The Apple Cinema Display is a line of flat-panel computer monitors developed and sold by Apple Inc. between 1999 and 2011. It was initially sold alongside the older line of Studio Displays, but eventually replaced them. Apple offered 20, 22, 23, 24, 27, and 30-inch sizes, with the last model being a 27-inch size with LED backlighting.

Apple Cinema Display
An aluminum model Apple Cinema Display connected to a Power Mac G5, as seen with a 4th generation iPod Classic
DeveloperApple Inc.
TypeComputer monitor
Release dateSeptember 1, 1999; 24 years ago (1999-09-01)
DiscontinuedJuly 20, 2011 (2011-07-20)
PredecessorApple Studio Display (1998–2004)
SuccessorApple Thunderbolt Display
WebsiteOfficial Website at the Wayback Machine (archived January 3, 2010)

The Cinema Display line had three distinct design languages during its lifetime, the first featuring transparent polycarbonate plastic, and the later two featuring anodized aluminum. The first displays were designed to match the colorful plastic of the Power Mac G3 and later the Power Mac G4, while the second revisions were designed to match the aluminum aesthetics of the Power Mac G5 and PowerBook G4. The last available design matched the unibody laptops released in October 2008, and had a glossy screen.

The Apple Cinema Display name was retired in July 2011 with the introduction of the Apple Thunderbolt Display. Cinema Display models were no longer offered on the Apple Store website as of August 2014.

Models edit

Cinema Display edit

The first model—the 22-inch Apple Cinema Display—was introduced in September 1999 alongside the Power Mac G4 and used DVI for video input. It was enclosed in a high-density plastic frame with an easel-style stand and had a display resolution of 1600×1024.[1]

The 22-inch model was upgraded in July 2000 with the Apple Display Connector (ADC), which ran DVI, USB, and 28V power through a single connector.[2] It did not require an external power brick when it was connected to a computer with an ADC port on it.

It was eventually replaced by a 20-inch model on January 28, 2003, that also used an ADC connector and sported a widescreen display with up to 1680×1050 resolution and a brightness of 230 cd/m2.[3]

The 20" Cinema Display was updated again June 28, 2004 to match the aluminum design of the new Cinema HD Display. It retained the 1680x1050 resolution of the previous model but saw its brightness increased to 250 cd/m2, and was introduced at a $1,299 USD price point.[4] Apple continued to sell this display with no further changes until October 2008.

Cinema HD Display edit

The 23-inch model, dubbed the "Cinema HD Display," was introduced on March 20, 2002, and supported full 1:1 1080p playback on a 1920x1200 pixel display.

On June 28, 2004, Apple introduced a redesigned line of Cinema Displays, along with a new 30-inch model that, like the 23-inch model, carried the "Cinema HD Display" name. The new models had an anodized aluminum enclosure that matched Apple's high-end lines of professional products. An alternative stand or a wall mount could be used with a VESA mount adapter kit that was sold separately. Though the display enclosures had not been redesigned for a long period of time, several "silent" improvements were made to the brightness levels and contrast ratios.[5]

30-inch model compatibility edit

Due to the high resolution (2560×1600), the 30-inch model requires a graphics card that supports dual-link DVI. When the monitor was released, no Macintosh models were sold with a dual-link DVI port. A Power Mac G5 with the new Nvidia GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL graphics card was initially required to run the display at full resolution.[6]

All Power Mac G5, PowerBook G4, and Mac Pro mid 2006 to mid 2010 models are capable of supporting it without the use of any adapters. Discrete MacBook Pros are also capable of driving the 30-inch display, while all Macs released after October 2008 require an additional adapter. The 30-inch Cinema Display was introduced together with the GeForce 6800, which supports two DVI-DL ports. ATI's aftermarket AGP X800 Mac Edition also supports dual-link DVI, but has only one port. The Radeon 9600 Mac/PC was another aftermarket graphics card that supported dual-link DVI and was also compatible with older AGP-based Power Macs.

If a computer with a single-link DVI port (such as a Mac laptop with a mini-DVI connector) is connected to the 30-inch display, it will only run at 1280×800, even if the computer is capable of supporting 1920×1200 over a single-link connection.

LED Cinema Display edit

 
A 24-inch LED Cinema Display.

On October 14, 2008, the 20-inch Cinema Display and the 23-inch Cinema HD Display were replaced with a 24-inch model made with aluminum and glass, reflecting the appearances of the latest iMac, unibody MacBook Pro, and unibody MacBook designs. The display features a built-in iSight camera, microphone and dual speaker system. A MagSafe cable runs from the back of the display for charging notebooks. It is the first Cinema Display to use LED backlighting and Mini DisplayPort for video input; however, the LED backlighting is edge-lit as opposed to the fully back-lit CCFL of the previous models, resulting in a lower brightness cd/m2 output.

The 24-inch LED Cinema Display is only officially compatible with Macs that have a Mini DisplayPort connector. A third-party converter must be used in order to use this display with older Macs.

Newer MacBooks that only have USB-C (or Thunderbolt 3) ports can connect to the 24-inch LED Cinema Display using a USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter. However, a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, like the ones that Apple sells, cannot be used, even though it has the same physical connections. Due to differences in the electrical signaling of Thunderbolt 2 and Mini DisplayPort, a generic USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter must be used instead.[7]

With the introduction of LED panels, the matte, anti-glare screen panels were retired, except for the 30" Cinema Display. Apple had already moved away from matte screens in its line of iMac desktop computers on August 7, 2007. Apple had not offered any equipment with a matte, anti-glare screen after the 15" non-Retina MacBook Pro was discontinued in October 2013 until the introduction of the Pro Display XDR in 2019. This had been a cause for concern among users who wanted matte screens for their area of work, particularly graphic designers, photographers and users who extensively view their screens.[8] Matte screens, like matte-surface photographs, diffuse reflected light and cannot provide the same black levels as glossy screens, which are required for working with HDR images and videos and thus are disadvantaged in this area. However, the matte screens have a far lower level of reflectivity, which improves ease-of-use.

