Apple Releases USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter with HDMI 2.0 Support

[H3LL5P4WN]

Is USB-C ever going to replace HDMI? I had this idea that C was going to be ultimate cable that does everything??

Yes and no. I think you're confusing the port (USB-C) with the standards (USB and HDMI). A connector/port can be used for whatever. It's the standards behind them define what the cable/port can do, and that are confusing for the average consumer.

And that's also why USB-C charging is a nightmare, because all of the robotphone OEMs made up their own charging standards using the USB-C port instead of sticking to the standards that the USB Consortium laid out for data and power.

 

[Richdmoore]

Is USB-C ever going to replace HDMI? I had this idea that C was going to be ultimate cable that does everything??

In my mind the thing killing usb-c adoption is the lack of usb-c to multiple usb-c hubs, everything converts to usb-a 3.0. I heard intel will have a chip next year that will finally allow this, but who knows for sure how much longer it will be until they are working products using it.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Same with even the just released 13 inch MBP. I assume it may require a dGPU which is why the Air and 13 inch MBP don’t support.

They do via an eGPU. Though at that point you wouldn't be buying this dongle. Unless maybe you got one of those overpriced, underported, non-upgradable Black Magic eGPUs.

 

[macintoshmac]

Good point

Quoting and replying to yourself?

 

[NickName99]

Is USB-C ever going to replace HDMI? I had this idea that C was going to be ultimate cable that does everything??

Thunderbolt 3 monitors that connect using a USB-C plug exist, Apple sells LG ones like the 5K one. HDMI and DisplayPort are more widely supported by monitors though.

On the computer side, USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports are far less common than plain old USB-C ports.

 

[konqerror]

BTW, this adapter appears to support 4Kp60 and USB 3 simultaneously, on that limited number of recent Macs and on the 3rd generation iPad Pro.

I believe it’s the only such dongle that can do this.

At least the Dell DA300 and HP USB-C Dock G5 can do this. It basically requires DisplayPort 1.3's HBR3 support on the USB-C port.

Intel only supported DisplayPort 1.2 on their Thunderbolt chipsets until recently. Dell, HP and other had pure USB-C ports in their tablets and ultraportables that provided better video capabilities.

 

[Glockworkorange]

For ports that my 2013 mbp still has Apple asks additional $69.

You don’t have a USB C pass through.

 

[MrGuder]

because we just love adapters, right?

 

[EugW]

At least the Dell DA300 and HP USB-C Dock G5 can do this. It basically requires DisplayPort 1.3's HBR3 support on the USB-C port.

Intel only supported DisplayPort 1.2 on their Thunderbolt chipsets until recently. Dell, HP and other had pure USB-C ports in their tablets and ultraportables that provided better video capabilities.

Good to know but it appears you saying they don’t support simultaneous 4K 60 Hz and USB 3 on Macs then, right?

 

[ruslan120]

If you stack these can you get infinite displays?

 

[razmanugget]

According to the Apple Store description, it also works on the 12" MacBooks, not surprisingly. However, it doesn't say what resolutions and USB speeds are actually supported on the 12" MacBooks.

I assume 1080p60, 1440p60, 2160p30, and USB 3, but nowhere is this mentioned. Does anyone know for the 12" MacBook?

I have a 2016 MB 1.2GHz with an HDMI 2.0 USB-C adapter connected to a Dell 3840x2160 monitor. Yes, this does connect at 60Hz and the screen is quite smooth, compared to an HDMI 1.4 adapter; however, all processes (screen, switching windows, tasks, browsing...) have a noticeable slowed down feeling. Also, 1080p movies on the 4k monitor would stutter regularly, but look great on a 1080p monitor.

I don't think the 2015 MB supports 4k at 60Hz. Maybe the 2017 MB can handle this resolution a little better, but I stopped using the 4k monitor with my 2016 MB.

 

[konqerror]

Good to know but it appears you saying they don’t support simultaneous 4K 60 Hz and USB 3 on Macs then, right?

No. Simultaneous 4K60 and USB 3 is supported on Thunderbolt connections OR (you have a compatible USB-C dongle AND your Mac is on Apple's list linked in the article)

 

[Manzanito]

Your 2013 MBP does not have HDMI 2.0, nor does it have USB-C or Thunderbolt 3.

Of course, technically you’re right, but I guess his point was his 2013 mbp doesn’t need a dongle to output video, data or connect a friggin’ thumb drive.

But this has been discused long enough, and I don’t think apple plans to reverse course, so, in order to add something to the discussion, I’ll say why someone will choose this overpriced dongle over any of the third parties dongles or hubs is beyond me.

 

[LeonardXW]

I just bought one from a reseller can I bring to Apple to get an one to one exchange?

 

[thebiggestapple]

That’s a great option for outputting video from an iPad, but I wish it could work in reverse and allow you to use the iPad as a monitor from any HDMI video source. I know of FEBON attempting this, but I tried the adapter and the video had lag and was poor quality. Anyone know of any other solutions?

 

[GeoStructural]

There are better quality 3rd-party options for as little as $30-49 with 5 different kind of ports. I own the hyper hub which is made of matching color aluminum and works perfectly.

 

[LumbermanSVO]

In my mind the thing killing usb-c adoption is the lack of usb-c to multiple usb-c hubs, everything converts to usb-a 3.0.

This drives me insane. I just want to split a single USB-C port into 5+ USB-C ports and at the moment it looks impossible.

 

[kendo88]

There are better quality 3rd-party options for as little as $30-49 with 5 different kind of ports. I own the hyper hub which is made of matching color aluminum and works perfectly.

Yes and I don’t believe any of them support 4K60....””

