How to connect two or more external displays to an M1, M2, M3, M4 or M5 MacBook or Neo

• Connection: USB-C (10Gbps)
• Software: DisplayLink
• Max screens: 5

Let’s begin with the DisplayLink dock that supports the most external displays: the Plugable UD-7400PD allows even M1 MacBook and Neo users to run up to five 4K displays at a 60Hz refresh rate. This is made possible by use of the latest Synaptics’ DisplayLink DL-7400 chipset. No other dock can match it. Although five displays is probably overkill for most users, financial and data analysts can’t have enough screens and will love it. You don’t have to add five displays, of course, but this dock is the one that will let you do so. It even offers something to the mighty M5 Max MacBook that can natively support four external displays; with the Plugable UD-7400PD it can move to five.

There are two HDMI ports (one HDMI 2.1 for 8K and one 2.0) plus three downstream USB-C ports to connect either those displays or other devices. There are two fast 10Gbps USB-A ports, speedy 2.5Gb Ethernet and an audio jack, but no SD card reader. At the front of the dock, one of the USB-C ports can output power to a connected device at 30W, which is perfect if you want to fast-charge an iPhone or even an iPad.

If you need faster bandwidth, the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink (reviewed below) boasts 40Gbps data transfer and supports four displays for the M3 MacBook Air (while shut in Clamshell Mode), but with it the M1 and M2 MacBooks are limited to three (one at 6K and two at 4K). 

IT managers will appreciate Plugable’s DockTag technology that works with the UD-7400PD, a web-based solution designed for hot-desking and real-time IT asset management in mixed-platform offices.

• Connection: Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps)
• Software: DisplayLink
• Max screens: 4

While plain M1/M2/Neo MacBooks are limited to three external displays using this dock when DisplayLink software is installed, M3/M4/M5 and M1/M2/M3/M4 Pro/Max MacBooks can connect to four 4K at 60Hz. Other docks reviewed here also allow M1 and M2 Macs to connect to three displays, but what we really like about the Kensington SD5900T is its fast 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 bandwidth rather than the usual 10Gbps USB-C docks. At present, there are no 80Gps Thunderbolt 5 DisplayLink docks. Note that the Neo uses 10Gbps USB-C rather than Thunderbolt, so is limited to that speed, although it will still work with Thunderbolt docks.

Two other docks—the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink and Plugable TBT-6950PD, both reviewed below—also offer Thunderbolt 4, but the Kensington SD5900T offers more flexibility on video ports, as well as boasting a few more than the other two.

That Thunderbolt port connection also allows one of the three screens to be at 6K resolution (60Hz) while the other two via HDMI or DisplayLink will be 4K at 60Hz. Macs with a Pro or Max M-series chip can run two 4K/60Hz and two 6K/60Hz. Kensington sacrifices one of the potential Thunderbolt ports for an extra DisplayPort, while the Satechi and Plugable docks go with three downstream TB4 plus two HDMI. It does, however, offer an extra 10GBps/15W USB-C port at the front.

Its network port is 2.5Gb Ethernet compared to the 1Gb Ethernet on the Satechi and Plugable. It’s backwards compatible with Gigabit Ethernet so will work fine with standard wired networks.

If connecting to multiple monitors with the greatest flexibility is your principal goal, then the Kensington SD5900T is a great DisplayLink solution. If you want an extra 40Gbps Thunderbolt port, look to the Satechi and Plugable docks.

• Connection: Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps)
• Software: DisplayLink
• Max screens: 4

The benefit of the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink is right there in its name: it’s a full 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 dock rather than USB-C. That Thunderbolt port connection also allows one of the three screens to be at 6K resolution (60Hz) while the other two via HDMI will be 4K at 60Hz.

There are two HDMI 2.0 ports plus a generous three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (as well as one upstream TB4 to the laptop). It doesn’t host any extra USB-C ports but the three Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps data transfer, 15W power output) are backwards compatible with USB-C. There are two fast 10Gbps USB-A ports, too, plus a UHS-II SD card reader, Gigabit Ethernet and an audio jack.

Like the similar Plugable TBT-6950PD dock, reviewed below, it offers one more Thunderbolt 4 port than the Kensington SD5900T reviewed above, but lacks a few of its other ports.

