MacBook Air with M3 Now Supports Two(2) External Monitors with a Caveat
Yes, you heard us right. With M1 and M2 chips, MacBooks Air or Pro powered by the base Apple silicone only supports one external display on top of the native or built-in display. Now, with the base M3 chip, it can support up to 2 external monitors but with a condition.
MacBook Air with M3 Supports Two (2) External Monitors
For the first time in the history of MacBook Air (MBAs) with base Apple Silicone chips, the line now supports two external monitors. Previously, MBA powered by M1 and M2 chip were only allowed one external monitor on top of the onboard display with no way to disable the MacBook display in favour of a second external monitor.
This has left many techies frustrated as they could only use one external big display. Now with the option of hooking up two external displays, this will improve their workflow tremendously. While there are gadgets out there that lets you add external monitors, it is yet another dongle or adapter to get. But with the MBA 13 and 15 with M3 chip, just connect two external monitors directly to the monitor and away you go.
The caveat is, you need hoop up two external monitors, disable the onboard display in the Display settings and for sleekness, close the lid. We recommend using two identical high resolution monitors for a dual monitor setup that is to be the envy of everyone in the office. This simple update has generated such a buzz that many tech blogs covered this, see images below from the likes of Tech Radar, ZDNet, Tom’s Guide and 6 Colours.
Professional and lay users out that are also taking advantage of this with their own setup, see image below:
MBA 13 and 15 with M3 chip Dual Monitor Setup – Maximum Supported Resolutions
Before you rush out to pick up your favourite monitors can cables for your own dual monitor setups, it is worth checking the type of connections and resolutions supported. With the two Thunderbolt/USB4 ports that supports DisplayPort on the MacBook Air 13 and 15, you are going to need only USB-C to USB-C or USB-C to HDMI cables depending on your external monitor. These cables must also be capable of delivering high definition video signals.
As for the specification of your monitors, the supported maximum resolutions with the MacBook Air lid closed are:
- one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz and
- a second external display with up to 5K resolution at 60Hz
Coincidentally (or by design), these are just the resolutions on Apple’s two monitors, the Pro Display XDR and Studio Display (see below)
However this makes for an uneven setup. A 32-inch 6K Retina display next to a 27-inch 5K Retina display. With 5K resolution being the limit on the second external monitor, naturally one would consider two Studio Displays at 27-inch 5K resolution. This seems to be the go to setup for our tech bloggers above.
Possible Dual External Monitor Setups & Recommendations
So here are your options with Apple’s own displays and our recommendation of third party options:
- One Apple Pro Display XDR 32-inch 6K resolution and One Apple Studio Display 27-inch 5K resolution
- Two Studio Display 27-inch 5K resolution
- Two Samsung 27-inch ViewFinity S9 Series 5K monitor
- Two LG 27-inch 4K Ultragear OLED QHD Gaming monitor
- Two ASUS ProArt 27-inch 4K HDR Professional Monitor
- Two Philips Creator Series 27-inch 4K Black Display
- Two LG 27-inch 4K UltraFine IPS LCD monitor
- Two LG 27-inch 5K Ultrafine IPS LCD monitor for Apple Mac
Here is a quick look at the unique features presented by each of the monitors above:
1. Apple Pro Display XDR 32-inch 6K resolution
- Extreme Dynamic Range (XDR): Provides remarkable brightness and contrast.
- Resolution: 6016 x 3384 pixels, offering more than 20 million pixels for ultra-sharp images.
- Reference Modes: Pre-calibrated to match the requirements of HDR, HD, SD video, and digital cinema.
- Pro Stand: Offers tilt and height adjustment and can be rotated into portrait mode.
- Nano-texture Glass Option: Minimizes glare without compromising on image quality.
2. Apple Studio Display 27-inch 5K resolution
- Resolution: 5120 x 2880 Retina display that supports over one billion colors.
- Audio Quality: Six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio.
- Camera: 12MP Ultra Wide camera with Center Stage technology.
