Hi, sorry if there is an obvious answer to this, but have not been able find it because when an article reference “M1 Macs” they can mean a number of different things.
I have a MacBook Pro with an M1 Pro chip. Will that laptop and this hub support dual external monitors (both 1080 or both 4k) as well as the laptop monitor still working via a single Thunderbolt 4 cable connecting it to the laptop?
David.
Hi David,
Thank you for posting, and we would be happy to answer your question.
As of this writing, Apple makes Mac laptops that can have one of three different versions of the Apple M1 processor.
Apple Mac laptops with an Apple M1 processor can support a maximum of one external display.
Apple Mac laptops with an Apple M1 Pro processor can support a maximum of two external displays.
Apple Mac laptops with an Apple M1 Max processor can support a maximum of four external displays.
To expand further, you mention you have an Apple MacBook Pro with an Apple M1 Pro processor.
This means you are using either a MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2021) → https://support.apple.com/kb/SP854 or a MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021) → https://support.apple.com/kb/SP858
If you review the ‘Display Support’ section of the technical specifications (that we provided above) for each model laptop you will see a ‘Display Support’ section that describes these capabilities in more detail.
All of this means that if you are using an Apple MacBook Pro with an Apple M1 Pro processor that you can you use the Plugable TBT4-HUB3C Thunderbolt 4 hub → https://plugable.com/products/tbt4-hub3c in order to add two external 4K displays (lower resolutions such as 1080p are also supported) to your Mac. In this configuration you will still be able to use the laptop’s built-in internal display.
Please note that the TBT4-HUB3C hub includes only a single USB-C to HDMI video adapter in the box with the hub. If you wish to connect a second display, you will need to purchase separately a second USB Type-C video adapter or cable.
Thank you,
Bob
Plugable Technologies
Hi Bob (and Team), just as a follow-up question, I have a Apple Mac laptop with an Apple M1 Pro processor that Apple state, can support a maximum of two external displays.
I am wondering if any of your products would allow me to have two monitors connected via a Thunderbolt4 hub (or an alternate) as well as a 3rd monitor connected directly to one of the other Thunderbolt4 or HDMI ports on the Mac laptop?
Appreciate any advice you can provide.
Regards, MAK.
Hi Mike,
Thank you for adding to the discussion!
I can see that you have also reached out to us directly via support@plugable.com with the same question. I have just sent my direct reply, however I wanted to add the salient points here for the benefit of anyone else following the discussion.
A MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2021) → https://support.apple.com/kb/SP854 or a MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021) → https://support.apple.com/kb/SP858 with an Apple M1 Pro processor can support a maximum of two external displays.
Those model Macs have three Thunderbolt 4 ports and one HDMI video output port.
The external display support is based on ‘first come, first served’ model.
This means that even though those Mac models have four potential ways to connect an external display via the single HDMI video output port or the three Thunderbolt 4 ports, the Mac will only support two external displays when connecting an external display to the HDMI video output port or to the Thunderbolt 4 ports via a Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, or USB Type-C device.
However, Plugable does offer a product based on DisplayLink USB video technology that allows you to circumvent your laptop’s total external display limitation in the form of the Plugable UD-6950PDZ docking station → https://plugable.com/products/ud-6950pdz
The UD-6950PDZ will connect to one of your Mac’s Thunderbolt 4 ports using the included three foot long USB Type-C cable (Thunderbolt 4 ports can also support USB Type-C devices).
The UD-6950PDZ will provide up to 60W of power to charge your laptop, as well as the ability to connect up to three 4K resolution displays (lower resolutions such as 1920x1080 are also supported) to the dock’s built-in DisplayPort or HDMI video outputs. Please note that the video cables themselves are not included.
The dock also provides six USB 3.0 ports (two on the front, four on the back) as well as a wired Ethernet network port and a single 3.5mm analog combination audio jack for use with speakers, headphones, or combination headsets.
One important note, you will need to install the dock’s required DisplayLink driver → https://plugable.com/pages/displaylink in order to use the dock.
Should you elect to move forward with a purchase of the UD-6950PDZ and find that the dock does not meet your needs, we do offer a 30-day no-hassle return policy for all products sold by Plugable and fulfilled by Amazon.
Thank you,
Bob
Plugable Technologies
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