New Apple Thunderbolt 5K Display May Feature Integrated GPU

Apple is working on a new Thunderbolt 5K display that features an integrated GPU, according to 9to5Mac.

The site says independent of a report earlier this week, it has heard rumblings that Apple is building a new 5120x2880 monitor. To ensure compatibility with as many Macs as possible, Apple is looking to put a GPU right into the display.

As Apple wants to keep making MacBooks as thin and light as possible, which typically cannot include powerful GPUs by nature, the company has been exploring ways to introduce a 5K display that can be relevant with a wider Mac lineup — it wants to be able to release thin and light MacBooks and MacBook Pros that all work with its 5K external display.


Operating system updates would allow a Mac to intelligently decide whether to use its own internal graphics or the external GPU integrated into the display. Apparently, the external GPU would not work together with the internal, it would be one or the other.

It's quite likely that the new display would use a USB-C port Thunderbolt 3 but probably won't work with the current MacBook. Presumably, it would use a similar panel to the 5K iMac with a DCI P3 color gamut.

Apple Stores are reportedly running low on stock of the current Thunderbolt display leading some to hope that Apple will unveil a new one at WWDC. Please follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, or RSS for updates.

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