Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
MacBook Air M1 and Caldigit TS3+
- Thread starter Ocnetgeek
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Have an issue - though unsure if related to the TS3+.
On wake in clamshell mode the screen on the external monitor is corrupt. A bank of vertical pixels is out of place. If I pull the monitor cable and and then back in it's fine.
Seems similar issues with previous intel Mac laptop i.e. the 16" MBP would have the wrong colour gamut.
Anyone else have this and a work around that doesn't involve pulling cables ?
Thanks
On wake in clamshell mode the screen on the external monitor is corrupt. A bank of vertical pixels is out of place. If I pull the monitor cable and and then back in it's fine.
Seems similar issues with previous intel Mac laptop i.e. the 16" MBP would have the wrong colour gamut.
Anyone else have this and a work around that doesn't involve pulling cables ?
Thanks
Well the MBA M1 also rebooted twice when waking from sleep today. Appears Apple still can't manage to make a laptop that works reliably in clamshell mode. Time to give up trying.
No but there is always some issue with clamshell with or without a dock.
A MBP16" connected to an LG5K direct without the dock sold by Apple would regularly have the wrong colour gamut when waking from sleep.
The monitor works flawlessly through the dock connected to an iMac Pro.
A MBP16" connected to an LG5K direct without the dock sold by Apple would regularly have the wrong colour gamut when waking from sleep.
The monitor works flawlessly through the dock connected to an iMac Pro.
*shrug* Haven't seen any issues with clamshell mode here - over two years with my TS3+
Not suggesting you're not experiencing issues, just saying that it's apparently not as universal as you suggest.
Last edited:
I've been using a Caldigit SOHO dock with an M1 MacBook Air in clamshell now for a month without any problems. Before the dock, I used the MBA in clamshell connected with a Belkin HDMI adapter. I didn't have any problems then either.
If your MBA is rebooting spontaneously, I suspect that software is involved. Have you tried a clean install and not migrating from a previous Mac?
Text sharp - for sure. Colour is great, though not as close to Apple as my old LG ultrafine.
I run it at 1440p. It would be too small to see the text if run natively.
Yeah usb inputs work as well here as audio input, but the digital optical audio port is nowhere to be seen on my M1 machine 😕 my Intel MBP has no issues when connected
Apologies for resurrecting this slightly old thread, but seems like as good a place as any for general M1 and TS3+ questions.
I've been looking at docking solutions for my M1 MacBook Pro and have been slightly alarmed by all the reports of M1 Macs getting bricked by USB-C docks which also supply power. I've also been considering the TS3+ as though it's a bit pricier this class of device seems to be the only type of thing which has everything I need (extra Thunderbolt 3 port, USB-A connections, Ethernet, Displayport). In the light of issues with the USB-C devices which I'd be intending to use as a cheaper stop gap, I'm thinking of going all in to start with.
I've been doing some research and it seems like Thunderbolt docks which offer charging don't seem to have the same issues as USB-C devices. In fact I've found almost no mention of such problems at all. Before I dive in with the TS3+, do people have a general sense of whether this is true or not?
As a side note, it seems there are some bus powered devices which will give me almost everything I need (e.g. https://www.amazon.co.uk/CalDigit-Thunderbolt-Mini-Dock-HDMI/dp/B079GVZK24/) and still allow me to use the Apple charger in my other port. I had a look at the TS3+ manual but it seems like it's not possible to use it in a mode which provides only data to the Mac and no power.
I've been looking at docking solutions for my M1 MacBook Pro and have been slightly alarmed by all the reports of M1 Macs getting bricked by USB-C docks which also supply power. I've also been considering the TS3+ as though it's a bit pricier this class of device seems to be the only type of thing which has everything I need (extra Thunderbolt 3 port, USB-A connections, Ethernet, Displayport). In the light of issues with the USB-C devices which I'd be intending to use as a cheaper stop gap, I'm thinking of going all in to start with.
I've been doing some research and it seems like Thunderbolt docks which offer charging don't seem to have the same issues as USB-C devices. In fact I've found almost no mention of such problems at all. Before I dive in with the TS3+, do people have a general sense of whether this is true or not?
As a side note, it seems there are some bus powered devices which will give me almost everything I need (e.g. https://www.amazon.co.uk/CalDigit-Thunderbolt-Mini-Dock-HDMI/dp/B079GVZK24/) and still allow me to use the Apple charger in my other port. I had a look at the TS3+ manual but it seems like it's not possible to use it in a mode which provides only data to the Mac and no power.
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
I’ve seen reports that using just Apple’s power adapter without a dock has bricked a MacBook. I’ve seen reports about Apple’s HDMI adapter with the power adapter plugged in bricked a MacBook. I’ve seen so many different reports that I can’t find any pattern. My point is that I wouldn’t worry about it. The likelihood that you will hit a problem is extremely low.
Having said that, a couple of thoughts on why fewer Thunderbolt docks have been implicated come to mind. First, by necessity, Thunderbolt docks are going to be more expensive and generally better designed. Also, fewer people are going to be using TB docks vs. USB-C docks since USB-C docks are less expensive and do many of the same functions.
On the other hand, whether or not you are using a TB or USB-C dock, they both use the same power delivery to charge the MacBook. So it is difficult to believe that there is a difference between a quality USB-C dock and a TB dock. Avoid no name brands and cheap knock-offs and the odds of having a problem go way down.
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Thanks for this. Going for a quality product from a well known brand as you suggest seems like the best mitigation against any potential problems.
I'd considered the fact that TB docks would be better designed but it's an interesting point that probably fewer people have them and so reports of issues are more rare as a consequence. Even considering this, it does seem to be vanishingly rare to see anybody have a problem with the TS3+. All in all it looks like a great piece of kit.
I thought about getting a TS3+ but I decided it was overkill for my needs. I went with the Caldigit SOHO USB-C dock and have been pretty happy with it. I’ve had to unplug it a couple of times to reset it after some port weirdness but nothing terrible.