PSA: You can now buy a sky blue USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable for your MacBook
The new generation MacBook Air with the M4 chip comes in a new “sky blue” color, and in keeping with tradition, the laptop comes with a traced charging cable that matches the color chosen by the consumer. However, even if you have no plans to buy the new M4 MacBook Air, you can still get a sky blue USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable. more…

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How to connect two or more external displays to an M1, M2, M3 or M4 MacBook
Macworld While the higher-end MacBooks with M1/M2/M3/M4 Pro and Max chips support multiple external displays, the majority of Apple’s lower-end range of MacBooks that use a standard M1 and M2 processor cannot natively connect more than one external monitor, and to do so the M3 has to have its lid closed. This is a massive limitation compared to the previous Intel-based generation of Mac laptops that could run two displays when connected to a USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 docking station or hub. Apple’s M3 MacBook Air models support two external monitors but only if the MacBook has its lid closed in what is known as Clamshell Mode. The M3 MacBook Pro supports a similar feature, but the macOS Sonoma 14.6 update needs to be installed. We explain how to run dual external displays on an M3 MacBook in a separate article. The solutions below, however, allow for more than two external displays on plain M1, M2 and M3 Macs with their lids open if you want it. The plain M4 MacBook Air and Pro models do natively support two displays with the lid open but if you want three displays for these MacBooks, then keep reading. There have also been reports that the M3 MacBook Air with lid closed suffers significant performance decline due to heat build up, so following our advice below still has relevance even for M3 MacBook Air and Pro users who want to hook up to multiple displays and keep their Mac purring at full speed. Later, we list our tested and recommended software and hardware solutions for adding more than one display to the plain M1, M2 and M3 Macs. You can jump straight to our list of the best DisplayLink docks if you know all about DisplayLink. If not, read on a while. The solutions we explain here will also help plain M4 users and M2/M3/M4 Pro MacBook users extend to three external displays. Here are the external display specs for Apple’s current laptops: M1 MacBook Air: Maximum one external display—read our workarounds below. M2 MacBook Air: Maximum one external display—read our workarounds below. M3 MacBook Air: Maximum two external displays if MacBook lid is closed. Three using our workarounds. M2 MacBook Pro: Maximum one external display—read our workarounds below. M2 Pro MacBook Pro: Maximum two external displays. Four using our workarounds. M2 Max MacBook Pro: Maximum four external displays. M3 MacBook Air: Maximum two external displays if MacBook lid is closed. Two or three with lid closed using our workarounds. M3 MacBook Pro: Maximum two external displays if MacBook lid is closed. Two or three with lid closed using our workarounds. M3 Pro MacBook Pro: Maximum two external displays. Four using our workarounds. M3 Max MacBook Pro: Maximum four external displays. Workarounds allow four using just one laptop port, plus dock. M4 MacBook Air: Maximum two external displays. Three using our workarounds. M4 MacBook Pro: Maximum two external displays. Three using our workarounds. M4 Pro MacBook Pro: Maximum two external displays. Four using our workarounds. M4 Max MacBook Pro: Maximum four external displays. Workarounds allow four using just one laptop port, plus dock. However, there are ways around these plain M1/M2/M3 limitations, allowing you to run two or more external displays off your MacBook, which we will outline here. In each case, there’s a software download and a docking station, hub or adapter required.  The simplest solution is to get a USB graphics-enabled docking station or hub, sometimes called a DisplayLink Dock—and we’ve reviewed the best ones later in this article. USB graphics is a software-based technology (DisplayLink or InstantView) that compresses the video signals from the computer to the monitor, enabling you to connect multiple external displays to your M1, M2 or M3 MacBook. Installing third-party software drivers leads to a slight risk that these might later be unsupported by future updates of the macOS, but the two drivers we recommend are recognized industry standards that we believe will continue to be supported. External displays: Big problem for M1, M2 and some M3 Macs Apple’s Mac mini, MacBook Air, and 13-inch MacBook Pro were the first Macs to feature the Apple-designed M1 processor (CPU). They received rave reviews for their speed improvements over Intel-based laptops, including here on Macworld. Since then Apple has released M2, M3 and M4 chips, plus Pro and Max versions of the M1, M2, M3 and M4. But if your MacBook setup includes running more than one external display, you have a major problem. Apple’s basic (non-Pro or Max) M1 and M2 chips simply won’t allow it—at least natively. Apple states in the M1 or M2 MacBook Air and M3 MacBook Pro tech specs that they support only “one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz”. Foundry While the M1 and M2 MacBooks natively support just one monitor, the M1 and M2 Mac Mini does natively support up to two external monitors—one via the HDMI port and a second via USB-C. But the M1 and M2 models of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro (plus the M3 MacBook Pro) support only a single external display over Thunderbolt. The M3 MacBook Air models (13- and 15-inch) were the first to support more than one external display—as long as you close the laptop’s lid (Clamshell Mode) to allow for the second external display. The first display (allowing an open MacBook lid) has a maximum 6K resolution at 60Hz. The second display (requiring the closed lid) can be up to 5K at 60Hz. The 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro also supports two external display in Clamshell Mode, but the macOS Sonoma 14.6 update must be installed to do this. The M4 MacBook Air and 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro escape the single-display limit even with its lid open, but if you want more than two displays for that model, keep reading. We cover the basics of how to connect your Mac to an external monitor. Workaround #1: Install DisplayLink software drivers You can use a