Apple 27 Inch LED Cinema Display Review

Apple Sliced Reviews are sponsored by B&H Photo Video.

If you’re a Mac user who has long been envious of the pixels found on the 27 Inch iMac, but are hesitant to give up the portability of a MacBook Pro or the processing power of a Mac Pro, then the Apple 27 Inch LED Cinema Display might be perfect for you. Released in July 2010 as the successor to the Apple 24 Inch LED Cinema Display, the display is very similar to the 27 Inch iMac in terms of design and resolution.
Apple 27 Inch LED Cinema Display front
The Cinema Display uses an IPS panel with LED backlight and features a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution (60% more pixels than a 1920 x 1200 display). It tilts forward and back from -5 to 25 degrees, but cannot be turned side to side. Although with a 178 degree viewing angle it looks great when viewed from just about any position. The stand can be removed if you would like to mount the display on a wall, but a third-party wall mount will have to purchased.

There are only two cords extending from the Apple 27 Inch LED Cinema Display – a power cable and a single cable that splits into three separate connectors: a MagSafe connector, a USB connector, and a Mini DisplayPort connector. The MagSafe allows you to power your MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook air – perfect for the user who is sick of constantly packing and unpacking a power brick from his bag. And while Apple only offers official support for computers with Mini DisplayPorts running Mac OS X 10.6.4 or later, there are adapters available that allow you to use an older Mac with DVI. The back of the display also features three USB 2.0 ports and a Kensington lock slot.
Apple 27 Inch LED Cinema Display back
The Cinema Display doesn’t have any buttons – not even a power button. The display will power on only when connected to a device that is also powered on. Since there are no brightness or volume buttons, this is all done using your keyboard or via System Preferences. Calibration is simple with the Display pane, although color professionals might be disappointed by the lack of individual color settings.

The Apple 27 Inch LED Cinema Display is an excellent counterpart to any new Mac. Whether you are using it to power a Mac Pro or Mac mini, as a second monitor for an iMac, or taking advantage of the extra pixels and USB ports with a MacBook Pro, the Cinema Display fits well with any Mac workspace. And with the prices available through Apple Sliced, you won’t ever have to worry about paying full price.

See all the pricing options for the Apple 27 Inch LED Cinema Display.