Apple LED Cinema Display (27-inch) vs Apple Thunderbolt Display

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LED Cinema Display (27-inch) compared with Thunderbolt Display

	AppleLED Cinema Display (27-inch)	AppleThunderbolt Display
Overview
Released
Released	September 2010	September 2011
Display
Screen size
Screen size	27″	27″
Resolution
Resolution	2560 × 1440 (QHD)	2560 × 1440 (QHD)
Sharpness
Sharpness	109 pixels per inch	109 pixels per inch
Panel
Panel	IPS	IPS
Refresh rate
Refresh rate	60 Hz	60 Hz
Brightness (typical)
Brightness (typical)	375 nits	375 nits
Contrast ratio
Contrast ratio	1,000:1	1,000:1
Screen finish
Screen finish	Glossy	Glossy
Shape
Shape	Flat	Flat
Colour depth
Colour depth	Up to 16.7 million colours; panel bit depth is not specified	Up to 16.7 million colours; Apple does not specify panel bit depth
Response time detail
Response time detail	Typical 12 ms without a specified transition; omitted from the grey-to-grey row	Apple specifies 12 ms without identifying the transition; omitted from the grey-to-grey row
Viewing angles
Viewing angles	178° horizontally and vertically	178° horizontally and vertically
Eye care
Eye care	Ambient light sensor adjusts brightness automatically	Ambient light sensor automatically adjusts brightness
Connections
Video inputs
Video inputs	Mini DisplayPort	Thunderbolt
USB-C charging
USB-C charging	None	None
USB ports
USB ports	3 × USB-A	3 × USB-A
Ethernet
Ethernet	–	Yes
Speakers
Speakers	Yes	Yes
Webcam
Webcam	iSight camera with microphone	FaceTime HD camera with microphone
Thunderbolt detail
Thunderbolt detail	–	Captive first-generation Thunderbolt input cable; two bidirectional 10 Gbps channels. Requires a Thunderbolt-equipped Mac, not a Mini DisplayPort-only Mac.
Other connections
Other connections	–	Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000Base-T), FireWire 800 with up to 7 W power, downstream Thunderbolt port and Kensington security slot
Daisy chaining
Daisy chaining	–	Downstream Thunderbolt supports compatible devices and a second Thunderbolt Display where the Mac permits it. The port does not directly support Mini DisplayPort, DVI or VGA displays or adapters.
DisplayPort detail
DisplayPort detail	Captive Mini DisplayPort cable; audio support depends on the host Mac	–
USB hub detail
USB hub detail	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.	Three powered USB 2.0 Type-A ports; device charging can work without a host attached
Speaker detail
Speaker detail	Built-in 2.1 system with 49 W output	Built-in 2.1 speaker system with 49 W output
Webcam detail
Webcam detail	Built-in iSight; maker specifications do not publish a megapixel figure	FaceTime HD camera and microphone; Apple does not publish a megapixel figure in the specifications
Design
Stand adjusts
Stand adjusts	Tilt	Tilt
VESA mount
VESA mount	Yes	Yes
Weight with stand
Weight with stand	10.7 kg	10.8 kg
Tilt
Tilt	–	Tilt adjustment only; no height, swivel or pivot adjustment (Macworld)
VESA pattern
VESA pattern	Requires the separately sold Apple VESA Mount Adapter Kit	Requires the separately sold Apple VESA Mount Adapter Kit
Size with stand
Size with stand	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.	Current UK support specifications give 650 × 491 × 207 mm (width × height × depth). The original manual gives 651.7 × 488.1 × 208.13 mm and 10.7 kg rather than the support page's 10.8 kg.
Controls
Controls	Brightness, colour profile and calibration through Mac OS X Displays preferences; no physical image controls (Macworld)	Brightness and colour profile through macOS Displays preferences; no on-screen menu or physical image controls (Macworld)
Colours
Colours	Aluminium enclosure with black glass bezel	Aluminium enclosure with black glass bezel
Power and support
Power use
Power use	Maximum 250 W while charging a MacBook Pro; energy saver 1 W or less	Maximum 250 W while charging a MacBook Pro; energy saver 2 W or less. Apple environmental report at 230 V gives 108 W on at full brightness, 1.9 W sleep and 0.75 W off.
Power supply
Power supply	Internal power supply; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz	Internal power supply; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz
Laptop charging
Laptop charging	Separate captive universal MagSafe connector supplies up to 85 W; no USB-C power delivery	Captive Universal MagSafe connector supplies up to 85 W separately from the Thunderbolt cable; no USB-C power delivery
Software
Software	Original requirement Mac with Mini DisplayPort and Mac OS X 10.6.4 or later. July 2010 announcement specifies September availability.	Original requirement OS X 10.6.8 or later and a Thunderbolt-equipped Mac. Announced 20 July 2011 with availability within 60 days; September sale month follows contemporary MacRumors reports of customer shipments, rather than the announcement date.
Certifications
Certifications	ENERGY STAR 5.0; EPEAT Gold in the US, Canada, France, Germany and UK	ENERGY STAR 5.1; EPEAT Gold in the US and Canada
Warranty
Warranty	–	One-year limited warranty and 90 days of telephone support
In the box
In the box	Display, AC power cord and printed documentation	Thunderbolt Display, AC power cord and printed documentation