combination of display technologies to get around the M1/M2/M3 MacBooks’ single-monitor limitation. DisplayLink is the most common software solution that you pair with a compatible dock: we’ve tested the best DisplayLink docks further down. Note that the docks need to state DisplayLink compatibility—you can’t just install DisplayLink drivers and hope they work with regular docks and hubs. A whole new category of docks—many reviewed below—has appeared to solve the M1/M2/M3 Mac one-screen problem. DisplayLink USB-C docks or just USB-C docks require software drivers to enable data compression that make them almost as powerful as a Thunderbolt dock. You’ll need to download the appropriate DisplayLink software from the dock manufacturer—full instructions later on. Many multi-display docks use a combination of native USB-C Alternate Mode (native “Alt Mode” video output) and DisplayLink technology. This combination serves as a workaround to the M1/M2/M3 platform supporting only a single external display via USB-C. Note that DisplayLink requires a third-party driver to be installed on the Mac. There are different versions of the DisplayLink driver, and some bring their own compromises to the party. But, in general, setup is straightforward. Some of the docks we review below offer the DisplayLink software when you first connect the dock to your Mac. The DisplayLink macOS app or DisplayLink Manager app are ways of enabling DisplayLink technology on macOS. The app is available as a standalone installer rather than through the mac App Store. Plugable docking station and three external displays via DisplayLink. 1. First, download the latest Mac DisplayLink driver. As stated above, some docks, do this for you but it’s always best to use the latest version. DisplayLink Manager Graphics Connectivity App v. 1.12 is compatible with macOS Monterey 12, Ventura 13, Sonoma 14 and Sequoia 15. For macOS Big Sur 11, look for version 1.9, and v1.5 for Catalina 10.15. It can be managed via the DisplayLink icon in the Apple Menu bar. The macOS requires the user to permit “Screen Recording” in order for DisplayLink devices to work properly. This can be found in System Preferences under Privacy in Security & Privacy; navigate to Screen Recording in the list on the left, then tick the Screen Recording permission for DisplayLink Manager after unlocking the padlock using your admin password. You may need to quit and restart DisplayLink Manager afterward. Don’t worry, DisplayLink isn’t recording your screen—this just lets it do its magic enabling multiple screens. Installation is straightforward. Older versions did not support laptops’ closed-display/Clamshell Mode, but 1.8.1 and later do support Clamshell Mode if the MacBook is Intel-based running macOS 12 or if the MacBook is M1-based running macOS 11 or later. The scariest bit is when you need to enable “Screen Recording” to allow the DisplayLink Manager app to capture pixels and send them to your USB peripheral. This entails making some adjustments in the Mac’s “Privacy” tab, but you are walked through it step by step. Take a look at the instructions here. There’s an option in DisplayLink manager to “launch at startup”, or you can drag the DisplayLink Manager to your Login Items in Users & Groups. 2. Then connect the MacBook to a docking station. 3. For the first screen you can connect via the dock’s DisplayPort or HDMI Port, and this will be handled natively by the M1/M2 MacBook. You could also connect the first external display via the dock’s other display ports or via a Thunderbolt or USB-C to HDMI or DisplayPort adapter. The HDMI or DisplayPort output uses Alternate Mode (Alt Mode), and as it is basically a pipeline directly to the system’s native GPU, it will behave just like if you hooked up a USB-C to HDMI dongle to your laptop. This requires no user driver installation. The second and third displays will rely on the DisplayLink software. DisplayLink uses an installed driver and the system CPU and GPU to convert graphics data on the system into data packets. That data is then sent over the cable as data packets and converted back to video information and output to the monitors via the DisplayLink chip in the docking station. Workaround #2: Install InstantView software Another third-party software solution is SiliconMotion’s InstantView, which operates in a similar way to DisplayLink and works with three of the hardware hubs and adapters we review below. The initial setup is easier than DisplayLink with the hubs from Hyper but similar to the Satechi hub—but it suffers the same challenge that Apple’s software updates could disable it, which will entail installing a newer version and allowing the necessary security & privacy settings for screen recording, just as with DisplayLink. You can download the latest version of InstantView software here. The latest version supports macOS 15 Sequoia, 14 Sonoma, 13 Ventura and 12 Monterey. Neither software solution is complicated and both worked well in our tests as you can read below. Which docks support DisplayLink and InstantView? Originally, dock manufacturers did not officially support such a DisplayLink setup for Macs. The solution works, but they rightly warned that this could become unstuck in future versions of the macOS. Whenever there is a new OS update the drivers may need to be updated each time. However, after some recent testing and improvements Plugable, for example, has updated its compatibility to officially support that configuration. For Mac compatibility, it has validated both Apple and Intel platforms running at least macOS 11. Which dock is best? A docking station connects to your MacBook via Thunderbolt or USB-C. It then offers multiple ports that your laptop now has access to. These can include new display ports, such as HDMI, as well as Gigabit Ethernet for wired Internet access, USB-C/Thunderbolt/USB-A ports at varying speeds, audio plugs, and card readers. Learn more about the best Thunderbolt docking stations for more details, or you can connect via a simpler USB-C hub. Look for a dock with two or more display ports, preferably ones that can connect to your preferred displays without the need for an adapter. Thunderbolt 4 docks or hubs often have no dedicated display port but three available TB4 ports that can be used to connect directly to a USB-C display or via adapters to HDMI or DisplayPort monitors. While you may have to buy an adapter cable, 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4’s port flexibility and backward compatibility are recommended for users of modern Macs such as the