Apple launches new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air with M3 chip (opens in new tab)

(9to5mac.com)

11 pointsdi-sukharev2y ago8 comments

8 comments

   The chip now also supports connecting up to two external displays at once, finally making up for one of the few feature regressions in the transition from Intel to Apple Silicon

Very surprising they shipped laptops so long with little backlash (at least they felt comfortable that this is not an issue for 3+ years)

brocket2y ago

I consider M1 as already supporting two external displays if you're using a 49" DQHD monitor. :) Mine (Samsung CRG9) is the exact same resolution as two 27" 1440p monitors.

Highly recommend, after switching and getting used to window management software (Rectangle is great and open source) it's hard to imagine going back. There are use cases I just can't do with a gap in the middle of my display. Like being able to take up the whole screen with my IDE when needed or treat center center of my display as my 27" monitor and 1/4 sides as split 27".

theshrike792y ago

The amount of people with two external USB-C displays isn't that large compared to the majority of users.

Also this must be some kind of Air-specific limitation. I'm writing this comment with an M1 MacBook Pro with two external displays (USB-C + HDMI) + laptop screen.

weikju2y ago

It is a limitation of the plain M chips. Pro and Max versions add an extra monitor or two.

AFAIK the M1/M2/M3 MacBook Pros (not with the M* Pro chips) also suffer the same limitations

thih92y ago

Looks like this is the only announcement, other than new colors for cases and watch bands[1]. That's surprising, I was expecting something iPad related as well.

[1]: https://9to5mac.com/2024/03/04/here-are-the-new-iphone-case-...

easton2y ago

With support for two monitors! Finally!

M1 is still fast enough, but for next time at least they fixed that.

thih92y ago

Note: support for two monitors is in clamshell mode only. When the laptop's screen is active, only one external monitor can be active.

philistine2y ago

Honestly this is fine. If someone has two monitors, at this point I'm pretty sure they're someone who wants to close the laptop lid. It's a great solution to the problem.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

8 comments

npalli2y ago

   The chip now also supports connecting up to two external displays at once, finally making up for one of the few feature regressions in the transition from Intel to Apple Silicon

Very surprising they shipped laptops so long with little backlash (at least they felt comfortable that this is not an issue for 3+ years)

brocket2y ago

I consider M1 as already supporting two external displays if you're using a 49" DQHD monitor. :) Mine (Samsung CRG9) is the exact same resolution as two 27" 1440p monitors.

theshrike792y ago

The amount of people with two external USB-C displays isn't that large compared to the majority of users.

Also this must be some kind of Air-specific limitation. I'm writing this comment with an M1 MacBook Pro with two external displays (USB-C + HDMI) + laptop screen.

weikju2y ago

It is a limitation of the plain M chips. Pro and Max versions add an extra monitor or two.

AFAIK the M1/M2/M3 MacBook Pros (not with the M* Pro chips) also suffer the same limitations

thih92y ago

Looks like this is the only announcement, other than new colors for cases and watch bands[1]. That's surprising, I was expecting something iPad related as well.

[1]: https://9to5mac.com/2024/03/04/here-are-the-new-iphone-case-...

easton2y ago

With support for two monitors! Finally!

M1 is still fast enough, but for next time at least they fixed that.

thih92y ago

Note: support for two monitors is in clamshell mode only. When the laptop's screen is active, only one external monitor can be active.

philistine2y ago

Honestly this is fine. If someone has two monitors, at this point I'm pretty sure they're someone who wants to close the laptop lid. It's a great solution to the problem.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse