would you buy an Apple 27' TB display (A1407) or cheap new 4K LG ?

[manuH]

Hello folks !
What's your opinion:

to connect a macbook pro 14' (M2 pro), you'd rather spend €400 in 2024 on

- a second-hand Apple Thunderbolt display 27' (A1407)
-> will also let you use your old firewire or usb-A devices
-> look is still pretty nice, despite designed in 2011
-> has probably been in use for more than 10 years (who knows how long this devices will last before encounter the first problems?)
-> only 2560x1440 (QHD) 110 ppi (not retina)
-> need to buy adapters TB2 <-> 3
-> some issues reported with M1 devices but solved by using the thunderbolt port (not the built in thunderbolt cable)

- a brand-new, inexpensive LG 27' screen, with usb-C, e.g. LG 27UP85NP-W,
-> usb-C, 90 W, will charge also your laptop
-> 1-year warranty (but may not last more than 10 years either ?)
-> 4K

thanks for your opinion / experiences !

 

[venom600]

I literally went through this last week. I love the thunderbolt display. The beauty and build quality of it outshines anything else on the market at the prices they go for. I paid $175 for mine and it looked beautiful on my desk. I’d have it right now but I discovered that it had a flickering issue that apparently is fairly common on them. I took it back to the used pc store and traded it for the 24” ultra fine 4k. Yes, the plastic frame is ugly and has all the presence of a $100 1080p special at Best Buy, but the image quality makes up for it.

 

[chrfr]

IMO, the image quality improvements in the 4k display outweigh all the other features of the Thunderbolt Display.

 

[frou]

Low-DPI displays have become worse to use than they were back in the day, because macOS removed sub-pixel text rendering from Mojave (10.14) onwards.

 

[jb310]

I think the sheer quality and resolution size of the 4K display outweigh all other considerations; I'd get the LG display for sure.

 

[manuH]

thanks for the feedback

 

[tinman1]

I'd rather not spend $400... I was looking at a 24" or 27" Cinema display as a cheap option for a max of £100. This is for an MBPro M1. Are there any other used displays of those sizes I should consider? Should I consider an older 4K iMac with a Luna display adapter? I've seen the Luna adapter for £40 in used n UK.