macOS Sonoma 14.6 Adds Dual External Display Support to M3 14-Inch MacBook Pro

[rchornef]

I'm wondering who's actually running dual-external display with the lid closed?

You lose the keyboard, Touch ID, webcam, speakers, trackpad, and obviously the Retina display. So yes, technically, the M3 supports dual external display. But in practical terms, it really doesn't.

Trackpad available as well as keyboard with Touch ID, Logitech webcam for super picture, speakers - well anything you want, laptop display on standby if you ever need it. Basically the same setup since the mid 2014 Macbook pro upped its graphics capabilities. Still have my 2014 MacBook Pro and the laptop display is still quite good for basic stuff - can’t find anyone to replace the original battery which is getting iffy (Apple refuses to service). Love clamshell mode, although now have a Mac Studio + a laptop. . .

 

[nawk]

So to do this with either the M3 MacBook Air or Pro, do you have to run two display cables to the machine - consuming both USB-C ports (or the HDMI port in the case of the Pro)? Or can you use a dock like the OWC dock to run two displays out of one USB-C port?

I have a MacBook Air M3 and I run dual displays. I have a Studio display connected directly to the Air and LG HDMI display connected to a dongle that also has mouse, keyboard and a few extra USB ports. I also have a SSD and another device connect to the Studio display as well.

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

I'm wondering who's actually running dual-external display with the lid closed?

You lose the keyboard, Touch ID, webcam, speakers, trackpad, and obviously the Retina display. So yes, technically, the M3 supports dual external display. But in practical terms, it really doesn't.

I have a 16" M3 Max that I run 95% of the time in clamshell mode with two external displays. It sits on an under desk shelf and I have a CalDigit dock plugged in with thunderbolt and one monitor plugged in with HDMI. I replaced my Mac Studio with this so that I could have that valuable portability 5% of the time. All my peripherals are nicer than those on my MacBook - screen, mouse, keyboard, mic and I don't have need of the camera. Even for the one time I did want a webcam, I have a Belkin phone mount on my screen for my iPhone. I choose not to use a Magic Keyboard as I prefer a keyboard I can switch between both my Mac and my PC but instead I use my watch's authentication instead of TouchID.

 

[nawk]

We had to remove this from my IT department standard list because we know if we set up dual display for a user, they will call complaining the displays stop working when the lid is open.

Really? You can't just tell the users that it supports only two and if they lift the lid both displays won't work? I mean I know that users are a pain - but they are not idiots. This is the reason I hate IT departments - they are too lazy to educate users on their equipment or deal with a few phone calls so instead disable a great feature for everyone. When I worked in the corporate world one of the best days of my life when the IT department started reporting to me. "Stupid" policies were immediately changed and the IT department worked to HELP my collegues get their work done in the most effective way possible - not hinder it. Sorry if that makes more work for an IT professional, but it made a huge change in our overall productivity. IT became part of the team - not working against them.

 

[seek3r]

I'm wondering who's actually running dual-external display with the lid closed?

You lose the keyboard, Touch ID, webcam, speakers, trackpad, and obviously the Retina display. So yes, technically, the M3 supports dual external display. But in practical terms, it really doesn't.

I run dual or triple with the lid closed for work normally, have a nice big mechanical keyboard (an old one actually on my main desk, an og AEK), touchid on the apple magic kb that’s hooked up literally just for that, a good logitech webcam (which is much better than the built in one), excellent speakers off a good amp, a nice logitech mouse and an apple bt trackpad, and much much bigger screens than the one on my laptop (2x27s flanking a 32, though typically one of the 27s is toggled off to a different machine). All plugged in from one cable

The internal screen, keyboard, trackpad, camera, and speakers are great on the go, but when I’m at my desk docked I have much better versions of all of those so why would I bother leaving the laptop open?

 

[DunedinD]

So to do this with either the M3 MacBook Air or Pro, do you have to run two display cables to the machine - consuming both USB-C ports (or the HDMI port in the case of the Pro)? Or can you use a dock like the OWC dock to run two displays out of one USB-C port?

You can use a dock. I’ve used a CalDigit TS4 with an M3 Air,to which one display is connected to the DisplayPort and another is connected using USB-C.