M1 and M2 MacBooks. USB-C docks and hubs are usually cheaper, but not always so check our reviews below. Docking station and hub manufacturers are now actively marketing their products as solutions to the M1/M2/M3 external display limitation—docks have to support DisplayLink to work with the software. All the docks and hubs reviewed below support DisplayLink. Each requires either the DisplayLink download or another similar software solution, such as InstantView, but no further hardware adapter except for the dock or hub itself. And of course, these hubs offer the usual multi-port benefits as well as the external monitor solution. The best multiscreen hubs and adapters for M1, M2, M3 and M4 MacBooks Below we have gathered the best dedicated hubs and docks for multiscreen M1/M2/M3/M4. Note that most of these listed (and tested) below use USB-C rather than Thunderbolt, so don’t benefit from the MacBook’s potential 40Gbps data bandwidth. If you require all 40Gbps, go for a Thunderbolt dock and install DisplayLink as instructed above. We have tested docks that can support four external displays and some that max out at two, which we expect will be plenty for most people. Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink – three 4K displays at 60Hz for M1/M2, four for M3/M4 Pros Supports up to four external displays at 4K 60Hz One display at 6K 60Hz 11 ports, inc. three 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 2x HDMI 2.0 video ports Speedy SD card reader 96W charging and 180W power supply Price When Reviewed: $299.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $237.83 View Deal $299.99 View Deal Satechi $299.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $237.83 at Walmart Electronics$299.99 at Amazon$299.99 at Satechi While plain M1 and M2 MacBooks are limited to three external displays using this dock when DisplayLink software is installed, M3/M4 and M1/M2/M3/M4 Pro/Max MacBooks can connect to four 4K at 60Hz. Other docks reviewed here also allow M1 and M2 Macs to connect to three displays, but what we really like about the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink is right there in its name: it’s a full Thunderbolt 4 dock rather than USB-C. It therefore offers 40Gbps data-transfer rates compared to the 10Gbps that you’ll find on most of the other docks reviewed here. The Plugable TBT-6950PD, reviewed below, is very similar to this Satechi dock. That Thunderbolt port connection also allows one of the three screens to be at 6K resolution (60Hz) while the other two via HDMI will be 4K at 60Hz. There are two HDMI 2.0 ports plus a generous three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (as well as one upstream TB4 to the laptop). It doesn’t host any extra USB-C ports but the three Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps data transfer, 15W power output) are backwards compatible with USB-C. There are two fast 10Gbps USB-A ports, too, plus a UHS-II SD card reader, Gigabit Ethernet and an audio jack. Non-Pro/Max M3 and M4 Macs can connect to four displays using this dock, as long as the laptop’s lid is closed (clamshell mode). It’s also a great option for M1/M2/M3/M4 Pro users usually restricted to two external displays. U.K. customers can buy direct from Satechi (with a small shipping fee) but will need to purchase a local power cable. Satechi also sells a 12-port USB-C-based Triple 4K Display Docking Station that supports three 4K displays at 60Hz using DisplayLink. It is priced the same as the Satechi Thunderbolt DisplayLink Dock. Normally we’d always pick a Thunderbolt dock over USB-C but this one hosts a mix of DisplayPort and HDMI ports that offers a more flexible monitor choice than the Thunderbolt dock’s two HDMI and three TB4 ports. If you prefer DisplayPort for your monitor connection you should consider this USB-C dock although a simple USB-C to DisplayPort adapter will work the same magic on the TB dock. Read our full Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink review Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station (TBT-6950PD) – three 4K displays at 60Hz for M1/M2, four for M3/M4 Pros Supports up to four external displays at 4K 60Hz One display at 6K 60Hz 11 ports, inc. three 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 2x HDMI 2.0 video ports Speedy SD card reader 96W charging and 180W power supply Cons North America only Price When Reviewed: $299.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $299.95 View Deal $299.95 View Deal $299.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $299.95 at Amazon$299.95 at B&H$299.95 at Walmart Electronics This dock is almost identical to the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 DisplayLink dock reviewed above. M1/M2 Mac owners can connect up to three external displays, and M3 and M1/M2/M3 Pro and Max users can attach up to four monitors. The Thunderbolt port means one of the three screens can be at 6K resolution (60Hz) while the other two via HDMI will be 4K at 60Hz. The USB ports are at least 10Gbps and the SC card reader is also fast at 312MBps. The Plugable version has a few advantages over the Satechi: a slightly longer (1m vs 0.8m) Thunderbolt cable, Kensington lock slot and two-year warranty (vs 1 year from Satechi). Read our full Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station for 4K Quad Monitors review Plugable USB-C Dual 4K Display Docking Station (UD-6950PDH) – two 4K displays at 60Hz Pros Dual 4K monitor support for M1/M2/M3 Macs 13 ports 100W PD to laptop Fast SD card reader Cons Not for fast data transfer North America only Price When Reviewed: $199.95 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $199.95 View Deal $199.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $199.95 at Amazon$199.95 at B&H If you don’t require full 40Gbps Thunderbolt, Plugable’s redesigned USB-C -based UD-6950PDH docking station plus free-to-download DisplayLink software can connect two extra 4K/60Hz displays to M1, M2 and M3 Macs. While plain M3 MacBooks can already connect to two external displays, this DisplayLink dock allows plain M3 MacBooks to remain open with the two additional displays attached (otherwise the M3 laptop’s lid has to be closed). M4 and M4 Pro MacBooks can already run two screens natively but using a dock saves the laptop’s built-in ports. It features an impressive 13 ports including Gigabit Ethernet, SD and MicroSD card readers and five spare USB ports. You won’t get data transfer any faster than 5Gbps so if you crave the full 40Gbps Thunderbolt bandwidth you should instead consider the more powerful Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink, reviewed above. You can use both of the dock’s HDMI ports or both DisplayPort or a mix of each, depending on your monitor requirements. Two video ports will always be left empty, but the flexibility is welcome. No availability outside of North America has yet been announced. Read our full Plugable USB-C Dual 4K Display Docking Station (UD-6950PDH) review Alogic DX3 Triple 4K Display Universal Docking Station – three 4K displays at 60Hz Pros Supports three external displays at 4K 60Hz 12 ports, inc. 10Gbps USB-C 3x DisplayPort 1.4 video ports Speedy SD and MicroSD card readers 100W charging and 135W power supply Price When Reviewed: $299.