Apple Thunderbolt Display vs Dell UltraSharp U2711
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleThunderbolt Display | DellUltraSharp U2711 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | September 2011 | 2010 |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 27″ | 27″ |
| Resolution | 2560 × 1440 (QHD) | 2560 × 1440 (QHD) |
| Sharpness | 109 pixels per inch | 109 pixels per inch |
| Panel | IPS | IPS (CCFL-backlit wide-gamut IPS.) |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Response time (grey to grey) | – | 6 ms |
| Brightness (typical) | 375 nits (better) | 350 nits |
| Contrast ratio | 1,000:1 | 1,000:1 |
| Colour range | – | 100% sRGB; 96% Adobe RGB |
| Colour accuracy (Delta E) | – | Below 5 |
| Screen finish | Glossy | Matte |
| Shape | Flat | Flat |
| Colour depth | Up to 16.7 million colours; Apple does not specify panel bit depth | Up to 1.07 billion colours with 12-bit internal processing, according to Dell. |
| sRGB coverage | – | 100% typical, according to Dell. |
| Adobe RGB coverage | – | 96% typical, according to Dell. |
| Colour accuracy | – | Factory-calibrated sRGB and Adobe RGB presets to average Delta E below 5 on a new unit, according to Dell. |
| Colour modes | – | Includes sRGB, Adobe RGB and a six-axis Custom Color mode. |
| Response time detail | Apple specifies 12 ms without identifying the transition; omitted from the grey-to-grey row | 6 ms grey-to-grey or 12 ms black-to-white, typical. |
| Viewing angles | 178° horizontally and vertically | 178° horizontal and vertical, typical. |
| Pixel pitch | – | 0.2331 mm. |
| Eye care | Ambient light sensor automatically adjusts brightness | – |
| Connections | ||
| Video inputs | Thunderbolt | HDMI, DisplayPort |
| USB-C charging | None | None |
| USB ports | 3 × USB-A | 4 × USB-A |
| Ethernet | Yes | – |
| Speakers | Yes | No |
| HDMI detail | – | One HDMI input; Dell lists up to 1080p video modes in its manual. |
| DisplayPort detail | – | One DisplayPort input; also two dual-link DVI-D inputs, VGA, composite and component video. |
| Webcam | FaceTime HD camera with microphone | – |
| 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 | Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000Base-T), FireWire 800 with up to 7 W power, downstream Thunderbolt port and Kensington security slot | – |
| 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. | – |
| USB hub detail | Three powered USB 2.0 Type-A ports; device charging can work without a host attached | Four downstream USB 2.0 ports and one upstream port; integrated multi-format card reader. |
| Picture by picture | – | Picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture modes with a second video source. |
| Audio out | – | Audio line out for external speakers; optional Dell soundbar support. |
| Speaker detail | Built-in 2.1 speaker system with 49 W output | – |
| Webcam detail | FaceTime HD camera and microphone; Apple does not publish a megapixel figure in the specifications | – |
| Design | ||
| Stand adjusts | Tilt | Height, tilt, swivel (better) |
| VESA mount | Yes | Yes |
| Weight with stand | 10.8 kg | 7.72 kg |
| Height adjustment | – | 90 mm vertical extension, according to Dell. |
| Tilt | Tilt adjustment only; no height, swivel or pivot adjustment (Macworld) | – |
| VESA pattern | Requires the separately sold Apple VESA Mount Adapter Kit | 100 × 100 mm. |
| Size with stand | 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. | 646.71 × 199.95 × 427.83–517.83 mm (width × depth × height). |
| Size without stand | – | 646.71 × 93 × 385.67 mm (width × depth × height). |
| Weight without stand | – | 7.72 kg without cables. |
| Controls | Brightness and colour profile through macOS Displays preferences; no on-screen menu or physical image controls (Macworld) | Capacitive touch controls at the front right. |
| Colours | Aluminium enclosure with black glass bezel | – |
| Power and support | ||
| Power use | 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. | 113 W typical, according to Dell's manual. |
| Power supply | Internal power supply; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz | 100–240 V AC, 50/60 Hz. |
| Laptop charging | Captive Universal MagSafe connector supplies up to 85 W separately from the Thunderbolt cable; no USB-C power delivery | – |
| Software | 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 | ENERGY STAR 5.1; EPEAT Gold in the US and Canada | – |
| Warranty | One-year limited warranty and 90 days of telephone support | – |
| In the box | Thunderbolt Display, AC power cord and printed documentation | Monitor and stand, power, VGA, DVI, DisplayPort and USB upstream cables, documentation and factory colour report. |
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