Odds of seeing external rMB display?

[Trey M]

Trying to get a consensus around what display, if any, Apple will announce at WWDC (or in the next few months if not there). From what rumors have suggested, it looks like Apple will be announcing a new external display this year. The question I have is whether you guys think it'll support the 2015/2016 rMB.

I think most of us can agree the new MBPs will have multiple Thunderbolt 3/USB-C combo ports. I fully expect a new external display to be configured to support a new MBP, however I have questions regarding the rMB. Currently, they only support 4k at 30Hz (officially). You can run some terminal commands which will allow the notebook to display at the full 60Hz, however this is obviously anything but intuitive.

If Apple were to announce a 4k or 5k display/hub, do you guys think the rMB will be fully compatible??

 

[Mac 128]

4K/5k displays do other resolutions. The new display will support the rMB, but the rMB may not support 4K/5k resolution unless the rumors of an external video card in the new display are true.

 

[Queen6]

Very much Doubt Apple will announce much hardware at WWDC, I expected the announce a 5K TB-3 with dGPU option in the fall with the new rMBP, which will be of no use to the rMB as is does not have TB-3.

Apple can reconfigure the software in the rMB to run 4K at 60Hz, equal they have restricted 4K to 30Hz for some reason, likely the thermals. As Kaby Lake will have TB-3 natively on chip, it`s likely the rMB will eventually catch up with TB-3

Q-6
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4K/5k displays do other resolutions. The new display will support the rMB, but the rMB may not support 4K/5k resolution unless the rumors of an external video card in the new display are true.

To take advantage of eGPU, the rmB would need TB-3, given Apple has already restricted the current rMB to 30Hz at 4K is unlikely to be a satisfactory solution, equally time will tell.

Q-6

 

[Trey M]

I do think it's possible they could release 2 different displays, for example. One 4k display compatible with the rMB and some older Macs and the integrated GPU model for a premium. Or just sell one model with an integrated GPU that some of these Macs won't be able to interact with (just a display). I don't want to say it'll require TB3 because it seems backwards to design a product that wouldn't be able to interact with several current notebook models.

 

[Precursor]

*If* a display will be released, whatever resolution, I believe it will be TB3, so it won't support rMB