Mac book pro 2023 M3 chip, can I run 2 external monitors?

A 14" M3 MacBook Pro with the base M3 chip can only drive one external monitor.

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3, Nov 2023) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

There have been reports on Mac news sites that Apple plans release a software update for the 14" M3 MacBook Pro that would give it the same capabilities as the M3 MacBook Airs.

9to5Mac (March 4, 2024) – M3 MacBook Pro will gain multi-display support in software update

That is, you could attach a second external monitor when the lid is closed, and only when the lid is closed. With the M3 MacBook Airs, there is a 5K resolution limit on the "lid closed" monitor that, for a 4K monitor, seems to translate into not having any options between Retina "like 2560x1440" and non-Retina 3840x2160.

Apple has not announced a time frame for the release of this software update. Even when it comes out, it won't let you "run all 3 screens" (the built-in one and two external ones). For that, you would want a MacBook Pro with a M3 Pro or M3 Max chip.

MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2023) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

jams109 wrote:

I have bought a MB ProM3 two weeks ago and was told by Apple sales that it would support two monitors in clamshell mode.

The M3 MacBook Airs can do that.

MacBook Air (13-inch, M3, 2024) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

MacBook Air (15-inch, M3, 2024) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

Use dual monitors with your MacBook Air with M3 chip - Apple Support

If you have two 4K monitors, you won't get as many Retina scaling options for the second one. (Based on a report in these forums by an actual M3 MacBook Air user.)

M3 MacBook Pros with base M3 chips cannot drive two external monitors today. Period.

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3, Nov 2023) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

According to 9to5Mac,

9to5Mac (March 4, 2024) – M3 MacBook Pro will gain multi-display support in software update

"Apple has confirmed to 9to5Mac that a software update for the 14-inch MacBook Pro will gain the ability to drive two external displays with the lid closed. The feature will work identically to how it works with the new M3 MacBook Air."

To the best of my knowledge, Apple has not announced a specific date, or even a rough timeframe, for release of this software update.

Presumably this means that Apple built hardware support for the feature into both the M3 MacBook Airs and the M3 MacBook Pros, but for whatever reason, finished testing and debugging it on the Airs first.

Have just bought a second monitor and apple support are telling me it can only support one external monitor. Apple support rang the store I purchased the MBP from and told support they stood by their claim -2 monitors in clamshell mode. Apple support are now escalating this to their engineers- really confused by all of this.

The Apple Sales and Support people who are telling you that you can connect two monitors to a M3 MacBook Pro (with a base M3 chip), in clamshell mode, are confused. Either

• They are thinking of the M3 MacBook Air,
• They are thinking of M3 MacBook Pros that have the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips (they are using M3 as a family name, rather than the name of a specific base chip), or
• They are "jumping the gun" by thinking that the planned software update for the M3 MacBook Pro has already been released

can one connect a MBPro M3 to two externals and how? Cheers

If you're talking about one with a base M3 chip, you can't do that in a first-class, hardware-supported way, today. You will have to wait for the patch if you want to do it the way the M3 MacBook Airs do it. There are "workaround" products using DisplayLink and similar technologies, but they may involve strong compromises.

FYI, MBPs with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips already support "up to two" (M3 Pro) or "up to four" (M3 Max) displays, and don't require you to shut off the built-in Retina display to attach two externals.

MacBook Pro (14-inch, M3 Pro or M3 Max, Nov 2023) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

Brian7600 wrote:

Has anybody seen an update on this update to allow MBP with M3 to use two external monitors with the lid closed? I'm considering purchasing, and that limitation is the only thing holding me back. The M3 Pro is just overkill for me, and the up-charge is way too steep just to be able to use the same monitors that work on my 2015 model.

Apple has not announced any time frame for the update. If and when they do announce it, I'm sure that it will be mentioned on several Mac news sites within days.

I really think you should consider your opposition to purchasing a MacBook Pro with a M3 Pro chip.

The cheapest 14" M3 MacBook Pro ($1599) has an 8/10-core SoC, 8 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of SSD storage. If you custom-order it with 16 GB of RAM, that brings the total to $1799 USD.

The cheapest 14" M3 Pro MacBook Pro costs $1999 USD – $200 USD more. For $200, you get a laptop that can drive two external monitors today, one that can do it with the lid open, one with a third USB-C / Thunderbolt port, one that's not likely to limit the Retina scaling modes on a second 4K monitor (in the way that the M3 MacBook Air does) … and, oh yes, one that just happens to have an 11/14-core SoC and an extra 2 GB of RAM.

Servant of Cats wrote:

The Apple Sales and Support people who are telling you that you can connect two monitors to a M3 MacBook Pro (with a base M3 chip), in clamshell mode, are confused.

P.S. – Feel free to give them a link to this thread.

Allan Jones wrote:

Re the "lid closed" thing: Apple have conspicuously removed all references to that, also called "clamshell mode," from their support article library.

They still mention it here:

Use dual monitors with your MacBook Air with M3 chip - Apple Support

Those are also the only Apple Silicon Mac notebooks where closing the lid lets you attach more external monitors.

I suspect it is because closing the lid goes against what is stated in this Apple article:

Keep your Mac laptop within acceptable operating temperatures - Apple Support

One more reason to choose a 14" M3 Pro MBP over a 14" M3 MBP if you know from the very start that you will be using two external monitors.

Has anybody seen an update on this update to allow MBP with M3 to use two external monitors with the lid closed? I'm considering purchasing, and that limitation is the only thing holding me back. The M3 Pro is just overkill for me, and the up-charge is way too steep just to be able to use the same monitors that work on my 2015 model.

Re the "lid closed" thing: Apple have conspicuously removed all references to that, also called "clamshell mode," from their support article library. I suspect it is because closing the lid goes against what is stated in this Apple article:

Keep your Mac laptop within acceptable operating temperatures - Apple Support

If you wish to leave feedback that an Apple employee will see, I invite you to take advantage of this feedback link:

Feedback - MacBook Pro - Apple

I have bought a MB ProM3 two weeks ago and was told by Apple sales that it would support two monitors in clamshell mode. Have just bought a second monitor and apple support are telling me it can only support one external monitor. Apple support rang the store I purchased the MBP from and told support they stood by their claim -2 monitors in clamshell mode. Apple support are now escalating this to their engineers- really confused by all of this.

can one connect a MBPro M3 to two externals and how? Cheers