 

[sw1tcher]

I agree, but at least they give people the option? I know some people at work who do it to hookup TV size displays for WFH, but they had to get a touch ID apple keyboard, mouse and a camera from IT dept to make it all work.

Apple enabling a feature to increase peripheral sales 🤣

 

[ZZ9pluralZalpha]

It’s not duplicative if you prefer the standalone keyboard (with TouchID!) and separately-positioned Magic Trackpad/mouse. And the Studio Display camera is comparable if not better than what’s in a MacBook.

Not everyone has room for 3 displays.

This exactly—I couldn't leave my MBP open if I wanted to because I don't have a gigantic desk or the height-adjustable Studio Display stands. (Also, spanning wallpapers is already enough of a pain with just two identical monitors...)

 

[fenderbass146]

I'm wondering who's actually running dual-external display with the lid closed?

You lose the keyboard, Touch ID, webcam, speakers, trackpad, and obviously the Retina display. So yes, technically, the M3 supports dual external display. But in practical terms, it really doesn't.

It's way more common then you think...I have dual Thunderbolt Displays, keyboard, magic trackpad.

 

[platinumaqua]

It would be useful to keep the lid open for the camera and Touch ID.

But it would be too complicated for Apple to let users disable the internal display when the lid is open.

I use a DisplayLink docking station with my M1 MBP and two external displays and have to mirror one of the displays to the internal display and then reduce the brightness of the internal display to zero in order to emulate a disabled internal display and still be able to use the camera, the Touch ID and the Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro.
Every Windows laptop has a dedicated key on the keyboard to switch to this mode without dumb workarounds.

I know all Windows laptops support turning off the external display but have the lid open for keyboard/trackpad

 

[Jamie0003]

We’re now 4 generations into the M series chips, and STILL only supporting one display unless in clamshell mode? Why Apple?

Also why can’t the iPad “Pro” do this?

 

[ThailandToo]

I'm wondering who's actually running dual-external display with the lid closed?

You lose the keyboard, Touch ID, webcam, speakers, trackpad, and obviously the Retina display. So yes, technically, the M3 supports dual external display. But in practical terms, it really doesn't.

Not if you use Apple Keyboard with TouchID, and external Mouse/Trackpad. It actually works wonderfully. I only use my MacBook Pro/lid closed with monitors at the desk and away from the desk I just use the MacBook Pro. Works amazing.

 

[Jamie0003]

I know there will conspiracy theories abound over this, but I genuinely get the sense that this something they figured out how to do rather than something they withheld for marketing reasons. I have no evidence whatsoever to support this, I just think if they really wanted to keep the machines differentiated for market segmentation reasons, they would not be enabling it now, and they certainly wouldn't have first enabled it on the 'lesser' Air vs. the Pro.



Actually I do this every day! My home office setup is 2x Apple Studio displays, a bluetooth Magic Keyboard with TouchID, and a Caldigit dock. Laptop stays closed and I just plug in a single TB cable. I stack another laptop above and use universal control to access it.

Christ this sounds cumbersome. So you can’t use both displays with the one MacBook?

 

[maxoakland]

I'm wondering who's actually running dual-external display with the lid closed?

You lose the keyboard, Touch ID, webcam, speakers, trackpad, and obviously the Retina display. So yes, technically, the M3 supports dual external display. But in practical terms, it really doesn't.

A lot of people use their MacBook as a desktop when they’re at home and as a laptop when they’re traveling

 

[chriscl]

Just properly support DisplayPort MST Apple, you know, like every other operating system out there does.

Then you could run two monitors via a single dock and have the laptop screen too, like Windows has had for the last decade (and it pains me to write that).

 

[JPack]

A lot of people use their MacBook as a desktop when they’re at home and as a laptop when they’re traveling

It's not being able to use the built-in monitor when external monitors are connected.



Sure, you can buy a separate Touch ID keyboard, speakers, webcam, etc. But it seems a waste when an external Magic Keyboard is exactly the same size and layout.

The difference between M3 and M3 Pro is only $200. Ignoring the performance bump, being able to use 3 monitors simultaneously is a big benefit.

Clamshell mode on M3 MBA can reduce performance by up to 50% due to heat.

