does the new macbook air 15 support 2 external monitors

DisplayLink does not give you extra first-class hardware video outputs.

A driver creates fake “virtual displays” on the Mac, and sends compressed updates tio those screens to external hardware with a DisplayLink chip set, which decides the updates to drive a monitor.

The refresh rates are not “guaranteed” by hardware the way they would be for real hardware video outputs.

P.S. – For all of the M1- and M2-based machines that Apple has released to date (13" and 15" MacBook Airs, 13" MacBook Pros, 24" iMacs, Minis), Apple has included a section in the specifications telling potential buyers how many external monitors, of what types, they support.

E.g., for the 13" and 15" M2 MacBook Airs, the Display Support section says:

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Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at 1 billion colors and:

• One external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz

Thunderbolt 3 digital video output

• Native DisplayPort output over USB‑C
• VGA, HDMI, DVI, and Thunderbolt 2 output supported using adapters (sold separately)

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What's misleading about supporting only one external display when they explicitly call out that these machines support only one external display?

No. It's basically the same as the 13" M2 MacBook Air, except that it has a larger screen, and weighs more (3.3 pounds vs. 2.7 pounds). The 14" and 16" MacBook Pros are the ones that have M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, and assorted goodies that seem to go along with the higher-end chips.

A couple of other differences (from Apple's comparison tool):

• The 15" M2 Air always comes with 10 GPU cores, whereas some 13" M2 Airs come with only 8.
• The 15" M2 Air has a six-speaker sound system instead of a four-speaker one. I believe that both have sound systems that are upgraded compared to the one in the 13" M1 Air.

RE: "The M2 is capable of driving multiple monitors."

Yes, two displays – including the built-in one (if any). I have not yet heard of a Mac using the base M1 chip or the base M2 chip that can drive more directly-attached monitors than this. That suggests (although it does not absolutely prove) that we are looking at a hardware limitation of these chips.

RE: "It is advertised that they have Thunderbolt 3 and Displayport 2 support which shows capacity for 2 screens (40gb/s)"

Actually, for every Apple Silicon Mac released to date, Thunderbolt 3 indicates lack of support for the number of displays that you want. Thunderbolt 3 itself has the potential for dual displays, but it doesn't require support for them if the GPU does not have the ability to drive them. While Intel-based Macs with Thunderbolt 3 often could drive two low-resolution monitors or one 5K monitor over their USB-C (DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3) ports, the M1 Macs can only drive one monitor (which can be a 5K monitor) in this way.

Thunderbolt 4 is a refinement of Thunderbolt 3. One of the things a computer needs for TB 4 certification is the ability to drive two external monitors over USB-C / Thunderbolt (although perhaps not over the same port).

So Apple Silicon Macs based on the more capable Pro, Max, and Ultra chips are shown as having Thunderbolt 4 support in their technical specifications. The M2 Mini is also listed as having Thunderbolt 4. It limits you to two monitors (just like the M1 Mini), but it is more flexible about how you can attach them.

"I have not yet heard of a Mac using the base M1 chip or the base M2 chip that can drive more directly-attached monitors than this."

You can actually workaround this using https://support.displaylink.com/, it just requires 3rd party software and a expensive dongle.

It’s almost certainly an artificial limitation. As equally one cannot use two external displays when the built in isn’t in use so it's not a graphics problem. I can also drive a 4k display but not 2 1080p displays. In fact the 2020 intel mac air could support multiple 4k displays (https://9to5mac.com/2020/03/20/new-macbook-air-external-display-support/). Given the relative performance of the chips I would predict there is no hardware limitation, apple have form in terms of not supporting MST for years even when the hardware is capable.

LibertyMatt wrote:

I had no trouble using dual monitors on my previous MacMini M1, one connected through HDMI, one through one of the USB-C ports. Still working on figuring that out on my new MacBook Air 15 with the M2.

All of the Macs released to date which have the base M1 or M2 chip support exactly two displays, total – if you count built-in ones (other than the "Touch Bar") against that total.

The M1 Mac mini had no built-in screens – and supported the setup that you describe. The M2 MacBook Airs have built-in screens – and only support one external one.

Bellanca47 wrote:

I just bought a 15" Macbook Air and I'm trying to connect 2 external monitors. I currently do this with no problem with my 2017 Macbook Pro. However, with the new Macbook Air, only one monitor works. Is this a limitation with the Macbook Air?

Yes. It's stated clearly in the Technical Specifications for the 15" M2 Air:

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"Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at 1 billion colors and:

• One external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz"

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bmarkoff Said:

"does the new macbook air 15 support 2 external monitors"

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No.

