Apple divides their M-Series processors into numerical generations: M1, M2, M3 etc., each generation has offered three variations, a 'base' model (without a suffix) and 'Pro' and 'Max' models.

Mac laptops based on Apple CPUs have varying native external display capabilities via Thunderbolt/USB-C connections and/or HDMI.

Each generation offers different capabilities depending upon which generation and variation of Apple processor is in use.

Typical Host Ports

Apple MacBook Air and Pro 13-inch systems typically only include two USB Type-C ports, with some later models also including a HDMI output.

Typically a USB Type-C port can support a single USB Type-C external display, or up to two displays via Thunderbolt 4+ connections. The system can either output two or four lanes (one stream) of DisplayPort data - on the four USB SuperSpeed connections - for USB Type-C connected displays and USB Type-C docking stations. Alternatively, USB4 and Thunderbolt 4+ docking stations and graphics adapters support DisplayPort tunneling, this allows the system to packetize and transmit multiple DisplayPort video streams from a single port. Historically this has been used to enable up to two external displays from a single port, however M5 Pro & Max processors can enable up to three or four streams respectively.

Apple 14-inch and larger systems generally include a HDMI output and either two or three USB Type-C ports. Depending on the model a direct HDMI connection may be required to enable one of the system's supported displays.

The MacBook Neo includes two USB Type-C ports, however one only supports USB 2.0 and charging. This limited function port does not support video output and should display an incompatible accessory message if a display or display capable adapter is connected to this port.

Apple M1 & M2

Apple Mac laptops with base M1 and M2 processors natively support one external display connected via USB Type-C.

Apple Mac laptops with M1 Pro and M2 Pro processors natively support up to two external displays.

Apple Mac laptops with M1 Max and M2 Max processors can support up to four external displays in total using the integrated HDMI and USB Type-C ports.

Apple M3

Apple Mac laptops with base M3 processors can support one external display when the laptop lid is open and the laptop's internal display is enabled. They can support up to two external displays when the laptop lid is closed and the laptop's internal display is disabled.

Apple Mac laptops with M3 Pro can support up to two external displays via USB Type-C or USB Type-C and HDMI in addition the built-in display.

Apple Mac laptops with M3 Pro or M3 Max processors can support up to four external displays in total, regardless of the state of the laptop lid.

Apple M4

Apple Mac laptops with a base M4 processor or M4 Pro processor can support up to two external displays regardless of the state of the laptop lid.

Apple Mac laptops with a M4 Max processor can support up to a total of four external displays regardless of the state of the laptop lid.

Apple M5

Apple Mac laptops with the M5 base model processor may enable up to two external displays in addition to the built-in display.

Apple Mac laptops with M5 Pro may enable up to three external displays.

Apple Mac laptops with M5 Max may enable up to four external displays. Additionally with compatible graphics adapters or docking stations the M5 Max can support up to four external displays from a single USB Type-C port.

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