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $216.27 View Deal Alogic $299.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $216.27 at Amazon$299.99 at Alogic This Alogic DisplayLink docking station supports up to three external 4K displays at an impressive 60Hz refresh rate and has an array of useful non-display ports. It can power the connected laptop at 100W and has a decent 135W external power supply so doesn’t require an extra USB-C charger. The DisplayLink download link is clearly shown in the user manual, and instructions make sense—although you need a magnifying glass to read them! The DX3 has three DisplayPort 1.4 ports but no HDMI, so you’ll need to add an adapter between dock and display if you prefer HDMI. As you’ll need to buy video cables anyway, this doesn’t matter as prices for straight cable and adapter cable are close enough. This dock has two card readers: SD and MicroSD, both at top 312MBps UHS-II—allowing you to add inexpensive portable storage to your laptop setup. It also has Gigabit Ethernet, four USB-A (one with 7.5W charging) and two 10Gbps USB-C (one 100W PD upstream to the laptop, and one 7.5W smaller device charging). Reviewed below is Alogic’s DX2, which supports two 4K displays at 60Hz and lacks some of the other ports found on the DX3. if you just need two external monitors for your M1/M2/M3 MacBook this may be a cheaper option. Alogic DX2 Dual 4K Display Universal Docking Station – two 4K displays at 60Hz Pros Supports two external displays at 4K 60Hz 10 ports 2x DisplayPort 1.4 video ports 65W charging and 100W power supply Cons No card reader Price When Reviewed: $259.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $196 View Deal $222.32 View Deal Alogic $259.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $196 at Amazon$222.32 at Walmart$259.99 at Alogic We prefer Alogic’s DX3 that supports up to three 4K displays and offers more ports and faster charging for not much more cost, but the DX2 is fine if all you require is two top-end monitors connected to your mid-sized M1/M2 MacBook. It features two DisplayPort 1.4 ports, one 10Gbps USB-C with 7.5W charging, three 5Gbps USB-A ports (one with 7.5W), a 3.5mm audio jack and Gigabit Ethernet. Wavlink Dual 4K DisplayPort & HDMI Adapter – two 5K displays at 60Hz Pros Supports two external displays at 5K 60Hz 2x DisplayPort 1.4 video ports 2x HDMI 2.0 video ports Cons No USB ports, Ethernet etc Price When Reviewed: $79 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $74.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $74.99 at Amazon This simple, portable and affordable adapter doesn’t give you loads of extra USB ports, Ethernet or card readers like a hub or docking station would, but it offers four powerful video ports: two DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0. Once you’ve installed the DisplayLink drivers, this means an M1/M2/M3 MacBook can run two extended displays at up to 5K (5120-x-1440) at 60Hz using a combination of these video ports. You’d need to use both DisplayPort 1.4 ports for the maximum 5K resolution—the HDMI 2.0 ports max out at 4096-x-2160 at 60Hz. There’s no passthrough charging so you’ll need to use another of the MacBook’s Thunderbolt ports to keep the laptop powered up in use. Ugreen USB-C Revodok Pro 312 Triple Display Docking Station – three 4K displays at 60Hz Pros Supports three external displays at 4K 60Hz 12 ports, inc. 10Gbps USB-C and USB-A Ships with 100W wall charger Price When Reviewed: $329.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $49.99 View Deal Ugreen $329.99 View Deal $349.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $49.99 at Walmart$329.99 at Ugreen$349.99 at Amazon The Ugreen USB-C Triple Display Docking Station is a quality compact vertical dock that supports up to three external displays on a plain (non-Pro or -Max) M1/M2/M3/M4 MacBook if you install DisplayLink software. Priced at $329/£399, it features two HDMI ports and a DisplayPort and can support three 4K displays at 60Hz on a Mac. There are 12 ports in total, including Gigabit Ethernet, card readers, and 10Gbps USB-A and USB-C ports. It connects to the MacBook via 10Gbps USB-C. You need to install DisplayLink on your Mac—instructions above. Ugreen could make this easier with a link on its site. Read our full Ugreen USB-C Triple Display Docking Station review. Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI 10-in-1 USB-C Hub – one 4K display at 60Hz, one 4K display at 30Hz Pros Supports two external displays at 4K 10 ports, inc. 5Gbps USB-C and USB-A 100W passthrough charging InstantView easier than DisplayLink Cons Second 4K display is 30Hz rather than 60Hz Requires USB-C charger Price When Reviewed: $199.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $197.87 View Deal Hyper $199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $197.87 at Amazon$199.99 at Hyper The Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI 10-in-1 USB-C Hub doesn’t use DisplayLink and instead uses SiliconMotion’s InstantView. Hyper says that it works “without having to download cumbersome drivers” but there is some software installation involved, and you need to allow InstantView access to your Privacy settings in System Preferences. You connect the hub or adapter to your M1/M2 MacBook and find the HyperDisplay app that appears in a Finder folder sidebar. Double-click the macOS InstantView icon and follow the System Preferences instructions. Once this has been completed your MacBook will automatically recognize the adapter from then on. It’s an easier solution than DisplayLink but with the same ability to allow M1, M2 and M3 Macs to connect to multiple external displays. This compact hub still includes 10 ports, including the all-important 2x HDMI. The first display at 60Hz is added via HDMI and DP Alt-mode and the second at 4K 30Hz through HDMI and InstantView. Also included are Gigabit Ethernet, MicroSD card reader (UHS-I), 3.5mm audio jack, 2x 5Gbps USB-A, and one 5Gbps USB-C. A further USB-C PD port allows you to charge the connected laptop at up to 100W—handy as the hub itself uses up one of your laptop’s Thunderbolt ports. Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI Adapter – one 4K display at 60Hz, one 4K display at 30Hz Pros Supports two external displays at 4K 100W passthrough charging InstantView easier than DisplayLink Cons Second 4K display is 30Hz rather than 60Hz Requires USB-C charger Price When Reviewed: $129.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $129.99 View Deal $129.99 View Deal Hyper $129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $129.99 at Amazon$129.99 at B&H$129.99 at Hyper This double-function hub is designed to provide two HDMI display ports for a MacBook M1/M2/M3, plus passthrough charging for the laptop. It doesn’t offer a bunch of other ports like its big brother, the Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI 10-in-1 USB-C Hub reviewed above. As a result, it is cheaper and is one of the most cost-effective solutions for adding multiple monitors to the limited plain M1/M2/M3 Macs. Like the 10-in-1, it uses SiliconMotion’s InstantView rather than DisplayLink software to get past the limitation. The first display at 60Hz is added via HDMI and DP Alt-mode and the second at 4K 30Hz through HDMI and InstantView. If you require more ports, such as Gigabit Ethernet, card readers and USB ports, consider the Hyperdrive 10-in-1 or one of the other hubs or docks reviewed here.. Plugable USB-C to Quad HDMI Adapter (USBC-768H4) – four HD displays at 60Hz Pros Supports four external displays InstantView easier than DisplayLink Cons HD, not 4K Doesn’t charge your MacBook No card reader Price When Reviewed: $119 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $119 View Deal $119 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $119 at Amazon$119 at Newegg Do you really need four screens? If you do, and you can do without 4K resolution, the Plugable USB-C to Quad HDMI Adapter supports four HD displays even on an M1, M2, M3 or M4 MacBook using the Silicon Motion InstantView software (requires download and installation). The adapter features just the four HDMI ports so doesn’t offer any Gigabit Ethernet or extra USB-C ports, but does what it says on the box. All four displays can support HD (1920-x-1080) at 60Hz images. The USB-C cable tucks neatly into the adapter’s case when not in use, making this a nimbly portable solution… as long as you don’t also carry the four screens around with you. Read our full Plugable USB-C to Quad HDMI Adapter review Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C Docking Station – two 4K displays at 60Hz Pros Supports two external displays at 4K 60Hz 9 ports, inc. 10Gbps USB-C and USB-A 100W charging DisplayLink file on dock connection Cons Requires USB-C charger No card reader Price When Reviewed: $199.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $118.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $118.99 at Amazon If you don’t need three external screens, we like this USB-C dock for its two HDMI and two DisplayPorts, which you can choose between when adding two displays to your M1, M2 or M3 MacBook. This should suit most monitors, unless you prefer direct USB-C displays. Its spare USB ports (2x USB-A and 1x USB-C) are fast (10Gbps) for data transfer, and another USB-C port can be plugged into a USB-C charger (not included, which is common with the docks reviewed here) and supply up to 100W of charging power to the connected laptop. There’s also a Gigabit Ethernet port for fast, stable wired Internet access. You need to install DisplayLink on your Mac—instructions above—and Ugreen has made this easy by adding the download files to your Mac when you first connect the dock. Read a full Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C dock review. Alogic DV4 Universal Quad Display Docking Station – one 4K display at 60Hz, two HD displays Pros Supports three external displays, one at 4K 60Hz 14 ports, inc. 5Gbps USB-C and USB-A 3x HDMI 2.0 and 1x DisplayPort 1.4 video ports 12W USB-C charging 85W PD charging Cons 2 displays at HD, not 4K Requires USB-C charger Price When Reviewed: $239.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Alogic $239.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $239.99 at Alogic With third-party DisplayLink drivers, this dock will support up to three displays on a Mac. You can connect one 4K at 60Hz display (3840×2160 pixels) via either the DisplayPort or one of the HDMI ports. The other two displays via HDMI, however, are at a lesser HD (1920×1080) resolution, both at 60Hz. There is a link to the DisplayLink download printed in the user manual, although the type in the manual is the smallest we’ve ever seen! The specs aren’t quite as impressive as the Satechi Triple 4K Display Docking Station, with 5Gbps a maximum data-transfer rate, although charging wattage for USB-A (3.0) is up to 7.5W each and USB-C is up to 12W, which beats the Satechi.. However, it does boast both SD and MicroSD card readers for affordable portable storage options, although UHS-I rather than super-fast UHS-II. And, crucially, it’s cheaper, although you will need to add your own USB-C 100W PD charger, unlike the Satechi Triple 4K Dock. Satechi USB-C Multimedia M1 Adapter – one 4K display at 60Hz, one 4K display at 30Hz Pros Supports two external displays at 4K 6 ports, inc. 5Gbps USB-C and 2x 5Gbps USB-A Cons Second 4K display is 30Hz rather than 60Hz Requires USB-C charger No card reader Price When Reviewed: $149.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $99.99 View Deal $104.99 View Deal Satechi $149.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $99.99 at B&H$104.99 at Walmart Electronics$149.99 at Satechi The Satechi USB-C Multimedia M1 Adapter uses InstantView rather than DisplayLink but the installation process is practically the same when you follow the manual. It includes 2x HDMI ports: one of which can support a 4K display at 60Hz and the other at 30Hz. It’s more than a mere display adapter, though, as it also boasts USB-C PD passthrough charging at up to 85W, one 5Gbps USB-C port, and two 5Gbps USB-A ports. Although named after the M1 processor it is fixing on the multiple display front, it will also work with similarly limited M2 and M3 MacBooks. Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI Adapter – one 4K display at 60Hz, one 4K display at 30Hz Pros Supports two external displays at 4K InstantView easier than DisplayLink Cons Second 4K display is 30Hz rather than 60Hz No other ports except passthrough charging Requires USB-C charger No card reader Price When Reviewed: $129.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $129.99 View Deal $129.99 View Deal Hyper $129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $129.99 at Amazon$129.99 at B&H$129.99 at Hyper Like the Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI 10-in-1 USB-C Hub, Hyper’s cheaper Dual 4K HDMI Adapter uses the simpler InstantView software rather than DisplayLink. Lacking any other ports, it’s not a hub and so just facilitates the dual-display function on M1 and M2 Macs. While it’s cheaper than its 10-port sibling, we’d recommend the more able hub—unless you need three displays, in which case you’d need to look at the other hubs and docks reviewed here. One HDMI port supports 4K displays at 60Hz, but the other at the slower 30Hz. A passthrough USB-C port requires a USB-C charger but can supply 100W to the connected laptop. If you’re based outside the US, beware as Hyper charges $80 international shipping, making this adapter more expensive than its 10-port sibling. Alogic Dual 4K Universal Compact Docking Station – two 4K displays at 60Hz Pros Supports two external displays at 4K 60Hz 7 ports, inc. 10Gbps USB-C and USB-A HDMI and DisplayPort versions Cons Requires USB-C charger Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Alogic $199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $199.99 at Alogic The Alogic Dual 4K Universal Compact Docking Station comes in two models—the CH2, which features two HDMI 2.0 ports; and the CD2, with two DisplayPort ports—so you can choose which best suits the external displays you already own. Two external screens are probably enough for most people. If you require three, see the other hubs and docks reviewed here. Both screens can be up to 4K at 60Hz. Basic instructions are given on installing the DisplayLink software for M1, M2 and M3 Macs. This neat, compact dock doesn’t feature as many ports as others mentioned here but what it has are top-rated: both the USB-A and USB-C ports support 10Gbps data transfer. There is also a Gigabit Ethernet port and a UHS-II SD card reader. A passthrough USB-C port—you need to add a suitably powerful charger—can handle 100W, although 22W is required by the dock so leaving 78W for laptop and device charging. The dock must be connected to the laptop to allow device charging. EZQuest Ultimate Plus USB-C Multimedia Hub – one 4K display at 60Hz, one 4K at 30Hz, one HD Pros Supports three external displays (2x 4K; 1x HD) VGA if you need it 12 ports, inc 4x 5Gbps USB-A Cons Requires USB-C charger Second 4K display is 30Hz rather than 60Hz Third display is HD not 4K Price When Reviewed: $169.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $79.99 View Deal EZQuest $169.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $79.99 at Amazon$169.99 at EZQuest The EZQuest Ultimate Plus USB-C Multimedia Hub has two HDMI ports and a VGA port, and supports one 4K at 60Hz and one 4K at 30Hz via HDMI and 1080p HD via VGA. If you want three 4K displays, look instead at the Ugreen Triple Display Dock. It also features 5Gbps USB-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet and card readers. Like the Ugreen dock, it requires a USB-C charger for power and can pass through up to 85W to the connected MacBook, but connects via slower 5Gbps USB-C. Baseus 17-in-1 Docking Station – three 4K displays at 30Hz Pros Supports three external displays at 4K 30Hz 15 (actual) ports 85W PD Cons Requires USB-C charger for laptop 30Hz 4K not 60Hz Only mirrors laptop display Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $124.99 View Deal $137.49 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $124.99 at Amazon$137.49 at Aliexpress The Baseus 17-in-1 Docking Station has three HDMI ports, each of which can connect to an external 4K display at 30Hz. If you require three 4K external displays at 60Hz, the Ugreen Triple Display Dock will fulfill your needs better. If 30Hz is fine, the Baseus will save you money. 60Hz is better for gamers as it offers smoother video. One big limitation for Macs, though, is that the external displays can only mirror and not extend the Mac’s screen. Its claim to have 17 ports is exaggerated slightly as one is for the external power supply that powers just the dock at 12W. and another to add power the dock via a USB-C charger and then onto the laptop. But it has 15 other ports including the upstream 5Gbps USB-C connection to the MacBook, plus Gigabit Ethernet, card readers and 5Gbps USB-A and USB-C ports. StarTech.com USB-C Hybrid Triple Monitor Docking Station – DisplayLink dock with video options Pros Supports three external displays at 4K 60Hz 15 ports, inc. 10Gbps USB-C and USB-A 85W passthrough charging Cons No card reader DisplayPort didn’t work on our test Mac Price When Reviewed: $293.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $199.99 at Amazon This triple-monitor DisplayLink-based docking station is positively bristling with ports: 15 in total. Most interesting to us here are the six video ports: 3x DisplayPort 1.4 and 3x HDMI 2.0. This doesn’t mean you can connect six displays but it does should give you flexible options for the type of connection that fit your displays. However, in testing we had no success linking via DisplayPort, which makes the extra options rather worthless. As such, we prefer the other docks and hubs reviewed above. You need to download the DisplayLink drivers for your M1/M2/M3 Mac. StarTech.com has a link and a video, or just follow our guide above. As well as the half-dozen video ports are six USB ports: 2x USB-C (one at 10Gbps and one 5Gbps), plus 4x USB-A (one 10Gbps and three 5Gbps). The 5Gbps USB-C port can charge a connected device at 18W, enough to fast-charge an iPhone. One of the 5Gbps USB-A ports can charge at 7.5W. Rounding off the many ports are Gigabit Ethernet and a 3.5mm Audio In-Out. There’s no card reader to add portable storage but you could connect an adapter to one of the USB ports. Workaround caveats Whenever there is a new OS update DisplayLink and InstantView drivers may need to be updated each time. Plugable doesn’t recommend the workaround for gaming, video editing, digital audio workstations (DAWs), and protected content (HDCP) playback. For these workloads, users will want the full throughput of a “bare-metal” native GPU connection—such as provided by the DisplayPort or HDMI port on the dock using Alt Mode. Caldigit