 

[jacjustjac]

Can anyone confirm that this would allow us to use FCPX with HDR capable monitors like a Atomos Ninja V to grade HDR content?

 

[Mr Dobey]

Where on the Apple page does it state explicitly that the HDMI 2.0a port can send metadata necessary for HDR10 ST.2084 and HDMI 2.0b for HLG Hybrid Log Gamma and sending the metadata being supported under macOS 10.15 Catalina? Thus far Apple has not commented on such but has said that new Apple laptops / desktops supporting 500 nits can support HDR on internal screens, which can be found in the Beta builds of Catalina and QuickTime X representing Rec.2020 colors and Rec.2100 gamma correctly (at 500 nit peak). Otherwise HDR metadata output on macOS is supported to units like the Decklink Mini Monitor 4K within DaVinci Resolve or FCP X.

 

[EugW]

I have a 2016 MB 1.2GHz with an HDMI 2.0 USB-C adapter connected to a Dell 3840x2160 monitor. Yes, this does connect at 60Hz and the screen is quite smooth, compared to an HDMI 1.4 adapter; however, all processes (screen, switching windows, tasks, browsing...) have a noticeable slowed down feeling. Also, 1080p movies on the 4k monitor would stutter regularly, but look great on a 1080p monitor.

I don't think the 2015 MB supports 4k at 60Hz. Maybe the 2017 MB can handle this resolution a little better, but I stopped using the 4k monitor with my 2016 MB.

For the limited time I used it this way, I didn't notice stuttering with my 2017 MacBook on a 4K 60 Hz monitor. I have not tried this on the 2015 or 2016, but the 2015 is just slow in general.

No. Simultaneous 4K60 and USB 3 is supported on Thunderbolt connections OR (you have a compatible USB-C dongle AND your Mac is on Apple's list linked in the article)

I was talking about the hubs you listed. It would appear from your description that those do not support simultaneous 4K 60 Hz and USB 3 on most Macs. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I just bought one from a reseller can I bring to Apple to get an one to one exchange?

No. Return it to your reseller.

There are better quality 3rd-party options for as little as $30-49 with 5 different kind of ports. I own the hyper hub which is made of matching color aluminum and works perfectly.

No. The vast majority of those do not support 4K 60 Hz with USB 3 simultaneously. Most of them are only up to 4K 30 Hz with USB 3, although occasional ones that support 4K 60 Hz but only with USB 2.

There there are the ones konqerror mentioned above, but judging from his description, it seems they don't support 4K 60 Hz plus USB 3 on Macs, but support it on some non-Mac hardware.

Where on the Apple page does it state explicitly that the HDMI 2.0a port can send metadata necessary for HDR10 ST.2084 and HDMI 2.0b for HLG Hybrid Log Gamma and sending the metadata being supported under macOS 10.15 Catalina? Thus far Apple has not commented on such but has said that new Apple laptops / desktops supporting 500 nits can support HDR on internal screens, which can be found in the Beta builds of Catalina and QuickTime X representing Rec.2020 colors and Rec.2100 gamma correctly (at 500 nit peak). Otherwise HDR metadata output on macOS is supported to units like the Decklink Mini Monitor 4K within DaVinci Resolve or FCP X.

This is what it says:

Model A2119 is the newest model of this adapter. It supports HDMI 2.0 at these resolutions and refresh rates when used with macOS Mojave 10.14.6 or later or iOS 12.4 or later. It also supports HDR video in HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats when connected to a compatible playback device and display, TV, or projector.

• 
  
  
  • Up to 1080p at 60Hz
  • 3840 x 2160 at 30Hz
  • 3840 x 2160 at 60Hz with these devices:
    • 15-inch MacBook Pro introduced in 2017 or later
    • Retina iMac introduced in 2017 or later
    • iMac Pro
    • iPad Pro

 

[afawcett]

Does this work with the Nintendo Switch?
[doublepost=1565385325][/doublepost]Does the new one work with the Nintendo Switch?

 

[konqerror]

I was talking about the hubs you listed. It would appear from your description that those do not support simultaneous 4K 60 Hz and USB 3 on Macs. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Actually I don't know. It should according to specs because they do so on PCs and they should be following the same spec. Of course nobody guarantees the hub or Apple is following the specs.

 

[EugW]

Actually I don't know. It should according to specs because they do so on PCs and they should be following the same spec. Of course nobody guarantees the hub or Apple is following the specs.

Yeah, they may work on the newest Macs. I meant to say they won't do it on most older ones. The interesting models to test would be the 2017 models, vs. the 2018-2019 models.

I'm not going to buy that dongle just yet. It doesn't support my 2017 MacBook at 4K 60 Hz. My 2017 iMac is supported, but I don't need it for my iMac. Maybe when I get a new iPad Pro 6 GB 128 GB 11", I'll pick up this dongle with it, but that's months from now. But then again, I already have a 4K 60 Hz USB-C dongle for the MacBook which probably already works on the iPad Pro anyway. (It has USB-C power pass-through too, but doesn't have USB of any kind though. I also have a USB 3 + 4K 30 Hz dongle for the MacBook. Between the two of them, they serve my needs, since I usually don't have a 4K monitor hooked up to my mobile devices, and for the few times I do, I don't usually need simultaneous USB 3 support.)

 

[Falhófnir]

Is USB-C ever going to replace HDMI? I had this idea that C was going to be ultimate cable that does everything??

Well, it's now almost as ubiquitous as USB A on computers, 4 years on from Apple's switch (an entire MBP generation, and the whole 3 generation lifecycle of the 12" MacBook) maybe given another 4 years it might be as ubiquitous as HDMI on visual/display equipment?