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Macs with the new Apple Silicon M1 chip have new port settings and more processing power than ever before, but the monitor settings have changed. Here are the monitors you can connect to the new Macs and how they stack up to the Intel Macs they replaced.
These are the monitors and settings that Apple says work with the new machines.
Mac mini
The Mac mini with an M1 processor can run a single external display using the DisplayPort 1.4 rating in the Thunderbolt 3 specification. This means you can have a single 6K monitor like the Pro Display XDR or a single 4K monitor connected at any time via USB-C ports.
The M1 Mac mini can run a second monitor through the HDMI 2.0 port that supports connections up to 4K.
The Intel Mac mini supports up to two 4K displays via Thunderbolt 3 and one 4K display via HDMI, or one 5K display via Thunderbolt 3 and one 4K display via HDMI. The Intel Mac mini was unable to run 6K displays as it lacked the necessary driver to run external displays at that resolution.
MacBook Air
MacBook Air with an M1 processor can connect only one external display at a time, in parallel with the internal display. It supports up to 6K @ 60Hz, so monitors like the Pro Display XDR will work just fine.
The 2020 Intel MacBook Air could connect up to two 4K displays, a 5K display, or a 6K display using the Thunderbolt 3 ports, beyond the internal display.
Macbook Pro
The 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1 processor can connect only one external display at a time along with the laptop screen. Supports up to 6K @ 60Hz like the MacBook Air.
The 13-inch Intel MacBook Pro enabled two 4K displays, a 5K display, or a 6K display using the four Thunderbolt 3 ports, along with the built-in display.
Apple’s M1 is the reason for the number of external display limitations, as macOS can run multiple external displays on Intel variants. So essentially every Apple Silicon Mac can only run an external monitor through a Thunderbolt 3 port, and the Mac mini is the exception due to having an additional HDMI port.