actively recommends against using DisplayLink, as it finds it unreliable and there would be no synergy between the driver and the dock. Because it requires a third-party driver, users are at the mercy of Apple and the third-party developer to support later versions, the company told Macworld. However, this combination of display technologies does allow M1 and M2 MacBooks to run more than one external monitor, and the M1 and M2 Mac mini to run more than two. And more manufacturers are coming out with docks and hubs that support it. The only risk is that it could stop working at any time, although it wouldn’t harm your system if it did, and you could simply uninstall DisplayLink. DisplayLink and InstantView are workarounds with a potentially limited timespan but the likelihood is that compatibility would be restored at some stage if the worst happened and you would get back your multi-monitor setup. Read our M1 MacBook Air review, M2 MacBook Air review, and M3 MacBook Air review. If you are wanting to use a second display with your Mac and not have your Mac’s screen on, read our feature How to turn a Mac’s screen off. Want to use an 8K monitor? Read How to connect an 8K display to your Mac. What you need to know about DisplayLink and InstantView FAQ 1. Does DisplayLink and InstantView block Netflix or other streaming content? DisplayLink and InstantView are great at adding multiple monitors to M1, M2 and M3 Macs, but there is a catch. Some protected content in Netflix, AppleTV, Amazon Prime, Disney+ or YouTube TV and other streaming applications may not play. The video remains black while audio keeps playing. This is all down to how the macOS interfaces the DisplayLink driver used to access graphics content. As soon as one DisplayLink-enabled screen is connected, protected content becomes unavailable on all screens. This is down to the streaming platforms using High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP), which is Intel-developed digital copy protection that prevents copying of digital audio and video content as it travels across connections. Because macOS requires DisplayLink and InstantView to enable Screen Recording, HDCP moves in because it thinks you are actually trying to record the content rather than just display it on screen. 2. How to enable streaming content when using DisplayLink or InstantView To get round HDCP stopping your DisplayLink or InstantView setup showing Netflix, Amazon Prime and other streaming services, you may need to disconnect all the DisplayLink or InstantView screens, or switch to a browser other than Safari or Chrome (for example Opera or Firefox). You can disable hardware acceleration in your browser to access the protected content. On Google Chrome, go to Google Chrome settings, and click on “Advanced” and then select “System”. Here you can disable “Use hardware acceleration when available”. Select “Relaunch” to activate the new setting. If that doesn’t solve the black issue, disconnect the docking station, and try using the laptop’s build-in display or the direct video ports of the laptop. Uninstalling the software is the ultimate solution.

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Keychron K10 Max review: Sturdy all-round mechanical keyboard
The Keychron K10 Max is an incredibly sturdy and versatile wireless mechanical keyboard that is a welcome addition to both Mac and Windows workspaces.Keychron K10 MaxIn 2025, the world of mechanical keyboards is as vast as the Marvel Comics multiverse, with offerings of every shape, size, color, and feature. From custom keys to RGB lights to knobs and app integrations, the possible options are staggering.Numerous companies jockey for position as leaders in the industry. As consumers in this market, every year brings us opportunities to find the perfect keyboard for our lifestyles and workspaces. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Police in Australia are using CarPlay in an interesting way
Drivers love Apple CarPlay because it enables safe interaction with iPhone apps through the car’s built-in screen. It turns out police in Australia are benefiting from CarPlay for a whole other safety purpose. more…

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Tweetbot creators tease Phoenix, a new Bluesky client
Fans of Tweetbot for Twitter and Ivory for Mastodon have reason to get excited all over again as the developers at Tapbots tease a Bluesky client called Phoenix.Phoenix is a new Tapbots app for BlueskyWhen Elon Musk took over Twitter, no one could have predicted the chaos that ensued. The mass firings, restructuring, and user-aggressive changes led Twitter to a fast user-count decline as the less-popular X emerged.As X struggles for relevancy, the death of Twitter — and the Mac app in the process — did create some interesting new options. Tapbots is back to make another excellent client for an emerging player in the space. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Here’s a first look at the new M4 MacBook Air in sky blue
Apple on Wednesday announced a new generation of the MacBook Air, which features the M4 chip inside. Although the new MacBook Air is identical to its predecessor on the outside, Apple surprised everyone with a new “sky blue” color. And now we have the first photos of this new Mac in the real world. more…

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Reclaim the night with these noise-blocking sleep earbuds
This SleepEez deal will have you sleeping soundly. These tiny earbuds block out distractions and lull you into deep, uninterrupted sleep. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple’s new M4 MacBook Air is $100 more affordable, despite tariff concerns
Apple's new M4 MacBook Air has a starting price of $999 for the 13-inch model, with the 15-inch model starting at $1,099. That's $100 less… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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New M4 MacBook Air: Four tidbits you might have missed
Apple’s new MacBook Air is here, headlined by an M4 chip upgrade and a lower price. There are a few other tidbits you should know. more…

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Apple Updates Mac Studio with M4 Max and M3 Ultra Chips
Apple has updated the Mac Studio for the first time since 2023, replacing the M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips with the M4 Max and M3 Ultra. The new models offer significant performance gains, increase maximum memory from 192 GB to 512 GB, boost storage limits from 8 TB to 16 TB, and add Thunderbolt 5 connectivity.

