MacBook Air M1 doesn't support 2 monitors

As Sheriff Andy said to Deputy Fife about Aunt Bea's Turpentine Pickles, " Learn to love 'em Barnie"

The operative phrase for the situation is caveat emptor. Apple specs are fully published worldwide and one should never expect a replacement to precisely duplicate the older model. Have you noticed Apple's latest changes for numbers and types of ports?

If you wish Apple Inc to hear you odorous complaint: Product Feedback - Apple

WinstonHayden wrote:

Even a cheap Windows laptop is capable of displaying 2 monitors - you would expect the latest 'glorious' technology from Apple to not only match but exceed such simple capabilities. These kinds of deficiencies are not clearly highlighted by Apple when they sell the product.

I don't know how much more clear the specifications can be: MacBook Air - Technical Specifications - Apple

I think the issue is that you did not read the well publicized specs but want to blame Apple for your oversight.

And, the MacBook Air does work with two monitors, one internal and one external.

"These kinds of deficiencies are not clearly highlighted by Apple when they sell the product."

I'll not belabor the point with you any further, but the above statement or yours is a matter of opinion. One of the reasons wife and I went with Intel chip iMacs in 2020 was this very fact. I don't specifically remember how we found out, but we did and acted accordingly. This and the inability to run Windows in a VM environment swayed us.

We all have "buyer's remorse" at one time or another. For us, we generally consider it a life lesson and move on. As is the usual case, YMMV.

You asked for advice -

remember due diligence and do some research before buying something that does not do what you want rather than blaming someone else. If you buy directly from Apple, you have 14 days to return it; third party sellers have their own policies - you need to research those as well.