STAR 5.0; EPEAT Gold in the US, Canada, France, Germany and UK |
| In the box | Display with captive connection cables, power adaptor, AC cord and cleaning cloth | Display, AC power cord and printed documentation |
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