5 ms·

Can we use more than one external display yet?

by anemoiac 3y ago

rwc 3y ago
Of course. Have been since M1 Max. My MacBook Pro M1 Max powers two external displays.
- anemoiac 3y ago
  With a MBP, sure. I don’t want a machine that large however. I have both a 14” Pro and a 15” Air that feels significantly smaller than its “smaller” counterpart…
dml2135 3y ago
Seemingly no. So far it looks like (someone please correct me if I’m wrong): - M3, 1 external display - M3 Pro, 2 external displays - M3 Max, 4 external displays This has to be a product differentiation decision at this point, right? Is there any serious technical limitation against more displays in the base chip, that Apple has not been able to solve in three generations?
- aduitsis 3y ago
  Mac Mini with the M2 Pro can drive 3 monitors, Macbook Pro with the M2 Pro only 2.
  - mritun 3y ago
    M2 Pro can always drive 3. The MBP just has one display built-in, so can drive 2 more.
    - dml2135 3y ago
      Unfortunately tho, iirc, clamshell mode does not get you the use of an additional external display.
- anemoiac 3y ago
  It’s frustrating. I wish they would just charge an extra $X for the privilege of using multiple external monitors. I like the form factor of the MBA as is… if I need to compromise on that, I might as well choose a different machine.
  - lotsofpulp 3y ago
    > I wish they would just charge an extra $X for the privilege of using multiple external monitors. They do, you have to pay more for an M3 Pro or M3 Max.
    - jlokier 3y ago
      The person you replied to wants the nicer form factor of the MBA with the ability to use multiple external displays. That combo isn't currently offered, and judging from today's M3 specs the next MBA won't likely offer it either. I assume the iMac has the same limitation, which is a bit of a downer for some uses. It would be nice to drive a second monitor and a wall-mounted TV or projector from an iMac in sleek a home setup.
      - lotsofpulp 3y ago
        My bad, I missed that specification. I would agree with them, it would be nice if you could pay more for a MacBook Air with multiple external display support.
      - d3w4s9 3y ago
        For context, you were able to do 2 external display with Macbook Air 2018-2020. ...and almost any Windows laptop at the same price point.
  - dml2135 3y ago
    Same, the M2 MBA is all the power I need and I vastly prefer the smaller size, but the monitor issue is killer. I finally bit the bullet and bought a DisplayLink dock, which gets the job done, but just seems like a silly compromise when the Intel MBA could support 2 external monitors natively.
oliyoung 3y ago
I'm sitting here on an M1 Max with two external screens ..
- guax 3y ago
  Careful when sitting on computers, they might brake!

Can we use more than one external display yet?

rwc 3y ago

Of course. Have been since M1 Max. My MacBook Pro M1 Max powers two external displays.

anemoiac 3y ago
With a MBP, sure. I don’t want a machine that large however. I have both a 14” Pro and a 15” Air that feels significantly smaller than its “smaller” counterpart…

dml2135 3y ago

Seemingly no. So far it looks like (someone please correct me if I’m wrong): - M3, 1 external display - M3 Pro, 2 external displays - M3 Max, 4 external displays This has to be a product differentiation decision at this point, right? Is there any serious technical limitation against more displays in the base chip, that Apple has not been able to solve in three generations?

aduitsis 3y ago
Mac Mini with the M2 Pro can drive 3 monitors, Macbook Pro with the M2 Pro only 2.
- mritun 3y ago
  M2 Pro can always drive 3. The MBP just has one display built-in, so can drive 2 more.
  - dml2135 3y ago
    Unfortunately tho, iirc, clamshell mode does not get you the use of an additional external display.
anemoiac 3y ago
It’s frustrating. I wish they would just charge an extra $X for the privilege of using multiple external monitors. I like the form factor of the MBA as is… if I need to compromise on that, I might as well choose a different machine.
- lotsofpulp 3y ago
  > I wish they would just charge an extra $X for the privilege of using multiple external monitors. They do, you have to pay more for an M3 Pro or M3 Max.
  - jlokier 3y ago
    The person you replied to wants the nicer form factor of the MBA with the ability to use multiple external displays. That combo isn't currently offered, and judging from today's M3 specs the next MBA won't likely offer it either. I assume the iMac has the same limitation, which is a bit of a downer for some uses. It would be nice to drive a second monitor and a wall-mounted TV or projector from an iMac in sleek a home setup.
    - lotsofpulp 3y ago
      My bad, I missed that specification. I would agree with them, it would be nice if you could pay more for a MacBook Air with multiple external display support.
    - d3w4s9 3y ago
      For context, you were able to do 2 external display with Macbook Air 2018-2020. ...and almost any Windows laptop at the same price point.
- dml2135 3y ago
  Same, the M2 MBA is all the power I need and I vastly prefer the smaller size, but the monitor issue is killer. I finally bit the bullet and bought a DisplayLink dock, which gets the job done, but just seems like a silly compromise when the Intel MBA could support 2 external monitors natively.

oliyoung 3y ago

I'm sitting here on an M1 Max with two external screens ..

guax 3y ago
Careful when sitting on computers, they might brake!