External monitor support

[nowhereman456]

Looks like support for up to 2 external 4K monitors is gone.

Hoping that is just a typo in the tech specs

Intel specs say:

Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at millions of colors and:

• One external 6K display with 6016-by-3384 resolution at 60Hz at over a billion colors, or
• One external 5K display with 5120-by-2880 resolution at 60Hz at over a billion colors, or
• Up to two external 4K displays with 4096-by-2304 resolution at 60Hz at millions of colors

While M1 just have

Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at millions of colors and:

• One external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz

 

[joevt]

I don't think it's a typo. The tech specs for the Mac mini, the MacBook Air, and the MacBook Pro are consistent:
- one display for the Thunderbolt ports and one built-in or HDMI display = two displays total.
This means it cannot use the LG UltraFine 5K at 5K resolution which requires two DisplayPort connections over Thunderbolt.

Maybe Apple will finally support MST for multiple displays, since they removed the support for two displays from a single Thunderbolt port.
But if they did, then they would have mentioned that in the tech specs.

CORRECTION: M1 Macs have two DisplayPort connections to Thunderbolt, which can be used to provide full resolution on a tiled display like the LG UltraFine 5K, Dell UP2715K, or HP Z27q. But the two DisplayPort connections cannot be used to connect two separate displays. Whether a display is tiled or not, only one can be connected via Thunderbolt. This has been tested with a HP Z27q that can show the input resolution in its on screen menu. ioreg output confirms this for the LG UltraFine 5K. ioreg also confirms DSC for the 6K case.

 

[markiv810]

Since I'm buying the new Mac mini M1, what are affordable options for display 24" FHD that are HDMI 2.0 compatible. I am under financial constraint, hence want a display that is under 300 dollars. Your suggestions are appreciated.

 

[deeddawg]

Looks like support for up to 2 external 4K monitors is gone.

While apparently true for the systems released on Tuesday, which represent the lower-tier configurations, that doesn't necessarily mean it will remain true when future higher-tier configurations transition to ARM.

Thus let's not chicken-little on the matter. If it's an important capability to someone, they should wait for future models rather than transitioning now.

 

[ADGrant]

While apparently true for the systems released on Tuesday, which represent the lower-tier configurations, that doesn't necessarily mean it will remain true when future higher-tier configurations transition to ARM.

Thus let's not chicken-little on the matter. If it's an important capability to someone, they should wait for future models rather than transitioning now.

Yes, nothing is gone. If you need a capability that is in the Intel Macs and not the AS Macs, you can still buy an Intel Mac or wait for the next AS Macs.

 

[Chris Newbold]

I have been told I can use my 2009 late 27 inch iMac as target monitor for a Mac mini. Might seem like a strange thing to do but I’m trying to upgrade on a budget.. will this work? Thunderbolt to DisplayPort mini??

 

[joevt]

I have been told I can use my 2009 late 27 inch iMac as target monitor for a Mac mini. Might seem like a strange thing to do but I’m trying to upgrade on a budget.. will this work? Thunderbolt to DisplayPort mini??

Yes, should work. you need a USB-C to Mini DisplayPort cable.

 

[markiv810]

I have been looking for monitor for the Mac mini I ordered, I found Dell P2419HC monitor which is okay per my budget. It. has USB C connectivity, can I use USB C cable to connect Mac mini M1 to the Dell P2419HC monitor.

 

[nothingtoseehere]

Looks like support for up to 2 external 4K monitors is gone.

Yes, it‘s a pity. The former Intel base model MBA as of early 2020 could support up to two 4K-displays according to Apple‘s spec site. This is a substantial downgrade.

My office will need new laptops in late 2021/early 2022. We currently have Lenovo machines. The base model M1 MBA could have been interesting but as many of us use two monitors (word processing, giant spreadsheets, and so on), Apple is out of question for now.

There will probably be a high-tier MBP until then but it surely will be too expensive for us, and we do not need any extra power. The new base model MBA, plus docking station, plus Apple Care, could compete in costs with similar Windows machines but only the base model.

As our procurement process will start around mid 2021, Apple has lost the chance to sell us the giant amount of 15 base model MBAs, and a Mac mini as a server ???

 

[saulinpa]

I have been looking for monitor for the Mac mini I ordered, I found Dell P2419HC monitor which is okay per my budget. It. has USB C connectivity, can I use USB C cable to connect Mac mini M1 to the Dell P2419HC monitor.

Reviewers say it works with Macbooks so should be fine with the mini M1. Personally I would save up to find something higher than 1080p.

 

[deeddawg]

Reviewers say it works with Macbooks so should be fine with the mini M1. Personally I would save up to find something higher than 1080p.

Agreed. For a single display, I'd go to a 27" QHD (1440p) at minimum. I used an LG 34" ultrawide at work pre-covid and it was pretty nice.

@markiv810 for a Mac Mini I wouldn't spend extra for a USBC monitor - use the mini's HDMI port, save the USBC / Thunderbolt ports for other stuff.

 

[markiv810]

Reviewers say it works with Macbooks so should be fine with the mini M1. Personally I would save up to find something higher than 1080p.

I am under quite a bit of financial constraints, and just about a month back my Mac mini died, so I had to buy Mac asap. I shall use the old monitor till I can afford a monitor with reasonable specs.

