How many external monitors can I have?

Hi Guys!

So love my new “M” Chip iPad, its worlds above my old iPad Air 3, & I love it so much I find myself basically using it like a computer as well as a tablet, i.e. with an external display, usually extended rather than mirrored so I can do multiple things at once, like write on one screen and watch a video on the other. However, I usually have 3 monitors on my main computers, like my Windows Gaming PC, and my work PC both use (the same) 3 monitors. I’d like to know if the iPad supports more than 1 external display. I’d test it myself but the USB C monitor connection for some reason only works when directly plugged into the iPad which is fine as both my KB & Mouse are wireless but then I can’t charge the iPad at the same time. USB C monitor refuses to work when plugged into dock, but my Dock has HDMI so I usually use that so I can charge the iPad and use the extra ports with other peripherals at the same time. However, if more than one extra monitor is supported I’d happily buy a new dock with extra HDMI Ports or something.

Have Googled but come up with different answers, some people even telling me you can’t “extend” the desktop on an iPad, only mirror or AirPlay which I know not to be true. Plus, nothing beats the advice of someone who actually has experience with an issue.

So yeah, basically, my question is, does anyone know the max number of external monitors my ipad supports, it’s an M1 iPad Air (5G, 256GB (if that’s relevant)), bought like 2 months ago.

Also if the answer is yes, it supports more than one, does anyone have any experience of this? Suggestions on good docks, etc.?

Many thanks!

P.S Sorry if it’s a long winded post I could’ve crammed into a single sentence!

Alex