U.K. customers can buy direct from Satechi (with a small shipping fee) but will need to purchase a local power cable.

Satechi also sells a 12-port USB-C-based Triple 4K Display Docking Station that supports three 4K displays at 60Hz using DisplayLink. It is priced the same as the Satechi Thunderbolt DisplayLink Dock. Normally we’d always pick a Thunderbolt dock over USB-C but this one hosts a mix of DisplayPort and HDMI ports that offers a more flexible monitor choice than the Thunderbolt dock’s two HDMI and three TB4 ports. If you prefer DisplayPort for your monitor connection you should consider this USB-C dock although a simple USB-C to DisplayPort adapter will work the same magic on the TB dock—or choose the Kensington SD5900T that gives up one of its Thunderbolt ports for an extra DisplayPort.

• Connection: Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps)
• Software: DisplayLink
• Max screens: 4

This dock is almost identical to the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 DisplayLink dock reviewed above. M1/M2/Neo Mac owners can connect up to three external displays, and M3 and M1/M2/M3/M4/M5 Pro and M1/M2/M3/M4 Max users can attach up to four monitors. The M5 Max doesn’t need help to support four external monitors.

The Thunderbolt port means one of the three screens can be at 6K resolution (60Hz) while the other two via HDMI will be 4K at 60Hz.

The USB ports are at least 10Gbps and the SD card reader is also fast at 312MBps.

The Plugable version has a few advantages over the Satechi: a slightly longer (1m vs 0.8m) Thunderbolt cable, Kensington lock slot and two-year warranty (vs 1 year from Satechi). For more video-port flexibility but one fewer Thunderbolt port, look at the Kensington SD5900T dock reviewed above.

• Connection: USB-C (10Gbps)
• Software: DisplayLink
• Max screens: 4

While the Satechi and Plugable Thunderbolt DisplayLink docks support four displays for the M3 MacBook Air (while shut in Clamshell Mode), the M1 and M2 MacBooks are limited to three (one at 6K and two at 4K) using those docks. The Wavlink’s newer DL7400 chipset allows for even the M1 and M2 Macs to connect to four displays at impressive refresh rates: 1x 4K at 120Hz and 3x 4K at 60Hz.

As such, if you desire four displays to be hooked up to your Neo, M1 or M2 MacBook, the Wavlink dock is the better choice. There are three versions. the WL-UG75PD1-DH2 has two DisplayPort and two HDMI ports, while the WL-UG75PD1-4D2 has four DisplayPort and WL-UG75PD1-4H2 has four HDMI. Plugable’s use of the same chipset on its UD-7400PD dock, reviewed above, supports up to five displays but uses USB-C rather than dedicated video ports, which might mean buying adapter cables to link to non-USB-C displays.

The Wavlink DL7400 might lack the Satechi and Plugable docks’ faster Thunderbolt connection but it beats them on network speeds with a 2.5Gb Ethernet port—2.5 times faster if your network matches this (it’s backwards compatible with 1GbE).

The USB ports are at least 10Gbps and the SD and microSD card readers are also speedily rated at 312MBps.

• Connection: USB-C (5Gbps)
• Software: DisplayLink
• Max screens: 2

Also from Wavlink this simple, portable and affordable adapter doesn’t give you loads of extra USB ports, Ethernet or card readers like a hub or docking station would, but it offers four powerful video ports: two DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0.

Once you’ve installed the DisplayLink drivers, this means a Neo/M1/M2/M3 MacBook can run two extended displays at up to 5K at 60Hz using a combination of these video ports. You’d need to use both DisplayPort 1.4 ports for the maximum 5K resolution—the HDMI 2.0 ports max out at 4096-x-2160 at 60Hz.

Note that 5K is generally 5120×2880 pixels, which is a 16:9 aspect ratio. This Wavlink dock offers 5120×1440 that has the same 5120-pixel horizontal width, but it is a 32:9 “super ultrawide” aspect ratio known as 5K Ultrawide/Dual QHD (DQHD) or “5K2K”.

There’s no passthrough charging so you’ll need to use another of the MacBook’s Thunderbolt ports to keep the laptop powered up in use.