 

[markiv810]

Agreed. For a single display, I'd go to a 27" QHD (1440p) at minimum. I used an LG 34" ultrawide at work pre-covid and it was pretty nice.

@markiv810 for a Mac Mini I wouldn't spend extra for a USBC monitor - use the mini's HDMI port, save the USBC / Thunderbolt ports for other stuff.

I'll keep that in mind when buying a new display, I would now get at least 1440p display. Maybe next year.

 

[JPack]

It’s nuts that a Chromebook will support 2 external displays but a MacBook won’t.

 

[saulinpa]

It’s nuts that a Chromebook will support 2 external displays but a MacBook won’t.

My Chromebook only has a single HDMI port. These Macbooks use the first generation M1 so have shortcomings that can be addressed in future versions.

 

[JPack]

My Chromebook only has a single HDMI port. These Macbooks use the first generation M1 so have shortcomings that can be addressed in future versions.

You don’t have to look too hard to find Chromebooks under $300 with a couple of USB-C ports.

Lack of dual monitor support for MacBook Air - I can grudgingly accept - even though that was a feature added to the Air in 2018. But the lack of support in the MacBook Pro 13” is nothing short of ridiculous.

 

[deeddawg]

You don’t have to look too hard to find Chromebooks under $300 with a couple of USB-C ports.

Lack of dual monitor support for MacBook Air - I can grudgingly accept - even though that was a feature added to the Air in 2018. But the lack of support in the MacBook Pro 13” is nothing short of ridiculous.

Let's not forget that only part of the 13" Macbook Pro line has transitioned to ARM.

We'll see if the limitation continues when the four-port Macbook Pro's transition to ARM.

It may be that feature becomes a differentiator between the lower-tier two-port MBP's and the upper-tier four-port MBPs.

 

[jazz1]

Agreed. For a single display, I'd go to a 27" QHD (1440p) at minimum. I used an LG 34" ultrawide at work pre-covid and it was pretty nice.

@markiv810 for a Mac Mini I wouldn't spend extra for a USBC monitor - use the mini's HDMI port, save the USBC / Thunderbolt ports for other stuff.

The two different models of Dell monitors I have have several inputs. One has HDMI, USB-C, and I think Display Port. The other one has HDMI and Display Port. Saving a USB-C port is not a bad idea, although I understand you can drive a USB-C monitor, and a second one via HDMI at the same time. That said I can't think of any advantages of using a USB-C monitor over an HDMI monitor. Though I have driven my iPad Pro with the USB-C monitor.

In fact I'm going to "sacrifice" one of my two Dell HDMI/Display Port monitors that flank my iMac 27" so I can have two monitors on the ordered M1 MacMini ? I happen to have a Dell two monitor stand. So this should work out well in the household's second work/play station.

 

[IceDevil]

This is definitely a bummer. I wonder if there will be support for an external monitor + an iPad in Sidecar mode? Then, theoretically, I may be able to run two monitors, one hooked up to the MacBook Pro and another to my iPad...

 

[strangeengine]

This means it cannot use the LG UltraFine 5K at 5K resolution which requires two DisplayPort connections over Thunderbolt.

I think this is unlikely to be true. Apple specifically calls out the M1 machines as able to support a single 6K monitor.

Either way, we'll find out next week when my machine arrives.

- Mark

 

[Riscy33]

Is there a way to connect 2 (TWO) 27" Apple Thunderbolt displays AND a small (12"x 5") HDMI display to the new Mac Minis....M1 or Intel?

 

[raknor]

I don't think it's a typo. The tech specs for the Mac mini, the MacBook Air, and the MacBook Pro are consistent:
- one display for the Thunderbolt ports and one built-in or HDMI display = two displays total.
This means it cannot use the LG UltraFine 5K at 5K resolution which requires two DisplayPort connections over Thunderbolt.

That’s not true.

From the Apple site foot notes.

1. Testing conducted by Apple in October 2020 using a preproduction Mac mini with Apple M1 chip, 8GB of memory, 256GB SSD and LG UltraFine 5K Display, and a shipping Mac mini with a quad‑core Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of memory, 256GB SSD, and LG UltraFine 5K Display. Energy consumption was measured during wireless browsing of top websites.

If the Mac Mini M1 was tested with LG 5K then it should work.

 

[dogslobber]

I have been looking for monitor for the Mac mini I ordered, I found Dell P2419HC monitor which is okay per my budget. It. has USB C connectivity, can I use USB C cable to connect Mac mini M1 to the Dell P2419HC monitor.

Yes, this is a beautiful LCD from Dell. One of the best I've ever used.

 

[theorist9]

The last-gen Intel Air, with its two TB ports, could drive two monitors. But the M1 Air, which also has two TB ports, can't. I'd be interested to know the technological reason for the difference.

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacBook_Air :

Last-gen Intel Air
2× Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C 3.1 Gen 2) ports supporting charging and DisplayPort
Supports two 4096x2304 displays or one 6016x3384 (MST) display

Current M1 Air
2× Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C 4) ports supporting charging and DisplayPort
Supports one display up to 6016x3384 (MST)

 

[Diode]

Following - have dual 1080P USB-C monitors I use via a thunderbolt dock for work (Windows laptop), would love to be able to connect the Air to it as well...

Seems silly it can drive a 6k monitor but not dual....