Even with its limitations, the Thunderbolt Display is one of a kind. I do hope it's the start of a much larger trend. Short of a CPU and memory there's a bonafide motherboard inside the Thunderbolt Display, featuring many of the components we're used to seeing inside systems ...
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87
Conclusion: We like it
Apple's Thunderbolt Display can charge compatible Apple laptops, and has built-in networking, making it a one-cable solution to dock your Macbook. If you own a recent Macbook with Thunderbolt, that may justify the monitor's $999 price tag. Other users are better served by more basic monitors that can offer similar picture quality for half the price.
Critic reviews
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The Apple Thunderbolt Display is an incredible-performing and beautiful-looking monitor with a superfast connection, and we recommend it if you own a Thunderbolt-enabled Mac.
Read the full review →For owners of the 2011 MacBook Air, the Thunderbolt Display is a fantastic way to get iMac-like features ... If your Mac has Thunderbolt, FireWire 800, and gigabit ethernet, the case for buying the comparatively inflexible Thunderbolt display is a little less interesting.
Read the full review →The 27-inch Apple Thunderbolt Display delivers solid picture and audio quality in a stylish aluminum cabinet, but it doesn't come cheap.
Read the full review →If you’re looking for a bigger picture and the extra connectivity options and the you need a sort of docking station, then it is worth the investment, even though it's a little pricey. The one thing we would warn you of, however, is that full-screen video chat is very scary, as our photo above...
Read the full review →The Thunderbolt Display is remarkable. For MacBook Air and Pro owners, it will transform your laptop into a desktop. My desktop actually broke during this review, and the Air together with the Thunderbolt Display turned into a powerful replacement workstation.
Read the full review →This, then, is an oddly tricky product to sum up. The panel itself is typical Apple fare: very good if not stellar, and when judged in isolation, dizzyingly overpriced.
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natemcintyre
The reason I got the Thunderbolt display was to use it as a dock for my MacBook Air 13" laptop. So far I have been VERY pleased with this monitor, but there are a few things that could have been done better considering the amazingly high price tag on this display. First, I wish the cable that...
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richie510
I use this with my Macbook Air. It makes it so that I can have one computer that has an amazing display, speakers, camera and stationary backup HD at home, and on the road I get some spec bump-downs, but still have the same computer. And when I get home, I just plug in two cables. It is so...
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KanAugust
Display itself is great and super clean, and the design of it is elegantly beautiful. But It's not just as Display monitor, but also has good speakers that can take my music sound from my macbook pro. And I can facetime or skype with this Display monitor. Oh, and I can keep plugging in all the...
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BKBarclay
Having some problems with FaceTime over my 27" Thunderbolt Cinema Display. After about five minutes I get serious audio degradation, to the point that I have to disconnect and reconnect. I also use this in a twin ('27 Thunderbolt Cinema Display) set up, and occasionally after waking up from...
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Bounou
Expensive for sure but unlike most other monitors this thing is a game changer, it really is a dock, this allows me to have all the portability of a MacBook while still having all the advantages of a true desktop experience when i get home. It is also a very beautiful object, not a necessity but...
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berning
Turns my MacBook Air into a I/O powerhouse. Replaced a dual-monitor Windows PC and my MacBook Pro with this one-two-punch. No regrets. A really great work experience. Surprising audio quality of the built in speakers. My only complaint would be that it doesn't have enough USB ports, but a USB...
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radven
This is the best docking station / companion for a MacBook Air you can buy.
Read the full review →How it stacks up
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