• Connection: USB-C (5Gbps)
• Software: DisplayLink
• Max screens: 2

Another simple one-function affordable adapter, the Plugable USB-C Dual HDMI Adapter (USBC-6950M), pictured below left, uses DisplayLink to enable dual 4K 60Hz displays for M1, M2 and Neo MacBooks with two HDMI ports. Like the Wavlink Dual 4K DisplayPort & HDMI Adapter it’s no dock but it does the multi-screen M1/M2/Neo job you require without fuss.

Plugable

There’s a slightly pricier (but still cheaper than a dock) version, the Plugable Dual 4K DisplayPort & HDMI Adapter (USBC-7400H4) pictured above right, that supports four external 4K displays at 60Hz and features 90W passthrough charging to the laptop.

• Connection: USB-C (10Gbps)
• Software: DisplayLink
• Max screens: 3

Anker calls on DisplayLink for this good-looking docking station to support up to three external 4K displays at an impressive 60Hz refresh rate—indeed the two HDMI ports support 4K at 60Hz, and the DisplayPort capable of 8K at 60Hz.

It includes a bunch of impressive non-display ports. It can fast-charge even the top-end 16-inch MacBook at a full 140W PD 3.1, and boasts three 100W USB-C ports at the front alongside an impressively informative smart display.

However, it’s let down somewhat by its weak overall maximum 160W power—enough for many docks but disappointing on a dock with 440W of possible power from its USB-C ports. A power supply of at least 240W would have been more useful.

This dock’s SD and MicroSD are also not the fastest at 104MBps rather than 312Mbps, as seen on some other docks. Its 2.5Gb Ethernet will be welcomed by users on a fast network, and provides future proofing for the rest of us.

• Connection: USB-C (10Gbps)
• Software: DisplayLink
• Max screens: 3

This Alogic DisplayLink docking station supports up to three external 4K displays at an impressive 60Hz refresh rate and has an array of useful non-display ports. It can power the connected laptop at 100W and has a decent 135W external power supply so doesn’t require an extra USB-C charger.

The DisplayLink download link is clearly shown in the user manual, and instructions make sense—although you need a magnifying glass to read them!

The DX3 has three DisplayPort 1.4 ports but no HDMI, so you’ll need to add an adapter between dock and display if you prefer HDMI. As you’ll need to buy video cables anyway, this doesn’t matter as prices for straight cable and adapter cable are close enough.

This dock has two card readers: SD and MicroSD, both at top 312MBps UHS-II—allowing you to add inexpensive portable storage to your laptop setup.

It also has Gigabit Ethernet, four USB-A (one with 7.5W charging) and two 10Gbps USB-C (one 100W PD upstream to the laptop, and one 7.5W smaller device charging).

Reviewed below is Alogic’s DX2, which supports two 4K displays at 60Hz and lacks some of the other ports found on the DX3. if you just need two external monitors for your M1/M2/M3/Neo MacBook this may be a cheaper option.

• Connection: USB-C (10Gbps)
• Software: DisplayLink
• Max screens: 2

While we prefer Alogic’s DX3, reviewed above, that supports up to three 4K displays and offers more ports and faster charging for not much more cost, the DX2 is fine if all you require is two top-end monitors connected to your mid-sized M1/M2/Neo MacBook.

It features two DisplayPort 1.4 ports, one 10Gbps USB-C with 7.5W charging, three 5Gbps USB-A ports (one with 7.5W), a 3.5mm audio jack and Gigabit Ethernet.

• Connection: USB-C (5Gbps)
• Software: DisplayLink
• Max screens: 2

If you don’t require full 40Gbps Thunderbolt, Plugable’s redesigned USB-C–based UD-6950PDH docking station plus free-to-download DisplayLink software can connect two extra 4K/60Hz displays to M1, M2, M3 and Neo Macs. While plain M3 MacBooks can already connect to two external displays, this DisplayLink dock allows plain M3 MacBooks to remain open with the two additional displays attached (otherwise the M3 laptop’s lid has to be closed). M4, M5 and M4 Pro MacBooks can already run two screens natively but using a dock saves the laptop’s built-in ports.

It features an impressive 13 ports including Gigabit Ethernet, SD and MicroSD card readers and five spare USB ports.

