Several sites are reporting today that Apple has discontinued making it’s Thunderbolt Display…but you can still buy it.
The 27″ display hasn’t been updated since 2011 and at $999.00 is on the pricier end of the scale for monitors. And nearly all the newer versions of their Mac computers are capable of supporting at least one (and in some cases, two) 4K monitor. Plus, you can easily get a 4K monitor for around the same price, or even less, nowadays—not to mention Apple’s 4K iMac can be had for just $500 more than the Thunderbolt Display. So it’s not surprising that it’s being discontinued. What IS surprising is that Apple isn’t replacing it with an updated version. Usually when a product is discontinued, it’s because a newer model takes its place—but that’s not the case here.
The Verge is reporting that an spokesperson for Apple has said: “We’re discontinuing the Apple Thunderbolt Display. It will be available through Apple.com, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers while supplies last. There are a number of great third-party options available for Mac users.” However, you’ll have to go somewhere else to buy third-party monitors as Apple doesn’t sell third-party monitors in their store or online (although they were selling Dell 4K monitors in 2013 when the Mac Pro came out).
So for now (at least) Apple no longer makes monitors. Hopefully this is just a temporary hiatus in preparation for 4K or even 5K Thunderbolt 3 displays (which are needed to output to 5K…just in case 4K wasn’t quite perfect enough for you) to match their Mac lineup.
And if you have questions about which monitor is best for you, an Enjoy Expert is always happy to help.
Enjoy!