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M2 MacBooks Still Officially Support Only a Single External Display
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This for sure isn’t a design limitation of the silicon, since old machines, slow machines like raspberry pis can do this. This is a artificial gate put in place for you to pay more for this feature if you want/need it. Not defending it and also not bashing it, but that’s what it is.
Well - I was quite surprised, they are still offering this. This looks to me as a combination of cost management as well as provision of low price entry products.
The use cases for this machine are rare …
Are the people defending apple in this thread paid? The M2 air has no technical limitations on supporting 2+ displays. It's not because there aren't enough "gpu" cores, TB controllers etc. Apple has decided to differentiate their products and make customers pay for 14" mbp or better because $. Most offices/companies that use apple could easily get away with using MBA because they are already overpowered for most tasks (including video editing, photoshop etc). The display limit forces these companies to buy the 14" pro or better.
Too bad. Looks like only the costlier Macs will be supporting multiple displays.
I did, his post does not show that it was edited, your post was edited.
The 2022 M2 Air & MBP do not have Thunderbolt 4. They have TB3, just like the M1 versions.
The "if you want multiple monitors, get a 2021 MacBook Pro" argument doesn't really hold water for those of us long-term MacBook Air users, given that Intel-based MacBook Air's supported this functionality almost 10 years ago.
My 2013 11-inch (Intel-based) MacBook Air supports two monitors. In fact, I have two Thunderbolt Displays (A1407) daisy-chained to each other and connected to the thunderbolt port, working flawlessly (with added benefit of integrated ethernet, webcam, and speakers). Since getting added to "Apple Obsolete List", I was hoping to replace the machine with an M1 MacBook Air, but paused bc of lack of multiple monitor support. M2 MacBook Air not supporting it either is a real disappointment.
My 2013 11-inch (Intel-based) MacBook Air supports two monitors. In fact, I have two Thunderbolt Displays (A1407) daisy-chained to each other and connected to the thunderbolt port, working flawlessly (with added benefit of integrated ethernet, webcam, and speakers). Since getting added to "Apple Obsolete List", I was hoping to replace the machine with an M1 MacBook Air, but paused bc of lack of multiple monitor support. M2 MacBook Air not supporting it either is a real disappointment.
Normally, the average person uses 1 external display. When you are looking at 3 displays (2 external and the Macs) then you are talking a more professional level which that's where Apple has their 14" and 16" lineup. Also: money
Is there data to back that up? I know loads of technically illiterate people who use 2 external monitors. That's anecdotal, but my experience is the other way around. Professionals have moved on to 3-4 external monitors. I currently use 3 externals on my 2013 MBP. (and a Henge dock, so I don't use my MBP as a display itself)
In my office space and in general in my company, people use 1 external and their laptop's screen. Bear in mind, our company allows up to 2 externals per "workstation". That's my anecdotal.
I have seen people with 3 or 3+ screens, but usually directly on specific projects and usually with desktops
I have a Dell laptop of work. I use the laptop screen plus 2 external monitors. Some use 3 external monitors. I think Apple is missing the boat here. They know increasing the price is troublesome, so they are going less on the tech.
They can still be professional even if their technically illiterate.
The company I consult for are in the process of going from two monitors to one big monitor. Currently fewer than 50% of the desks have two monitors and they are decreasing.
The majority of users in my office are either using 2 externals plus the laptop, or 3 externals with the laptop closed. Most of the offices I have visited are using a minimum of 2 screens per workstation.
Just want to point out that my $100 chromebook from target with an N4020 can handle 2 displays. In fact, it can handle 2 external 4k displays at 60Hz. It’s a solid milk.
Yep!
Each one can only theoretically support a display at 6k/60hz, the limitation that the person I was responding to was complaining about.
They have usb4/thunderbolt, the only reason Apple can’t call it tb4 is because one requirement of tb4 is multi-display support. M1 Max/pro have tb4.
M1/m2 effectively has tb4, Apple just can’t call it that