The Wall Street Journal referred to Apple's removal of the matte screen as one of Apple's worst design decisions.[9]

On July 26, 2010, the 24-inch LED Cinema Display and the 30-inch Cinema HD Display were replaced by a 27-inch model that supports up to 2560×1440 resolution. This model was sold for $999 USD.[10]

On July 20, 2011, the LED Cinema Display was discontinued, and replaced by the Apple Thunderbolt Display.

Technical specifications edit

LCD models edit

Table of models
Component LCD
Model Apple Cinema Display Apple Cinema HD Display Apple Cinema Display Apple Cinema HD Display
Model number M5662 M8149[11] M8536 A1038 A1081 A1082 A1083
Order number N/A M8058ZM/A M8537ZM/A M8893ZM/A M9177LL/A M9178LL/A M9179LL/A
Release date(s) September 1, 1999 July 19, 2000 March 21, 2002 January 28, 2003 June 28, 2004
Discontinued date July 19, 2000 January 28, 2003 June 28, 2004 October 14, 2008 July 26, 2010
Display (all 16:10 and matte) 22" 1600 × 1024 (fullscreen) 23" 1920 × 1200 20" 1680 × 1050 23" 1920 × 1200 30" 2560 × 1600
Pixel density (in pixels per inch) 86.35 98.4 101.6
Brightness 180 cd/m2 200 cd/m2 230 cd/m2 250 (or 300*) cd/m2 270 (or 400*) cd/m2 270 (or 400*) cd/m2
Contrast ratio 300:1 350:1 400:1 (or 700:1*)
Response time Unknown 16 ms
Power 62–77 W 35–77 W 70 W 60 W 65 W 90 W 150 W
Material Polycarbonate frame Aluminum frame
Input DVI-D Apple Display Connector DVI-D Dual-link DVI-D
Output None 2 FireWire 400 ports and 2 USB 2.0 ports
  • On August 7, 2006 the Aluminium Cinema displays had a silent upgrade that boosted the brightness and contrast ratios to 300/400 cd/m2 and 700:1. The last Cinema displays are still desirable to professionals being the last anti-glare displays made by Apple (until the Pro Display XDR) and having a true IPS 8-bit (no dithering) fully back-lit panel and slightly higher brightness than that of the newer Apple Thunderbolt displays, which have a reflective glossy screen and an edge-lit panel. These displays (including the LED Cinema 24”) are the last Apple desktop monitors made in 16:10 aspect ratio that is also used on MacBook Pros and provides more vertical work space.

LED-backlit LCD models edit

Table of models
Component LED-backlit LCD
Model LED Cinema Display (24-inch)[12] LED Cinema Display (27-Inch)[13][14]
Model number A1267 A1316
Order number MB382LL/A MC007LL/A
Release date October 14, 2008 July 26, 2010
Discontinued date July 26, 2010 December 2, 2013[citation needed]
Display
(all widescreen)
24", glossy glass covered screen, LCD, 1920 × 1200 27", glossy glass covered screen, LCD, 2560 × 1440[15]
16:10 aspect ratio 16:9 aspect ratio[15]
Built-in camera iSight
Brightness 330 cd/m2 375 cd/m2
Colors 16.7 million (maximum) True Color
Pixel density
(in pixels per inch)
94.3 109
Response time 13 ms
Power Up to 212 W (while charging a MacBook Pro) Up to 250 W (while charging a MacBook Pro)
Material Aluminum frame and glass front
Cables and peripheral connections

Cables

Peripheral connections

Original price USD $899 USD $999[16]

References edit

  1. ^ "Apple Cinema Display Original (22-Inch) Specs (Cinema Display, N/A, M5662): EveryMac.com". everymac.com. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  2. ^ "Apple Cinema Display ADC (22-Inch) Specs (Cinema Display, M8058ZM/A, M8149): EveryMac.com". everymac.com. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  3. ^ "Apple Cinema Display 20-Inch Specs (20" Cinema Display, M8893ZM/A, A1038): EveryMac.com". everymac.com. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  4. ^ "Apple Cinema Display 20-Inch (Aluminum) Specs".
  5. ^ Taghap, Herschell (March 28, 2006). "Apple's 30 Cinema Display gets quiet upgrade". Ars Technica. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  6. ^ "NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL (Mac Version)". barefeats.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  7. ^ "How to connect your old Apple display to your new Mac". Macworld. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  8. ^ Which? Magazine poll shows 89% of users want matte screens Archived August 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Which? magazine, June 9, 2011
  9. ^ Steve Jobs’s Worst Design Decisions? The Wall Street Journal, August 29, 2011
  10. ^ "Apple Cinema Display LED (27-Inch) Specs".
  11. ^ "22-inch Apple Cinema Display" (PDF). Apple. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  12. ^ "LED Cinema Display – Technical Specifications". Apple Inc. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  13. ^ "LED Cinema Display (27-inch) – Technical Specifications". Apple Inc. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  14. ^ "Apple 27-inch Cinema Display review | TechRadar". August 17, 2022. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. ^ a b c "Apple LED Cinema Display (27-inch review: Apple LED Cinema Display (27-inch - CNET". November 30, 2023. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  16. ^ "Apple 27-inch LED Cinema Display Review". Archived from the original on September 10, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

External links edit

Articles edit