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EugW

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
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Just curious. Has anyone been able to get an Apple Cinema HD Display to work on an iPad Pro 3rd or 4th generation?

If so, how?
 

AutomaticApple

Suspended
Nov 28, 2018
7,401
3,378
Massachusetts
Just curious. Has anyone been able to get an Apple Cinema HD Display to work on an iPad Pro 3rd or 4th generation?

If so, how?
I have been able to get my iPad Pro working with an Apple Thunderbolt Display, but not an Apple Cinema HD Display (even with all sorts of crazy adapters).
 
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EugW

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
14,866
12,849
I have been able to get my iPad Pro working with an Apple Thunderbolt Display, but not an Apple Cinema HD Display (even with all sorts of crazy adapters).
Thanks for the info. I guess I’ll just have to stick to the Mac. Will save me on adapters I guess.
 

EugW

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
14,866
12,849
How? No iPad has Thunderbolt. Are you referring to one of LG 4k/5k displays that Apple sold?
Maybe he by mistake was talking about the previous mini-DisplayPort model? That would be the LED Cinema Display.

For the record, I have the 30” Cinema HD Display with dual-link DVI.
 
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chrfr

macrumors G5
Jul 11, 2009
13,707
7,277
Maybe he by mistake was talking about the previous mini-DisplayPort model? That would be the LED Cinema Display.
That's what I'm thinking, which seems like it might work with the appropriate USB-C to mini DisplayPort adapter, but brightness adjustment is done via software so I'm curious how that would work on an iPad.
 

EugW

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
14,866
12,849
That's what I'm thinking, which seems like it might work with the appropriate USB-C to mini DisplayPort adapter, but brightness adjustment is done via software so I'm curious how that would work on an iPad.
Fortunately, my 30" Cinema HD Display has the brightness buttons on the side so unlike on the LED Cinema Display, I can adjust the brightness that way.

It does work on my 2017 12" MacBook via USB-C --> USB-C to mini-DisplayPort dongle --> Apple mini-DisplayPort + USB to dual-link DVI + USB adapter, but I have to plug the dongle’s USB plug into an Apple iPhone USB power adapter to get it to work, since the dongle is USB powered.

7CCF74C7-1FF2-42EF-BC13-2DA0EFE6ABF4.jpeg


I was curious if this would work on an iPad Pro via USB-C but my iPad Pro is Lightning so I can't test it.

I was tempted to get a USB-C to mini-DisplayPort 4Kp60 dongle with USB 2 and USB-C power delivery but they tend to be a bit spendy. If it did work with the iPad Pro though, I might be more inclined to get it. I believe some people have gotten this setup to work with the 12" MacBook, but I haven't read anything about the iPad Pro.
 
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chrfr

macrumors G5
Jul 11, 2009
13,707
7,277
Fortunately, my 30" Cinema HD Display has the brightness buttons on the side so unlike on the LED Cinema Display, I can adjust the brightness that way.

It does work on my 2017 12" MacBook via USB-C --> USB-C to mini-DisplayPort dongle --> Apple mini-DisplayPort + USB to dual-link DVI + USB adapter, but I have to plug the dongle’s USB plug into an Apple iPhone USB power adapter to get it to work, since the dongle is USB powered.

View attachment 967580

I was curious if this would work on an iPad Pro via USB-C but my iPad Pro is Lightning so I can't test it.

I was tempted to get a USB-C to mini-DisplayPort 4Kp60 dongle with USB 2 and USB-C power delivery but they tend to be a bit spendy. If it did work with the iPad Pro though, I might be more inclined to get it. I believe some people have gotten this setup to work with the 12" MacBook, but I haven't read anything about the iPad Pro.
I would expect even a 12" MacBook to work with the appropriate USB hub in there, but the brightness controls are already accommodated in macOS. I do not believe they're there in iPadOS, so the screen would likely run at full brightness if it works at all.
 

1 Ⲭ𑀩ꓭꓞꓵꓠऽ

macrumors member
May 12, 2024
51
3
I gave up with my iPad Pro 3rd gen because I didn't want to invest in the dongles to test. However, I will be picking up an iPad Pro M4 with USB-C next month so I'll try that then.
I haven’t managed to track down anyone who has been successful. Be good to see how you go.
 

1 Ⲭ𑀩ꓭꓞꓵꓠऽ

macrumors member
May 12, 2024
51
3
I gave up with my iPad Pro 3rd gen because I didn't want to invest in the dongles to test. However, I will be picking up an iPad Pro M4 with USB-C next month so I'll try that then.
Did you end up giving it a run with your M4? I’ve tried it with a bunch of different adapters with my M1 but no dice.
 

1 Ⲭ𑀩ꓭꓞꓵꓠऽ

macrumors member
May 12, 2024
51
3
To get two ACD to work with my MBP mid 2012 13”, which only has the single mini display port, it had to go through a thunderbolt 3 dock. Waiting for an adapter so will try it through that once it arrives.
 

Ste_S

macrumors newbie
Dec 15, 2020
28
19
To connect the iPad Pro M4 to the 2010 iMac, I just used a cheap generic USB-C to mini-DisplayPort adapter plus standard mini-DisplayPort cable.

View attachment 2436620


Ooh, didn’t think this was doable, will now be trying this with M2 iPad Air and 2011 iMac

Edit - I‘m running Sonoma via OCLP so target display isn’t going to work is it…
 
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EugW

macrumors G5
Original poster
Jun 18, 2017
14,866
12,849
Ooh, didn’t think this was doable, will now be trying this with M2 iPad Air and 2011 iMac

Edit - I‘m running Sonoma via OCLP so target display isn’t going to work is it…
Only works on 2009-2010 anyway AFAIK. Wouldn't work on 2011 even if you had the right OS on the iMac.
 
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