New MacBook Pro Models Feature HDMI 2.1 Port Instead of HDMI 2.0

[Silverjerk]

To think that this is enough for some people to upgrade and spend thousands of dollars for

These MacBook Pros are marketed to professionals; I've never understood this sentiment. A good segment of the consumers these machines are engineered for are using them to facilitate their careers in development, design, music and video production, and numerous other industries. These are pivotal to those individuals' doing their work. In some cases that additional power equals time savings, which can translate directly to more income.

So yes, it is enough. I spent over $4k on my 16" MacBook Pro without thinking twice; as a Product/UX Designer, it's the main tool I use to earn a very good income. I will upgrade with nearly every hardware refresh to ensure I'm getting the most from my machine.

Long story short, if it's too much machine for you, there are other, less expensive options available.

 

[glsillygili]

Still needs a USB-A port. Comical that they would add a full size HDMI port but not a USB port.

 

[3530025]

To think that this is enough for some people to upgrade and spend thousands of dollars for

You don't have to buy every new release you know?

It's pretty normal to upgrade every once few years. And in such case this MBP release is totally fine for someone with 5 years old Macbook...

 

[Kylo83]

Hopefully this makes third party USB-C to HDMI 2.1 adapters work with 4K@120Hz with existing Macs. The problem is these were also limited to 60Hz without any real reason so far.

Is that a macos issue can the M1 Max MacBook Pro do usb c to HDMI 2.1 to lg 120hz

 

[Kylo83]

Right? I’ve been running 4K above 60hz on my 2021 MBP since day 1.

How I wanna use my MacBook Pro M1 Max on my lg OLED cx with 120hz

 

[JaredJenkinsDesign]

These MacBook Pros are marketed to professionals; I've never understood this sentiment. A good segment of the consumers these machines are engineered for are using them to facilitate their careers in development, design, music and video production, and numerous other industries. These are pivotal to those individuals' doing their work. In some cases that additional power equals time savings, which can translate directly to more income.

So yes, it is enough. I spent over $4k on my 16" MacBook Pro without thinking twice; as a Product/UX Designer, it's the main tool I use to earn a very good income. I will upgrade with nearly every hardware refresh to ensure I'm getting the most from my machine.

Long story short, if it's too much machine for you, there are other, less expensive options available.

100% agreed with this mentality. I'm trying to make money with this machine and if there is an upgrade that will improve my efficiency and performance in the long run, then it's a worthy investment at the time.

 

[TheBigApple2006]

It doesn't seem that any of the new Macs can do more than 60Hz on the USBC port. 4K at 240Hz seems to be reserved for the HDMI 2.1. So what happens at 5K? Can the HDMI port do a static 120Hz? I assume that ProMotion requires a USB-C connection. In other words, it doesn't seem like these new Mini and Pros can actually feed ProMotion into the mythical mini-LED Studio Display Pro, assuming it will appear...

 

[bviktor]

Cool. Dumping HDMI would be even better. Thunderbolt + DisplayPort FTW.

 

[mozumder]

For a pro model, this really needed to be an HDMI INPUT, to connect to video cameras directly.

 

[Sasparilla]

Nice to have the updated HDMI added (and the port not dropped).

I suppose you can still sell the "old" machine to recoup the majority of the cost.

That's a good point and one of the unique things about Apple Mac's and iPhone's is they hold their value much, much better than PC's and Android phones - so you can sell them a year or a couple of years down the road and still get alot of what you paid for them.

 

[Beatrix Kiddo]

or if you already have a m1 pro/max, just use the thunderbolt port? 😂

Apple puts hdmi 2.0 people complain.

Apple puts hdmi 2.1 people say it’s unnecessary.

 

[transphasic]

My goodness, I should have waited the three months and not saved the $900 for my hi-specced M1 Pro for a microscopic speed bump and an HDMI improvement - even though I don't use HDMI and no 8K monitors exist on this planet...Apple really crushed it this iteration LOL...what a joke.

To anyone who has been holding off buying and using an M1 for this "upgrade", you could have been using a really great laptop all this time.

 

[Kylo83]

Apple upgrades are so minor now it’s worth getting the older ones

 

[WilliamG]

How I wanna use my MacBook Pro M1 Max on my lg OLED cx with 120hz

Via Thunderbolt 4 to DisplayPort. The CX isn't a monitor for most people (I have one - it's a great TV/gaming screen).

 

[Kylo83]

Via Thunderbolt 4 to DisplayPort. The CX isn't a monitor for most people (I have one - it's a great TV/gaming screen).

So I can get 120hz using that ok thanks but tv doesn’t have display port

 

[maconservative]

A worthy upgrade for my 2015 MBP 13. Finally.

 

[WilliamG]

So I can get 120hz using that ok thanks but tv doesn’t have display port

Correct, and a TV isn't a monitor. I recognize people use their OLEDs for a monitor, but, meh...

 

[fgengineer]

This is exactly what I wanted. I just got an 8k TV that I use as a monitor and couldn’t use it with my MacBook Pro.

Finally.

 

[ilikewhey]

Apple puts hdmi 2.0 people complain.

Apple puts hdmi 2.1 people say it’s unnecessary.

if hdmi 2.1 is one of the only handful of no need but want feature then yes, i can see why folks would say its unnecessary, its all about the context.

 

[kiranmk2]

My goodness, I should have waited the three months and not saved the $900 for my hi-specced M1 Pro for a microscopic speed bumpy and an HDMI improvement - even though I don't use HDMI and no 8K monitors exist on this planet...Apple really crushed it this iteration LOL...what a joke.

To anyone who has been holding off buying and using an M1 for this "upgrade", you could have been using a really great laptop all this time.

Dell made an 8K monitor in 2018 - the UP3218K

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Apple should have added the latest SD Card spec and should have swapped out one of the USB-C ports for a USB-A to complete the port story. Mac mini gets two of them, MBP should get at least one.

 

[kiranmk2]

So does this mean that the HDMI port is more capable than the Thunderbolt port in terms of video output? Doesn't bode well for the Apple displays - they want to push the simplicity of a single cable for power, video and USB/Thunderbolt, but it seems to top out at 6k60. Plus the Apple displays don't have HDMI in so can't even support the M2 Pro high bandwidth output...

I guess the Mac Thunderbolt port is still limited to Displayport 1.4 which is strange as GPUs and monitors supporting DisplayPort 2.1 have just been announced in the PC market.

 

[fakestrawberryflavor]

Apple puts hdmi 2.0 people complain.

Apple puts hdmi 2.1 people say it’s unnecessary.

Both can be true lol. I for one, would rather have another TB4 port instead of HDMI of any flavor, since I already am using all of my TB4 ports (2x LG 5K, 1 CalDigit TB4 Dock). But to each his own.

 

[JHBrown]

Finally the first couple of Macs to have HDML 2.1! Not that I use one but I'm curious if any users who use a 4k 120 hz TV like a LG C2 would be tempted to upgrade so they can get the full experience.

Many more have the LG C1 as well. That model has 4 HDMI 2.1 ports too.

 

[transphasic]

Dell made an 8K monitor in 2018 - the UP3218K

...which had terrible reviews and was deeply flawed.