- Connectivity: Three USB-C ports for connectivity and charging capabilities.
- Color Accuracy: P3 wide color gamut and 600 nits of brightness.
3. Samsung 27-inch ViewFinity S9 Series 5K monitor
- Resolution: 5120 x 2880 pixels, designed for highly detailed visuals.
- Color Precision: Quantum dot color technology, offering precise color accuracy.
- HDR Support: HDR 600 for vivid colors and deep blacks.
- Ergonomics: Height-adjustable stand, tilt, swivel, and pivot capabilities.
- Connectivity: Thunderbolt 4 integration allowing for high-speed data transfer and charging.
4. LG 27-inch Ultragear OLED QHD Gaming monitor
- OLED Display: True blacks and infinite contrast ratio.
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 (QHD), designed for immersive gaming experiences.
- Response Time: 0.03 ms response time, ideal for high-speed gaming.
- Gaming Features: G-SYNC compatibility and 240Hz refresh rate.
- Design: Ultra-thin bezel for a more seamless multi-monitor setup.
- Dual displays on MacBook Air? Yes, please! The updated MacBook Air with M3 chip includes support for two external screens, but don’t forget the dock! Get all the info on how to maximize your displays here: [Link] #Apple #TechNews
5. ASUS ProArt 27-inch 4K HDR Professional Monitor
- Color Accuracy: Factory pre-calibrated for exceptional color fidelity.
- HDR Support: HDR-10 compatibility for vibrant color range.
- Connectivity Options: Multiple HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C ports.
- ProArt Preset: Quick color-gamut adjustment modes.
- Ergonomic Design: Swivel, tilt, pivot, and height adjustments for comfortable viewing.
6. Philips Creator Series 27-inch 4K Black Display
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels, UltraClear 4K UHD.
- Ambiglow Technology: Enhances entertainment with a halo of light.
- Built-in Features: Built-in speakers and webcam.
- Eye Comfort: Flicker-Free technology and LowBlue Mode for eye protection.
- SmartUniformity Mode: Ensures consistent and precise color reproduction.
7. LG 27-inch 4K UltraFine IPS LCD monitor
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels, offering clear and detailed visuals.
- Color Performance: Covers 99% of the sRGB color spectrum.
- Adjustable Stand: Offers ergonomic adjustments including height, tilt, and pivot.
- Mac Compatibility: Fully compatible with Mac devices, supporting seamless integration.
- Reader Mode: Reduces blue light to help lessen eye fatigue
8. LG 27-inch 5K Ultrafine IPS LCD monitor for Apple Mac
The original third party 5K monitor introduced by LG back in 2020 but still relevant thanks to its MacOS support.
- Resolution: 5120 x 2880 pixels, perfect for high-resolution workflows.
- Color Accuracy: Covers 99% of the DCI-P3 spectrum for accurate color production.
- Brightness: Up to 500 nits of brightness.
- Connectivity: Thunderbolt 3 ports and USB-C ports included.
- Integration: Optimised for macOS, supports True Tone and Night Shift.
BONUS: Dell UltraSharp U2723QE 27-inch 4K UHD WLED LCD Monitor
- Resolution: 4K UHD resolution with a brightness of 400 nits, suitable for various lighting conditions and offering sharp, clear images
- IPS Black Technology: Offers a contrast ratio of 2000:1, providing deeper blacks and more detailed visuals compared to traditional IPS displays
- Color Accuracy and Coverage: Factory calibrated for precision with 100% sRGB, 100% Rec. 709, and 98% DCI-P3, ideal for professional editing and design tasks
- Connectivity: Includes USB-C with power delivery, HDMI, DisplayPort, and multiple USB ports, supporting daisy-chaining and KVM for enhanced productivity
- Ergonomic Adjustability: Features a fully adjustable stand with height, pivot, swivel, and tilt capabilities to enhance user comfort and adaptability (Dell) (Display Ninja).
