If you have a Mac and want to know how many external monitors you can connect, through which ports and the maximum resolutions that admit, in this post we make a general map of computers with Apple Silicon. We will look at the MacBook, Mac mini, iMac and Mac Studio models. So if you are interested, this post is for you.
portable macs
In the field of MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, the difference is noticeable. Especially if we look at what can be connected to an M2 Pro chip and an M2 Max chip. Beyond the power they deliver, the processor jump allows you to connect twice as many monitors simultaneously on the same computer.
- MacBook Air: 1 monitor up to 6K at 60 Hz
- MacBook Pro with M2 Pro: up to 2 monitors
- 6K@60Hz (Thunderbolt) + 4K@144Hz (HDMI)
- two monitors 6K@60Hz (Thunderbolt)
- a monitor (Thunderbolt) 8K@60Hz
- a monitor (HDMI) 4K 240Hz
- MacBook Pro with M2 Max: up to 4 monitors
- 3 monitors (Thunderbolt) 6K@60Hz + 1 monitor (HDMI) 4K@144Hz
- 3 monitors: Two (Thunderbolt) 6K @ 60 Hz + 1 monitor 8K @ 60 Hz or 4K 240 Hz (HDMI)
- MacBook Pro 13″: 1 monitor up to 6K at 60 Hz
We must make a point, and that is that, in the case of portable Macs, when we connect a screen, we do not necessarily have to see everything through that monitor. These computers already have integrated screens, and this means that we can use our computer screen as another monitor.
Desktop Macs
In the field of desktop Mac computers we are going to see the Mac mini, the iMac and the Mac Studio. In this case, an important point must be made: only the iMac already has a built-in screen. The other two, on the other hand, will need an external screen to function. So, in the case of the iMac, even if we connect only one screen, we will already have two working simultaneously.
- Mac mini M2: up to two monitors
- A monitor (HDMI) 4K@60Hz + One monitor (Thunderbolt) 6K@60Hz
- Two monitors (Thunderbolt): 6K@60Hz + 5K@60Hz
- Mac mini M2 Pro: up to three monitors
- Two monitors (Thunderbolt) 6K@60Hz + One monitor (HDMI) 4K@60Hz
- One monitor (HDMI) 4K @ 144 Hz + One monitor (Thunderbolt) 6K @ 60 Hz
- One monitor (HDMI) 8K@60hz
- One monitor (HDMI) 4K@240Hz
- Mac mini M1: maximum one external display
- iMac: A resolution monitor up to 6K via Thunderbolt
- Mac Studio: up to 5 displays
- four monitors (Thunderbolt) 6K@60Hz + One (HDMI) 4K monitor
As you may have seen, the difference between the M2 Pro and the M2 Max is not only in terms of power. But in terms of the maximum number of screens that we can connect. In addition, USB Type-C ports with the Thunderbolt standard allow you to deliver speeds and power much higher than what connectors that are only USB Type-C can deliver.