You won’t get data transfer any faster than 5Gbps so if you crave the full 40Gbps Thunderbolt bandwidth you should instead consider the more powerful Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink, reviewed above.

You can use both of the dock’s HDMI ports or both DisplayPort or a mix of each, depending on your monitor requirements. Two video ports will always be left empty, but the flexibility is welcome.

No availability outside of North America has yet been announced.

• Connection: USB-C (5Gbps)
• Software: InstantView
• Max screens: 2

The Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI 10-in-1 USB-C Hub doesn’t use DisplayLink and instead uses SiliconMotion’s InstantView.

Hyper says that it works “without having to download cumbersome drivers” but there is some software installation involved, and you need to allow InstantView access to your Privacy settings in System Preferences. You connect the hub or adapter to your M1/M2/Neo MacBook and find the HyperDisplay app that appears in a Finder folder sidebar. Double-click the macOS InstantView icon and follow the System Preferences instructions. Once this has been completed your MacBook will automatically recognize the adapter from then on.

It’s an easier solution than DisplayLink but with the same ability to allow M1, M2, M3 and Neo Macs to connect to multiple external displays.

This compact hub still includes 10 ports, including the all-important 2x HDMI. The first display at 60Hz is added via HDMI and DP Alt-mode and the second at 4K 30Hz through HDMI and InstantView.

Also included are Gigabit Ethernet, MicroSD card reader (UHS-I), 3.5mm audio jack, 2x 5Gbps USB-A, and one 5Gbps USB-C. A further USB-C PD port allows you to charge the connected laptop at up to 100W—handy as the hub itself uses up one of your laptop’s Thunderbolt ports.

• Connection: USB-C (5Gbps)
• Software: InstantView
• Max screens: 2

This double-function hub is designed to provide two HDMI display ports for a MacBook M1/M2/M3/Neo, plus passthrough charging for the laptop. It doesn’t offer a bunch of other ports like its big brother, the Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI 10-in-1 USB-C Hub reviewed above. As a result, it is cheaper and is one of the most cost-effective solutions for adding multiple monitors to the limited plain M1/M2/M3 Macs.

Like the 10-in-1 reviewed above, it uses SiliconMotion’s InstantView rather than DisplayLink software to get past the limitation.

The first display at 60Hz is added via HDMI and DP Alt-mode and the second at 4K 30Hz through HDMI and InstantView.

If you require more ports, such as Gigabit Ethernet, card readers and USB ports, consider the Hyperdrive 10-in-1 or one of the other hubs or docks reviewed here..

• Connection: USB-C (10Gbps)
• Software: DisplayLink
• Max screens: 2

If you don’t need three external screens, we like this USB-C dock—the Revodok Pro 209 9-in-1 4K HDMI Universal Docking Station—for its two HDMI and two DisplayPorts, which you can choose between when adding two displays to your M1, M2, M3 or Neo MacBook. This should suit most monitors, unless you prefer direct USB-C displays.

Its spare USB ports (2x USB-A and 1x USB-C) are fast (10Gbps) for data transfer, and another USB-C port can be plugged into a USB-C charger (not included, which is common with the docks reviewed here) and supply up to 100W of charging power to the connected laptop.

There’s also a Gigabit Ethernet port for fast, stable wired Internet access.

You need to install DisplayLink on your Mac—instructions above—and Ugreen has made this easy by adding the download files to your Mac when you first connect the dock.

Read a full Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C dock review.

• Connection: USB-C (5Gbps)
• Software: DisplayLink
• Max screens: 2

With third-party DisplayLink drivers, this dock will support up to three displays on a Mac. You can connect one 4K at 60Hz display (3840×2160 pixels) via either the DisplayPort or one of the HDMI ports. The other two displays via HDMI, however, are at a lesser HD (1920×1080) resolution, both at 60Hz.

There is a link to the DisplayLink download printed in the user manual, although the type in the manual is the smallest we’ve ever seen!

The specs aren’t quite as impressive as the Satechi Triple 4K Display Docking Station, with 5Gbps a maximum data-transfer rate, although charging wattage for USB-A (3.0) is up to 7.5W each and USB-C is up to 12W, which beats the Satechi.

