Apple rarely releases sales figures on particular model of products they offer , but I have to think they shipped at least century of thousands of its two Apple LED Cinema Displays ( 24 - inch , 2008 to 2010 , and 27 - inch , 2010 to 2013 ) establish on the number of masses who have reached out and want to connect them to a USB - C fit MacBook .
I purchase several adapters and line that can take the LED Cinema Display ’s Mini DisplayPort ( not Thunderbolt ) and commute it into something that passes over USB - C in a compatible chain that admit you to connect to a USB - atomic number 6 fit MacBook . My testing shows three affordable and viable pick , plus a reasonable option for a full - featured USB - one C bobtail that requires just a simple arranger .
Apple made multiple contemporaries of its display : the first used DVI ( in single - link and dual - link flavors ) ; the 2nd , Mini DisplayPort ; the third , Thunderbolt 2 . I ’m concerned here in the 2nd connector type , Mini DisplayPort , which is distinct from Thunderbolt 2 , even though both criterion use the same connecter eccentric . ( you may find some selection for DVI , but we opted to not test them commit the small number , display calibre , and age of those that remain operational . )
remark that Apple says itsThunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 adapterdoes not make with DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort displays , including the Apple lead Cinema Display . Thunderbolt transcriber will not work . What is involve is a USB - C to Mini DisplayPort transcriber .
While there are a change of USB - ascorbic acid docks on the market that accept external television , nearly all of them only have an HDMI jack , and there is not , say , a female Mini - DisplayPort to manly HDMI transcriber uncommitted . ( Do n’t make a error and tell one of the male Mini - DisplayPort to female HDMI adapters on the market . )
I searched across Amazon , intersection manufacturers ’ web site , and other retailers for potential adapters , read reviews , and settled on four adapters to test . Some of the adapters examine go in and out of stock speedily , which is why I provide a few alternative .
To reduce to the chase , the clear winner on features is theUPTab USB - century to Mini - DisplayPort adapter($35 ) . Its secret weapon system ? A pass - through USB - light speed office jack .
For more info :
How to total a 2d covert to your Mac
How to connect two or more outside displays to Apple Silicon M1 or M2 Macs
UPTab USB-C Type C to Mini DisplayPort Adapter 4K@60Hz
If you ’re looking for a full - scale USB - C wharf , look for one like theCalDigit USB - ascorbic acid Dock . I discuss it below and in aseparate follow-up , but it has both HDMI and full - sized DisplayPort laborer , and call for just a sub-$10 Mini - DisplayPort female person to full - sized DisplayPort male transcriber to work with an light-emitting diode Cinema Display .
The limitations
Not everything works perfectly over USB - ascorbic acid with the Apple lead Cinema Display , but it ’s a pretty close match . I tested ona 27 - column inch model .
Plugging in just a Mini DisplayPort adapter stimulate you the following with the ware tested :
The only bug seems to be a minor line of missing pixels in the upper correct turning point of the presentation when connected through the CalDigit dock , but that ’s nearly unnoticeable .
The overleap piece of music , however , is USB 2.0 data passthrough . You need to use a USB - cytosine to Type - A adapter to connect the monitor ’s USB case - A plug , and then you may control brightness via a keyboard , Touch Bar , or Displays system orientation pane , as well as plug in a keyboard , mouse , and other gloomy - datum - speed equipment .
Plugging in USB also enable a built - in iSight ( 640×480 pixel answer ) camera and mike , which are redundant to a Mac laptop ’s mic and FaceTime support .
For a MacBook Pro , using USB 2.0 means give up two port to get brightness and other features : one for the Mini - DisplayPort adapter and one to connect a USB fireplug . However , if you ’re using a USB - C hub or bob with multiple Type - A ports , that can take care of that trouble .
If you just want to master brightness level , you may turn to theLunar utility(free 14 - sidereal day test , then $ 23 ) . It provide the control you need without devoting a USB port .
What to buy
I found four distinct options that worked absolutely well .
UPTab USB - C to Mini - DisplayPort transcriber . ThisUPTab adapterhas great advantage of supporting pass - through USB - C power . It ’s attractively made and seems solidly constructed . The $ 35 price tag may seem unreasonable compared to transcriber and cable that be $ 10 to $ 15 , but the engineering and components for power pass - through of the electrical power point used to blame a Mac laptop comes with a cost .
Itanda Type - speed of light adapter . The robustly made , attractive , $ 20Itandais likely the serious choice for a MacBook Pro possessor . It ’s inexpensive and occupies a porthole compactly .
A pair of adapters . If a lineal arranger , like the Itanda , is n’t available and you want an option that go just as well in my examination , you’re able to geminate two transcriber .
I try both theCable Matters DisplayPort to Mini - DisplayPort Male to Female Adapter($9 ) and theStarTech DisplayPort to Mini - DisplayPort adapter($6.50 ) with theBenfei USB - C to DisplayPort 4 K Adapter($15 when I purchase it ) . The Cable Matters and StarTech adapters both accept the male Mini - DisplayPort connector from the Apple presentation , and have a male full - sized DisplayPort nag . That plugs into the Benfei ’s distaff DisplayPort jack , and then the Benfei stopper into a MacBook or MacBook Pro via USB - C.
At $ 21.50 or $ 24 together , both are more expensive than the Itanda , but I had no trouble get the same crisp performance and support .
Some readers tried more complicated pick , necessitate a distaff - to - female inline Mini DisplayPort adapter , but given the two - adapter option , that ’s no longer necessary .
Why not HDMI?You might ask why I did n’t attempt some kind of HDMI situation , where I converted Mini DisplayPort to an HDMI hack or adapter jack , and then plug that into the HDMI port available in several USB - ascorbic acid docks . I tried a few variant of this , and it did n’t work , although others have had different luck .
DisplayPort is a video monetary standard that works over its own proprietary connecter style ( DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort ) , and can be plant as a data standard inside of Thunderbolt 2 , Thunderbolt 3 , and USB - C. Although DisplayPort can also be routed via an HDMI cable length — HDMI being its own hardening of standards — it does n’t seem to subsist the passage with multiple adapters and an Apple LED Cinema Display .
The only reason to want this choice is if you have a bobtail without a spare USB - vitamin C datum port that might allow DisplayPort passing and that has an HDMI jack .
