Apple Said to Be Working on Lower-Priced External Monitor to Succeed Thunderbolt Display

Apple has started early development of a lower-priced external monitor that would be sold alongside its high-end Pro Display XDR, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The display would be a consumer-oriented successor to Apple's previous Thunderbolt Display, introduced in 2011 for $999 and discontinued in 2016.

thunderbolt display

Thunderbolt Display

The report claims that Apple's new lower-priced display will feature reduced brightness and contrast ratio compared to the Pro Display XDR, which is priced at $4,999 before factoring in an optional $999 stand:

As part of its revived Mac desktop efforts, Apple has started early development of a lower-priced external monitor to sell alongside the Pro Display XDR. Apple’s current monitor debuted in 2019 and costs $5,000 — before factoring in the $1,000 stand.

The cheaper monitor would feature a screen geared more for consumer than professional use and wouldn’t have the brightness and contrast ratio of the top-tier offering. Apple last launched a consumer-grade monitor called the Thunderbolt Display in 2011 for $999 but discontinued it in 2016.

There is no word on the size, resolution, or other specs of Apple's lower-priced display yet, but the Pro Display XDR is equipped with a 32-inch 6K display, while the Thunderbolt Display had a 27-inch panel with a QHD resolution of 2560x1440. The display would likely have far thinner front bezels than the Thunderbolt Display.

Related Forum: Mac Accessories

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Top Rated Comments

djcerla Avatar
59 months ago
New R&D guy at Apple picked from MR forum.
Score: 64 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unity451 Avatar
59 months ago
Crazy that this hasn't existed yet. They could literally take one of their iMacs, rip out the brains, and sell it for $500.
Score: 46 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mtrm Avatar
59 months ago
I’m amazed. Rumors of a MacBook with more ports, MagSafe and no touchbar and now a reasonably priced monitor. Is this April 1st?!?
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tcphoto1 Avatar
59 months ago
Great, I cannot justify the $5K price tag but am interested in replacing my Thunderbolt display.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macsplusmacs Avatar
59 months ago
Inject my veins with that external display NOW!
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Serban55 Avatar
59 months ago
this new monitor should take the same language of the upcoming imac redesign to work very well side by side like in the past
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)