The confusing world of external display support on Mac’s

[AdmiralKirk]

I was forced to switch from Mac to Windows for my work about 10 years ago so I’m a bit out of the loop now I’m finally able to switch back, apologies. (Assume a MacBook Pro M3 Pro 14 for the purposes of this thread)

I have dual 27 inch 4k 60hz displays that connect via HDMI. One to an Anker usb c hub, and the other to an Anker hdmi to usb c adapter. So both connect to two different USB C ports via a hub for one, and via an adapter for the second one.

This gives me a perfect 4k 60hz dual extended displays on windows, Chromebook, and Linux.

APPARENTLY Mac is not that simple?

I’ve been told that the 27 inch 4k will be fuzzier than what Windows, Chromebook and Linux can do. I need to get something called better display to get close?

Secondly, if I plug the usb c hub and usb c adapter into the two usb c ports on the MacBook Pro I won’t be getting an extended display, but a mirrored one? That I need to get a thunderbolt hub or something and possibly use display link?

Can anyone help clear up the confusion? What will I have to do to get my existing dual 4k monitor setup to be extended displays on a MacBook Proin crystal clear 4k, so I have 3 usable screens including the MacBook screen and not simply mirrored displays?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Bigwaff]

Several questions to unpack...

First, M3 Pro chips supports two external displays. Two over Thunderbolt or 1 via TB + 1 via HDMI. If you do have M3 Pro chip, you should get extended displays. Make sure you have "Use as .. Extended display" selected for each connected display in Settings > Displays

How many displays can be connected to MacBook Pro - Apple Support

The number of external displays that you can use at the same time depends on your Mac model and the resolution and refresh rate of each display.

support.apple.com

Second, macOS prefers to upscale resolutions. This is what is referred to as "Retina" resolution and is represented by the "looks like" resolutions of "Default"... "More Space" settings. It is effectively a doubling in size (1 pixel > 4 pixels) to get super sharp text and UI elements. At 4K, "Retina" resolution yields UI elements and text which are "too big" for most. At native 4K resolution (no "Retina" or upscaling), text and UI elements can appear blurry or fuzzy to others. It really is personal preference. Software utilities like Better Display will "unlock" more resolutions and allow you to select different resolutions which are either scaled up or down to match your display's native resolution. Sometimes this can yield a better viewing experience at the cost of heavier CPU/GPU processing.

GitHub - waydabber/BetterDisplay: Unlock your displays on your Mac! Flexible HiDPI scaling, XDR/HDR extra brightness, virtual screens, DDC control, extra dimming, PIP/streaming, EDID override and lots more!

Unlock your displays on your Mac! Flexible HiDPI scaling, XDR/HDR extra brightness, virtual screens, DDC control, extra dimming, PIP/streaming, EDID override and lots more! - waydabber/BetterDisplay

github.com

 

[marc.garcia]

Several questions to unpack...

First, M3 Pro chips supports two external displays. Two over Thunderbolt or 1 via TB + 1 via HDMI. If you do have M3 Pro chip, you should get extended displays. Make sure you have "Use as .. Extended display" selected for each connected display in Settings > Displays

How many displays can be connected to MacBook Pro - Apple Support

The number of external displays that you can use at the same time depends on your Mac model and the resolution and refresh rate of each display.

support.apple.com

Second, macOS prefers to upscale resolutions. This is what is referred to as "Retina" resolution and is represented by the "looks like" resolutions of "Default"... "More Space" settings. It is effectively a doubling in size (1 pixel > 4 pixels) to get super sharp text and UI elements. At 4K, "Retina" resolution yields UI elements and text which are "too big" for most. At native 4K resolution (no "Retina" or upscaling), text and UI elements can appear blurry or fuzzy to others. It really is personal preference. Software utilities like Better Display will "unlock" more resolutions and allow you to select different resolutions which are either scaled up or down to match your display's native resolution. Sometimes this can yield a better viewing experience at the cost of heavier CPU/GPU processing.

GitHub - waydabber/BetterDisplay: Unlock your displays on your Mac! Flexible HiDPI scaling, XDR/HDR extra brightness, virtual screens, DDC control, extra dimming, PIP/streaming, EDID override and lots more!

Unlock your displays on your Mac! Flexible HiDPI scaling, XDR/HDR extra brightness, virtual screens, DDC control, extra dimming, PIP/streaming, EDID override and lots more! - waydabber/BetterDisplay

github.com

Hello!

I own a MacBook Pro laptop with the M3 Pro chip. When I hook 2 external monitors up to my MBP, I manage to get the extended desktop experience. However, with neither of the 2 dongles/docks that I've tried so far, have I managed to unlock it.

Based on this article I purchased the ugreen 313 dongle and I could not get this experience out of a single usb-c cable.

Since I have confirmed that my MBP is indeed able to manage 2 external monitors just fine, I was under the impression that any dongle/dock would suffice, as it would only need to pass the information through to my MBP, yet I even followed the advice in that article but I was not successful.

Any idea as to why that may be the case?

thanks!

 

[xraydoc]

Hello!

I own a MacBook Pro laptop with the M3 Pro chip. When I hook 2 external monitors up to my MBP, I manage to get the extended desktop experience. However, with neither of the 2 dongles/docks that I've tried so far, have I managed to unlock it.

Based on this article I purchased the ugreen 313 dongle and I could not get this experience out of a single usb-c cable.

Since I have confirmed that my MBP is indeed able to manage 2 external monitors just fine, I was under the impression that any dongle/dock would suffice, as it would only need to pass the information through to my MBP, yet I even followed the advice in that article but I was not successful.

Any idea as to why that may be the case?

thanks!

Sounds like you're using a USB-C dock and connecting two displays to it. I don't think that will work. You'll need a Thunderbolt 4 dock to get two displays out of one TB4/USB-C port on your Mac. But someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Bigwaff]

You are correct but it also depends on the displays and their specifications, of which, have not been posted.