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It sucks since the M series laptops have been amazing, with this one glaring problem. I have a great M2 pro machine, but officially it can only support 2 exter

It sucks since the M series laptops have been amazing, with this one glaring problem. I have a great M2 pro machine, but officially it can only support 2 external monitors. I should be able to close my screen and power 3. I can do this with a dock so it's not a resources problem. I am curious what is different between the Air and the Pro that the Air can power 2 external monitors (it does say when the lid is closed) and the Pro can only power 1 regardless. Or is this a software update and the Pro page just has not been updated. I keep hoping that this is a problem that is only temporary and eventually it will be removed or as time goes on each series can run 1 more monitor or something.

sciencesama 3y ago
I fixed this by using this dock Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 4 Workstation Dock - DK2131
- nerdjon 3y ago
  I fixed my issue as well with a dock from UGreen and the DisplayLink software. Just unfortunate I had to do it.
  - dodslaser 3y ago
    I tried a DisplayLink dock once with my M1 Max MBP. It was incredibly laggy, pegged my cpu at 40%, and didn't let me set the correct resolution/scaling level for either of my monitors (horizontal 4k 32" and a vertical 4k 27", nothing exotic). A TB4 dock fixes most problems, but I have to hack the EDID to disable YCbCr and force RGB, or the colors look like absolute shit. The external monitors still look significantly worse under macOS than either Windows or Linux, and I have no idea why. External display handling is easily the worst part of using a Mac for me.
    - askonomm 3y ago
      > External display handling is easily the worst part of using a Mac for me. Using more than is explicitly mentioned that is supported, you mean? I mean yeah, duh.
      - dodslaser 3y ago
        An M1 Max MBP should, according to Apple, support up to 4 external displays.
      - ambichook 3y ago
        i think the fact that so few are supported is part of the issue (not parent commenter, also not a user of apple products so i admittedly do lack experience in this area)
  - harkinian 3y ago
    Relying on DisplayLink too. It's neat, but it's a hack. Uses a fair bit of CPU constantly and makes my Mac say "your screen is being observed." Was disappointing coming from my 2009 Mac Pro which could run 5 displays no questions asked.
hinkley 3y ago
Wait, the M2 MBP is listed as 2 external monitors? I've been running three for a while. 2 Thunderbolt 3 + 1 Thunderbolt 2 daisy chained. They work. There are a couple glitches, but they work. I'm on my work machine now but I believe it also works with the laptop open.

sciencesama 3y ago

I fixed this by using this dock Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 4 Workstation Dock - DK2131

nerdjon 3y ago
I fixed my issue as well with a dock from UGreen and the DisplayLink software. Just unfortunate I had to do it.
- dodslaser 3y ago
  I tried a DisplayLink dock once with my M1 Max MBP. It was incredibly laggy, pegged my cpu at 40%, and didn't let me set the correct resolution/scaling level for either of my monitors (horizontal 4k 32" and a vertical 4k 27", nothing exotic). A TB4 dock fixes most problems, but I have to hack the EDID to disable YCbCr and force RGB, or the colors look like absolute shit. The external monitors still look significantly worse under macOS than either Windows or Linux, and I have no idea why. External display handling is easily the worst part of using a Mac for me.
  - askonomm 3y ago
    > External display handling is easily the worst part of using a Mac for me. Using more than is explicitly mentioned that is supported, you mean? I mean yeah, duh.
    - dodslaser 3y ago
      An M1 Max MBP should, according to Apple, support up to 4 external displays.
    - ambichook 3y ago
      i think the fact that so few are supported is part of the issue (not parent commenter, also not a user of apple products so i admittedly do lack experience in this area)
- harkinian 3y ago
  Relying on DisplayLink too. It's neat, but it's a hack. Uses a fair bit of CPU constantly and makes my Mac say "your screen is being observed." Was disappointing coming from my 2009 Mac Pro which could run 5 displays no questions asked.

hinkley 3y ago

Wait, the M2 MBP is listed as 2 external monitors? I've been running three for a while. 2 Thunderbolt 3 + 1 Thunderbolt 2 daisy chained. They work. There are a couple glitches, but they work. I'm on my work machine now but I believe it also works with the laptop open.