LG's New UltraFine 5K Display Limited to 4K Resolution When Used With 2018 iPad Pro

Wednesday July 31, 2019 7:07 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

LG yesterday released a new version of its UltraFine 5K Display with USB-C connectivity, allowing it to be used with 2018 iPad Pro models, but Apple has since confirmed that the ‌iPad Pro‌ cannot take advantage of the full 5K resolution.

lg ultrafine 5k display ipad pro
In a new support document, Apple says the UltraFine 5K is limited to a 4K resolution of 3,840×2,160 at 60Hz when connected to 2018 ‌iPad Pro‌ models via USB-C. The full 5K resolution requires a 2016 or newer MacBook Pro, a 2018 or newer MacBook Air, a 2017 or newer iMac or ‌iMac‌ Pro, or a 2018 Mac mini.

The new UltraFine 5K Display is available to order for $1,299.95 on Apple.com. Like the previous model, it also supports Thunderbolt 3, with up to 94W of power for pass-through charging of any Mac or iPad connected to the display.

The new display has the model number 27MD5KL-B.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro

Tags: LG, UltraFine

Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Caution)

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Top Rated Comments

Manzanito

95 months ago

Imagine having the most svelte and streamlined tablet on the market connected to a fugly bezel-thick monitor that looks like it came out of a ca. 2007 accounting firm. The resolution would be the least of my concerns.

While using it, are you going to look at the screen or at the bezels? The resolution is imho more important.

The monitor is not a beauty, though.

Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)

dannys1

95 months ago

Well that's not a surprise - I'm pretty sure standard USB-C can't carry a 5k 60hz signal, it's not in the spec for starters.

Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)

lunarworks

95 months ago

Provoke all you want, but Apple WAS about both form and function. Think Cinema Display (RIP). Speaking as a design director who's been working all day with Macs for the last couple decades and can afford to buy the whole lineup a few times over. I'd rather buy something that doesn't offend my eyes. What's your point exactly?

Steve, you are so missed.

This isn't an Apple product. Calm down.

Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

otternonsense

95 months ago

Imagine having the most svelte and streamlined tablet on the market connected to a fugly bezel-thick monitor that looks like it came out of a ca. 2007 accounting firm. The resolution would be the least of my concerns.

Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)

EugW

95 months ago

it has not enough bandwidth , since tb3 is still under Intel license

www.displayport.org ('http://www.displayport.org') states that technically, USB-C can now support 5K resolution.

https://www.displayport.org/displayport-over-usb-c/

DisplayPort leverages the Alternate Mode Functional Extension of the USB Type-C interface, and shares similar electrical characteristics with USB 3.1, allowing use of common system elements.

* Video, SuperSpeed USB and power, all on one connector
* 4K @60Hz 24-bit color (without compression) with simultaneous USB 3.1
* 5K (5120 x 2880) display support without compression with simultaneous USB 2.0
* Support for BT.2020 color space, HDR, and HDCP 2.2
* 8K x 4K display support with use of 4:2:0 pixel structure (good) or VESA Display Stream Compression (better)
* High-end multichannel audio support
* Backward compatible with VGA, DVI, and HDMI 2.0 with CEC using plug adapters or adapter cables
* Extensible packet-based data structure

It's just that the 2018 iPad Pro models or the 12" MacBooks can't do it.

However, simultaneous 5K video plus USB support over USB-C is limited to USB 2.0. To get simultaneous 5K + USB 3, you need to use Thunderbolt.

So to be clear the previous generation 5K display was unable to handle an iPad Pro 2018 connected to it? Can anyone verify this? I've read the previous generation 4K display worked fine with iPad Pro 2018.

The previous 5K display is Thunderbolt 3 only. It didn't work at all with the iPad Pro. The previous 4K display is USB-C. The new 5K display accepts both Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C inputs.

Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)