In addition to the new iMac with the 10-core M4 chip being the very first Mac with support for up to an 8K external display at 120 Hz, the computer also supports up to two 6K external displays at 60 Hz. That’s a very notable upgrade, considering that lower-end Apple silicon Macs like the MacBook Air, the entry-level MacBook Pro, and previous iMac models have mostly been limited to a single external display, at least on an official basis.
Two exceptions are the MacBook Air and 14-inch MacBook Pro models with the M3 chip, which support up to two external displays, but only when the laptop’s lid is closed. Another exception is the Mac mini, which has an HDMI port for connecting a second display. DisplayLink adapters have also been a viable solution for multiple external displays since the first Apple silicon Macs with the M1 chip launched in 2020.
But the 10-core M4 chip is notable because it will bring proper dual external display support to lower-end Macs for the first time since the launch of Apple Silicon, without any special tricks required. No more DisplayLink adapters and no more having to close the MacBook lid. That’s an important, long-awaited advancement for Apple Silicon.
The higher-end Apple silicon Macs have supported multiple external displays since the MacBook Pro models with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips launched in 2021.
Apple is expected to announce a new entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with the 10-core M4 chip this week, and an alleged leak has already confirmed that the laptop will support dual external displays with the lid open. Next year, the M4 chip should be extended to the MacBook Air, and 10-core configurations should also support dual external displays.
The new iMac is available for pre-order now and will launch on Friday, November 8.
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