1. Go Here: Connect One or More External Displays with your Mac - Apple Support
2. Scroll to: Connect the displays with a cable
3. As it Reads: "For Mac computers with the Apple M1 Chip: You can connect a single external display to your Mac. Docks don’t increase the number of displays you can connect. On a Mac mini with M1 chip, you can connect a second display to the HDMI port"

Kidxanga wrote:

I’ll need to challenge the M1 MacBooks capabilities since at our job site with Dell dock D6000 and displaylink drivers

we are able to project on two screens. We have this set up for all our MacBooks users.

Glad to hear it is working for you. Try displaying resource intensive video on both displays. The result will not be that specified in the computer specifications, and in some cases may be unacceptable display performance.

On the site for that J5Create hub, one picture has a little logo "Powered by MCT" and the words "Multi Display Technology Patent. MCT is a patent owner of USB Multi Display Technology."

Then before the next photo, it says "Connect up to 2 external monitors (driver required). Your laptop

display, plus the 2 external monitors, gives you a total of 3 monitors."

Although the MCT Web site is not as readable as the DisplayLink Web site, it would seem to be a similar idea. You're not getting an extra hardware video output. You're installing a driver on your computer that creates a virtual software display, and steams updates to a dock equipped with a MCT USB Graphics Chipset which, in turn, decodes the USB data stream.

It's a cute trick, but it's not the same thing as making the M1 or M2 drive an extra monitor directly.

I would assume that MCT, like DisplayLink, makes their money off selling chipsets and the driver software for them to hub vendors.

https://www.mct.com.tw/edcontent_d.php?lang=en&tb=1&id=80

Because people have shown it’s possible with the extra overhead of third party drivers. Both the usb-c/lightning ports are capable of the data throughput.

You are arguing against people who have done it against the OS specification.

People come here to ask if you can have two external displays the answer is “No unless you buy 3rd party kit then it works fine” you and others then seem keen on saying it’s somehow worse which other people say it isn’t.

My addendum is Apple could support this natively if it can be supported via emulation. If there is a processor limitation on the M series then they can limit the total output resolution but given it can drive 4k then it can drive two 1080p for sure.

At the very least it would be great if one external could mirror the built in and the other act in extended. If the M series can’t support this then they are not as good processors as Apple say! As it means they are outclassed by a lot of much cheaper chips in terms of video output! (For clarity they are good chips and can do it they don’t do it because of software choices therefore I assume this is a marketing decision.)

RE: There is no workaround. Using Docks does not increase the number of displays supported. From the Apple Documentation: "Docks don’t increase the number of displays you can connect."

There is. Display link works. I'm typing this from one of my two EXTERNAL monitors from 2020 M1 13" macbook pro. The problem is, part of why I love Apple is native support of features. I hate using third party software to drive native hardware. It works ok, just isn't Apple's norm.

bmarkoff wrote:

does the new macbook air 15 support 2 external monitors

No MacBook Air 13- and 15-inch with M2 - Tech Specs - Apple

I am quite confused by what you mean. It's been shown they can support 2 external monitors, but not via the native software because It's not supported. How would you like me to refer to it?

Also you are likely confusing other users here, I am trying to let people know that:

1. Two external monitors are not natively supported
2. The M1/M2 have the capacity to run multiple external monitors which you can do via a display-link dongle/adaptor and software
3. Apple could fix this in software anytime they choose via an update.

RE: FWIW, There are differences in capabilities, functionality, and price points. It sounds like you purchased a lower priced computer assuming it would have the same capability as a higher priced computer with the higher spec chip. The computer you purchased does not support your needs so you are now arguing that it should. The hardware is different (different cpu) and the specifications are very clear (one external display). You can buy a Mac that supports multiple external displays.

Sorry that your computer does not do what you need it to do. Arguing here is of no value and will not change the spec. You can provide feedback to Apple here: Product Feedback - Apple

This is true. They are clearly defined. Its just that I had the equivalent computer before I bought this one. A 15" Macbook Pro from like 2016 or something. Thunderbolt 2 ports, that's how old. It has support for multiple external displays natively, no problem. Just get the thunderbolt 2 to HDMI and boom 2 even 3 displays while my computer sits closed in a dock.

Why in the world would it even come to anyone's mind that the upgraded equivalent, with a whole new architecture that is supposed to increase capability, would not support something so simple as two external HD displays?

Look, I admit, I should have read the specs carefully. I've learned my lesson that I can't trust Apple. I thought I could, cause I just didn't think that a Macbook pro of any spec would not support multiple external displays. Its ludicrous to me and the majority of people. This type of practice is why consumer laws are put in place. I'm not saying there should be laws, I'm saying it feels like a bait and switch from a company I love, and they should stop doing it.