 

[adib]

Why would I want to use the comparatively tiny screen, keyboard, trackpad while at home versus 2 27" monitors with a full size KB and mouse? And my desktop speakers are way better too.

Why would you? Only you know.

Until two months ago, I use a 13" Intel MBP in open-clam mode with two 27" 4K monitors at home. One external monitor is dedicated for chat, PIM, and knowledge base apps. The built-in monitor is mostly for primary work or screen sharing.

Until I was eligible to replace the laptop. Now running a 16" M3 MBP, also in open-clam mode with those two external monitors.

Desktop speakers? For watching movies, maybe. But for work its Shokz OpenComm for me.

 

[DunedinD]

I know all Windows laptops support turning off the external display but have the lid open for keyboard/trackpad

I’m curious to know if disabling the internal display using SwitchResX would allow this.

 

[Jamie0003]

Really? You can't just tell the users that it supports only two and if they lift the lid both displays won't work? I mean I know that users are a pain - but they are not idiots.

Errrrrm….yes they are

We once got a ticket in asking us to move the users windows from one screen to the other. We use windows machines though

 

[con2apple]

I'm wondering who's actually running dual-external display with the lid closed?

Put simply, everyone who knows that you get sick if you sit bent over in front of a laptop all the time. No matter how Retina the display is.

An external keyboard, mouse and two screens at a normal desk are a must.

At least if we understand "working" to mean eight hours.
As an influencer or management consultant, you can also flop down on the couch for a few minutes of keyboard tapping.

 

[ValppleFan]

I'm wondering who's actually running dual-external display with the lid closed?

You lose the keyboard, Touch ID, webcam, speakers, trackpad, and obviously the Retina display. So yes, technically, the M3 supports dual external display. But in practical terms, it really doesn't.

running triple display setup with 14inch m3 max in clamshell mode. got an MX Master 3 S and Keychron K2 V2. whenever i need a webcam I have my iphone on a magnet on top of one of my screens that gives a kick ass quality compared to the built in webcam. also have logitech Z623 with subwoofer for sound and airpods pro 2 for any calls. the m3 max is basically a mac studio but portable. Basically this laptop is the best of both worlds, I unplug one cable and I am on the go and when I work at my desk it’s like having a mac studio with all the usual desktop equipment.

 

[DaniTheFox]

I would like that the M4 iPad can do the same. Clamshell-mode would be indicated by a iPad Magic Keyboard. But hell. External displays in that quality would be expensive. And FaceID would be lost.

 

[bax2023]

I'm wondering who's actually running dual-external display with the lid closed?

You lose the keyboard, Touch ID, webcam, speakers, trackpad, and obviously the Retina display. So yes, technically, the M3 supports dual external display. But in practical terms, it really doesn't.

You should be a little be more open minded. There is a lot of ones who use their MBPs in multiple environments: with much largers displays, studio monitors etc. when you apsolutely do not need the integrated components because they are grately inferior.

 

[John_Blackthorne]

I'm wondering who's actually running dual-external display with the lid closed?

You lose the keyboard, Touch ID, webcam, speakers, trackpad, and obviously the Retina display. So yes, technically, the M3 supports dual external display. But in practical terms, it really doesn't.

I do that all the time. I have multiple Studio Displays and an external trackpad and keyboard.

I don't see how people use an external display and type from the laptop--it's just uncomfortable to me.

 

[Alameda]

So to do this with either the M3 MacBook Air or Pro, do you have to run two display cables to the machine - consuming both USB-C ports (or the HDMI port in the case of the Pro)? Or can you use a dock like the OWC dock to run two displays out of one USB-C port?

No, you plug a cable into the MacBook and the second monitor magically knows.

Seriously, the problem is that 4K60 10-bit video consumes about 20 Gbps, so two of these displays would consume the full bandwidth of a Thunderbolt connection. You can buy DisplayPort or Thunderbolt Display which has the daisy chain connectors, so you plug monitor two into monitor one. That way, just one Thunderbolt cable to the MacBook.

But if you run one cable to a dock, and attach the two monitors to the dock, you’ll saturate its 40 gbps bandwidth and it won’t be able to do anything except drive those two monitors… unless your resolution is lower than 4K60 10-bit.