However, it does boast both SD and MicroSD card readers for affordable portable storage options, although UHS-I rather than super-fast UHS-II. And, crucially, it’s cheaper, although you will need to add your own USB-C 100W PD charger, unlike the Satechi Triple 4K Dock.

• Connection: USB-C (5Gbps)
• Software: InstantView
• Max screens: 2

The Satechi USB-C Multimedia M1 Adapter uses InstantView rather than DisplayLink but the installation process is practically the same when you follow the manual.

It includes 2x HDMI ports: one of which can support a 4K display at 60Hz and the other at 30Hz.

It’s more than a mere display adapter, though, as it also boasts USB-C PD passthrough charging at up to 85W, one 5Gbps USB-C port, and two 5Gbps USB-A ports.

Although named after the M1 processor, it will also work with similarly limited M2 and M3 MacBooks, plus the MacBook Neo.

• Connection: USB-C (10Gbps)
• Software: DisplayLink
• Max screens: 2

The Alogic Dual 4K Universal Compact Docking Station comes in two models—the CH2, which features two HDMI 2.0 ports; and the CD2, with two DisplayPort ports—so you can choose which best suits the external displays you already own.

Two external screens are probably enough for most people. If you require three, see the other hubs and docks reviewed here. Both screens can be up to 4K at 60Hz. Basic instructions are given on installing the DisplayLink software for M1, M2, M3 and Neo Macs.

This neat, compact dock doesn’t feature as many ports as others mentioned here but what it has are top-rated: both the USB-A and USB-C ports support 10Gbps data transfer. There is also a Gigabit Ethernet port and a UHS-II SD card reader.

A passthrough USB-C port—you need to add a suitably powerful charger—can handle 100W, although 22W is required by the dock so leaving 78W for laptop and device charging. The dock must be connected to the laptop to allow device charging.

• Connection: USB-C (5Gbps)
• Software: DisplayLink
• Max screens: 3

The EZQuest Ultimate Plus USB-C Multimedia Hub has two HDMI ports and a VGA port, and supports one 4K at 60Hz and one 4K at 30Hz via HDMI and 1080p HD via VGA. If you want three 4K displays, look instead at the Ugreen Triple Display Dock.

It also features 5Gbps USB-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet and card readers.

Like the Ugreen dock, it requires a USB-C charger for power and can pass through up to 85W to the connected MacBook, but connects via slower 5Gbps USB-C.

• Connection: USB-C (10Gbps)
• Software: DisplayLink
• Max screens: 3

This triple-monitor DisplayLink-based docking station is positively bristling with ports: 15 in total.

Most interesting to us here are the six video ports: 3x DisplayPort 1.4 and 3x HDMI 2.0. This doesn’t mean you can connect six displays but it does should give you flexible options for the type of connection that fit your displays. However, in testing we had no success linking via DisplayPort, which makes the extra options rather worthless. As such, we prefer the other docks and hubs reviewed above.

You need to download the DisplayLink drivers for your M1/M2/M3/Neo Mac. StarTech.com has a link and a video, or just follow our guide above.

As well as the half-dozen video ports are six USB ports: 2x USB-C (one at 10Gbps and one 5Gbps), plus 4x USB-A (one 10Gbps and three 5Gbps). The 5Gbps USB-C port can charge a connected device at 18W, enough to fast-charge an iPhone. One of the 5Gbps USB-A ports can charge at 7.5W.

Rounding off the many ports are Gigabit Ethernet and a 3.5mm Audio In-Out.

There’s no card reader to add portable storage but you could connect an adapter to one of the USB ports.

• Connection: USB-C (10Gbps)
• Software: DisplayLink
• Max screens: 3

In some ways this “dock” is more of a high-powered portable hub. It connects to the laptop via its built-in braided USB-C 2.6ft cable that can carry data at 10Gbps and power at 90W to the MacBook when connected to a wall charger.

Most desk-bound docks are weighed down by an external power brick, but the Baseus Spacemate is nimbler and can even draw enough power from the laptop to operate with power coming in.

When connecting two monitors via the Spacemate the resolution is limited to QHD (2560×1440 pixels) that is also called 2.5K to distinguish it from 4K (3840×2160) which most dual-screen DisplayLink docks offer.

There are six USB ports: four USB-A but just two 10Gbps USB-C ports and none that can output any real power to the connected devices.