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Apple’s use of SiTime in iPhone 16e powers rally for chipmaker
The discovery of SiTime Corp. components in the new iPhone 16e has sparked a stock surge for the lesser-known chipmaker, with shares… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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M4 MacBook Air vs M1 MacBook Air: No-brainer upgrade if you want it
Apple’s new M4 MacBook Air is an easy product to recommend to just about everyone—even M3 owners. But if you’re currently holding on to an M1 MacBook Air, what exactly will the new M4 model get you? Here’s what you should know. more…

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Hallelujah! M4 MacBook Air fully supports 2 external displays
The M4 MacBook Air breaks through a previous limitation on external displays, allowing for enhanced multi-screen setups for users. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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RCS on iPhone with iOS 18: Every question answered
Macworld Ever since Apple shocked the tech community with its announcement that it would support RCS, we’ve been waiting for the day when it would be available. Now that day has arrived, you can finally use it on your iPhone, here’s how it works. Updated March 5, 2025: The latest iOS 18.4 beta adds RCS support for more carriers, including most of those in the U.S. that haven’t supported it until now. What is RCS? RCS stands for Rich Communications Services, and it’s meant to be a replacement for the decades-old SMS/MMS texting standard. You can kind of think of it as iMessage lite for everyone. It’s a platform-neutral standard adopted by the GSM Association to do messaging over your internet data connection rather than strictly your carrier network. It provides many of the same benefits, including typing indicators, full-resolution images and videos, proper group chats, delivery and read receipts, and better security. The standard has been pushed heavily by Google and is commonplace on Android phones. The Google Messages app provides RCS support on almost any Android phone using Google’s own RCS servers and even includes some extensions to add new features (most notably better encryption) that are not part of the core GSM standard. All you need to know as an iPhone user is that RCS will make your conversations with Android users much more pleasant. What RCS features will iOS 18 support? In iOS 18, RCS brings numerous features that were previously only available to iMessage users: Read receipts Typing indicators Tapbacks/reactions High-resolution photos and videos Voice memos Text effects (slam, loud, gentle, invisible ink, etc.) do not appear on the conversation’s Android side. The recipient will get a message saying “(sent with the Slam effect)” or the like. Inline replies also don’t work. RCS messages are not encrypted, either. When using the Google Messages app on an Android phone and Google’s own RCS servers, encryption is supported thanks to a proprietary extension to the standard that Google came up with. Apple is relying on carrier support for the RCS standard as adopted by the GSM Association, which doesn’t have encryption support. However, Apple says they want to work with the GSM to include it in a future version of the standard. Will my messages with Android users still be green? Yes! Blue bubbles are for iMessages only and are there to help you know that your messages have extremely strong encryption, among other exclusive features. So, the green bubble conversations aren’t going anywhere. But they’ll be less frustrating. How do I know if I have RCS on my iPhone? The simplest way is to open a message with someone and look at the text entry area: It will say iMessage if you’re sending an iMessage (but the blue bubbles will be an obvious indication). It will say Text Message • SMS if it’s sending a text message. It will say Text Message • RCS if it’s an RCS message. You can also check in Settings to see if RCS is enabled, which we’ll describe below. If you don’t see the iOS 18 update, check to make sure your iPhone supports iOS 18. Does my carrier need to support RCS? How do I know if mine does? Your carrier needs to provide RCS services in accordance with the GSM Association’s standard for it to work on your iPhone, and you of course need to run iOS 18. In the United States, the major carriers Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T have all enabled RCS on iPhones running iOS 18, though if you just installed iOS 18 you may have to wait a day or so for the provisioning codes to be sent to your phone. The situation is a bit more nebulous for MVNO carriers that piggyback off those major carriers, like Visible, Xfinity, Mint Mobile, Metro, or Cricket. With the iOS 18.4 update, support for RCS is being added for the last holdout carriers—Google Fi, Metro, Mint Mobile, and others. Once your iPhone is updated to iOS 18.4 or later, it should support RCS on nearly any U.S. carrier. There is no known way to “force” RCS onto your iPhone. But if your carrier supports it and you have iOS 18 and do not see the option, it may help to power off your iPhone and power it on again. Apple has a very useful Carrier Support page that lists all the carrier features for various carriers around the world, big and small. You can see if your carrier supports RCS there (along with other features). How do I enable or disable RCS in Settings? Open Settings, scroll down to the bottom and tap Apps, then scroll down to find and select Messages. Under the “Text Messaging” heading, you’ll see an RCS Messaging menu if it is supported by your carrier and iPhone. Select it and then toggle on RCS to enable it in the Messages app. You can check if your carrier supports RCS by opening Settings, selecting General, and then About. Scroll down to the “eSIM/Network” section. You’ll see a line for “Carrier.” Tap on it to switch that line to “IMS Status.” If your carrier supports RCS, the option will show Voice, SMS & RCS. If not, it will only show Voice & SMS.

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ITV acquires Apple TV+ drama ‘Suspicion’
ITV has secured the rights to Apple TV+’s thriller series "Suspicion" for its streaming service ITVX, marking what is believed to be… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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M3 Ultra is either the best news or worst case scenario for Apple’s most niche product
The Apple silicon era has not been kind to the Mac Pro, and the target market for Apple’s most niche machine shrank even more today. However, it’s always darkest before the dawn, and that may be the case for this Mac workstation. more…

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The 27-inch Studio Display is $300 Off
Amazon has marked down the Apple Studio Display, featuring a massive 27-inch screen with 5K Retina display, 600 nits of brightness with P3 Wide Color so you can see bright and vibrant graphics and immerse yourself in the movie or game you’re playing. You’d appear and sound more professional in video calls and meetings with […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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ColorWare makes new custom AirPods
ColorWare is famous for its creatively designed Apple accessories and devices, and they have added a new classic Mac painted Retro Collection featuring the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2. It is available in dark mode featuring matte black, and light mode featuring a cream matte color. The AirPods are made to look similar to […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple’s C1 5G modem is the modem for future Apple Gadgets
The latest addition to the iPhone 16 lineup, the iPhone 16e, features Apple’s very own designed, custom C1 modem supporting LTE and 5G connection whilst other iPhone models depend on Qualcomm modems. It’s a milestone for Apple, having worked on its own modem with cellular connectivity since 2018 and has now released its custom-made modem. […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Removing personal information from Google search made easier
Changes to Google Search have been made to remove personal information that you do not want on the internet. It can be easily done by tapping the three dots to show the interface that lets you ask for the removal of information and choose among the options. The first one allows you to remove personal […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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