There’s a lot to love about M1 MacBooks, but easy connectivity with multiple external displays isn’t on the list. So people often wonder which dock or adapter might suit their need to use one or more external displays with the laptop. Today’s M1 MacBook Air user asked for advice and got it. You can check out the three main recommendations for a good dock for MacBook Air below.
M1 MacBook Air user gets advice on a good dock to connect MacBook Air to external display
Redditor Taurus-Kei (“Kei”) showcased the setup in a post entitled, “MBA M1 & PC Setup.” He runs an M1 MacBook Air with 27-inch and 22-inch BenQ displays mounted on monitor arms. The larger screen, in landscape (horizontal) orientation, features HDR. But he’s not satisfied with his connectivity from the laptop, which he types on (no separate keyboard).
“How I can also connect my MBA M1 to the vertical monitor,” he asked. “Hopefully, a budget friendly option. I know the Caldigit TS3 is a good option, but afraid it’s too expensive for my needs lol. Looks like the cheapest ones are really around a hundred dollars.”
Of course, docks and adapters that let you run external displays with an M1 MacBook Air are many and varied. In addition to the excellent CalDigit dock that Kei considers too rich for his blood — you can get it for about $190 — we offer two options recommended by commenters that are right in the zone, at or below $100. See the gear links list below.
1. Plugable 7-in-1 USB-C Docking Station Dual Monitor
Photo: Plugable
- 7-port mini dock. Plugable’s 7-in-1 mini docking station for Windows and Mac packs in 2x HDMI, USB-A and USB-C, 82W pass-through charging, Gigabit ethernet, and an SD card slot. And it’s small and sturdy enough to take on the road.
- Dual 4K – This USB-C to HDMI hub uses DisplayLink to deliver 2x 4K 60Hz extended HDMI displays for an incredibly clear picture and without the need for special video capabilities from your laptop. It’s worth noting that a driver download is required (automatic on Windows).
- 100W charging – For systems that can charge via USB-C, plug your laptop’s USB-C power adapter directly into the USB-C dock for charging (accepts up to 100W from a power adapter-82W pass-through). Compatible with the same 45W to 100W USB-C power supplies provided with the laptop.
- Compatibility – For Windows 10+, macOS 11+ computers w/USB-C, Thunderbolt 3 / 4, USB4. Ideal for web and productivity apps like Google Docs, Office. Not for gaming, graphics-intensive or design work. No support of HDCP-protected content like Netflix.
- 2-year warranty
- Price: $99.00
2. OWC USB-C Dual HDMI 4K Display Adapter with DisplayLink
Photo: OWC
- Solves the one external display limitation For Apple silicon M1 Macs.
- Certified pass-through power delivery so you can fully power/charge your compatible M1 MacBook Pro or MacBook Air and run dual displays all through a single port (total power delivery dependent on capability of attached USB-C power adapter.)
- The OWC USB-C to Dual HDMI Adapter is the easy solution for adding two HDMI displays up to 4K to any Mac or PC via one Thunderbolt or USB-C port. Compatible with all Apple silicon M1 Macs.
- Complete: one easy, affordable solution vs costly hassle of multiple adapters and cables, Flexible: choose either Extended or Mirror display modes, Portable: about the size and weight of a compact smartphone.
- 1 year warranty
- Price:
$119.00$99.95 (16% off)
3. CalDigit TS3 Thunderbolt 3 Dock ($50 off coupon)
Photo: CalDigit
- 15 ports: 2x Thunderbolt 3 40Gb/s, DisplayPort 1.2, 5x USB-A & 1 USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 (5Gb/s), 1x USB-C 3.1 Gen2 (10Gb/s data only), Gigabit Ethernet, UHS-II SD Card Slot (SD 4.0), Optical Audio (S/PDIF), 3.5mm Stereo Audio In & Out. Vertical or horizontal orientation. Sturdy full aluminum construction with integrated heat sink without a fan.
- 87W lapto charging: Provides up to 87W to charge your laptop and power all of your USB peripherals. The secondary Thunderbolt 3 port provides 15W of power for downstream devices. Please note: Firmware update required for 87W.
- Dual 4K external displays: Connect up to two 4K@60Hz (4096 x 2160 30-bit color) monitors via DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C port, OR a Single 5K@60Hz display can be supported via the Thunderbolt 3 port. (Note M1 Macs cannot support dual display over Thunderbolt. You must use an ACTIVE DisplayPort to HDMI/DVI/VGA adapter/cable, not passive dongle/cable.)
- UHS-II SD 4.0 card slot: Latest UHS-II SD card slot supports SD/SDHC/SDXC at up to 312 MB/s bus speed. Transfer full days of footage from your camera 3x faster than UHS-I counterpart.
- Mac and Windows: Ideal for M1 and M2 Macs, 2016+ MacBook Pro, 2017+ iMac Pro, on Mac OS 10.12 or Windows 8/10 with a Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 port.
Shop these items now:
Recommended dock for MacBook Air:
- Plugable 7-in-1 USB C Docking Station Dual Monitor
- OWC USB-C Dual HDMI 4K Display Adapter with DisplayLink
- CalDigit TS3 Thunderbolt 3 Dock ($50 off coupon)
Computer:
Displays, mounts and webcam:
Input devices:
If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to [email protected]. Please provide a detailed list of your equipment. Tell us what you like or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any special touches, challenges and plans for new additions.
