New M1 Pro, M1 Max MacBook Pros support more displays than M1 Macs

The new Apple M1 Pro and M1 Max processors expand the number of external displays you can connect to a MacBook Pro up to four depending on processor versus one external on M1 portable hardware.

Apple announced the new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips at Monday's "Unleashed" event, alongside the new 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. In addition to being faster and more capable than their predecessors, the new chips also allow for more external displays.

The M1 processor can run a single external display using Thunderbolt 4 with the embedded DisplayPort 1.4 spec beyond the integrated display on a portable, or a HDMI display on the Mac mini. This means you can have a single 6K monitor like the Pro Display XDR or a single 4K monitor attached at any time through the USB-C ports.

The M1 Pro processor doubles that number, allowing a user to attach up to two 6K resolution monitors at 60Hz.

The M1 Max goes even further, allowing a user to connect up to three 6K resolution displays and one external display with up to 4K resolution at 60Hz. Apple points out that this is over 75 million pixels of screen real estate, all without needing to use any specialized adapters.

The tech details also specify that the new MacBook Pro models still feature native DisplayPort output over USB-C and support for an additional display over HDMI. However, those who wish to utilize VGA, DVI, or Thunderbolt 2 displays will need to purchase adapters.

8 Comments

Detnator 287 comments · 4 Years

About 3 years ago

AppleInsider said:

The tech details also specify that the new MacBook Pro models still feature native DisplayPort output over USB-C and support for an additional display over HDMI. However, those who wish to utilize VGA, DVI, or Thunderbolt 2 displays will need to purchase adapters.

Indeed. I can't believe they left out VGA, DVI and TB2. Insane. I want the SCSI port back too. Apple is doomed.

entropys 4298 comments · 13 Years

HDMI 2.0 apparently. Weird, but I expect sharing bandwidth with the SD slot meant not worth it.

crowley 10431 comments · 15 Years

entropys said:

HDMI 2.0 apparently. Weird, but I expect sharing bandwidth with the SD slot meant not worth it.

That's a touch disappointing. Not that I need 2.1 for anything in particular, but it seems a little remiss of Apple.

seanj 322 comments · 16 Years

Detnator said:

AppleInsider said:

The tech details also specify that the new MacBook Pro models still feature native DisplayPort output over USB-C and support for an additional display over HDMI. However, those who wish to utilize VGA, DVI, or Thunderbolt 2 displays will need to purchase adapters.

Indeed. I can't believe they left out VGA, DVI and TB2. Insane. I want the SCSI port back too. Apple is doomed.

I can’t believe there’s no RS232 ports!

seanj said:

Detnator said:

AppleInsider said:

The tech details also specify that the new MacBook Pro models still feature native DisplayPort output over USB-C and support for an additional display over HDMI. However, those who wish to utilize VGA, DVI, or Thunderbolt 2 displays will need to purchase adapters.

Indeed. I can't believe they left out VGA, DVI and TB2. Insane. I want the SCSI port back too. Apple is doomed.

I can’t believe there’s no RS232 ports!

I know, right? I've got a CAD app I wrote some years ago. I really hoped I'd be able to run it this time around. But no... They keep refusing to bring back the punch card reader I need for it.

They're so out of touch with what real pro users need.

;)