Depending on the model, an Apple Silicon MacBook Pro officially supports between one and three external displays, but a software workaround lets you boost that number.
The new Plugable UD-7400PD dock takes advantage of that fact to provide a very neat way to allow even an M1 MacBook Pro to simultaneously drive up to five external monitors …
MacBook Pro external monitor support
Apple Silicon Macs were a vast improvement on Intel machines in almost every respect, but one downgrade in the specs of the base model M1 MacBook Pro was that it only supported a single external monitor. This contrasted with up to four monitors with some Intel models.
More powerful models increased the number to three, but a software workaround actually allows even the M1 model to support up to six monitors.
M1 Macs can indeed run up to 6 external displays with good performance, at least in early testing. The workaround isn’t too complicated and involves downloading the DisplayLink software for macOS and picking up a 4K DisplayPort to USB 3.0 adapter (and/or HDMI adapter).
Plugable UD-7400PD dock
You don’t need any dedicated hardware to use DisplayLink approach, but given the mix of cables and adapters required, you might still be interested in Plugable’s UD-7400PD dock, intended to make this as neat as possible.
The UD-7400PD, powered by DisplayLink’s DL-7400 chipset, is the first docking station to support up to five displays, including four 4K and one 8K screen. Also offering 140W Power Delivery, this dock ensures even power-hungry laptops remain charged during demanding tasks. Its universal compatibility delivers an ideal solution for mixed-platform offices and IT departments that OEM docks can’t support.
The dock also features an intelligent splash screen that appears when powered on but not connected to a computer, providing real-time status and asset information, as well as a QR code linking to set up and support resources. This innovation simplifies setup and asset management, particularly for IT administrators in flexible work environments.
You get three USB-C ports which support DisplayLink for up to 8K monitors, an HDMI Alt Mode port also supporting 8K, and an HDMI DisplayLink port offering 4K. Exact capacity depends on the resolution of your monitors, but you can have, for example, one 6K monitor and four 4K ones.
Additionally, there’s a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, a USC-C 10Gbps 30W one, two USB-A 10Gbps ports, and an audio in/out socket.
Finally, there’s one more USB-C 140W PD socket to enable a single-cable connection for both powering your MacBook display and feeding the monitors.
The dock costs $264.95. There’s no exact word yet on availability, but the company says it is “coming soon.”
Image: 9to5Mac composite of images from Plugable and Alexander Grey on Unsplash
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Comments