Subj : The M4 MacBook Air could launch with a big display upgrade for mu
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Thu Jan 23 2025 11:45:07

The M4 MacBook Air could launch with a big display upgrade for multi-taskers

Date:
Thu, 23 Jan 2025 11:36:26 +0000

Description:
The M4 MacBook Air might soon support two external monitors, all without you 
needing to close the lid.

FULL STORY
======================================================================The M4 
MacBook Air could offer improved external display support It may connect to 
two external displays without you needing to close its lid We can work this 
out by looking at the M4 MacBook Pro 

Lots of people connect their laptops to an external display in order to 
extend their workspace, yet this is one area where the MacBook Air struggles. 
Sure, you can connect two screens to this computer, but only if you close the 
lid  without doing that, it only works with a single monitor. Thats less than 
ideal. 

Fortunately, that could all be about to change with the imminent launch of 
the M4 MacBook Air . When the M4 chip lands in Apples most affordable laptop, 
it could finally allow for more flexible external display setups. 

To understand why, we need to look at the MacBook Pro . As noted by 9to5Mac , 
the M4 MacBook Pro supports up to two external displays (if you have the M4 
Max model, it will support up to four external screens). The M3 MacBook Pro 
could also support two monitors, but at lower resolutions and frame rates. In 
contrast, the M2 MacBook Pro only worked with one external display. Thats 
progress with each chip generation. 

The improved external monitor support in the step up from the M2 to M3 chip 
was mirrored in the MacBook Air, which is able to support an additional 
screen as long as the laptops screen is closed. The implication here is that 
because the M4 chip improved display support in the MacBook Pro, it will do 
the same for the MacBook Air, as has happened with chip upgrades in the past. 
Better bandwidth (Image credit: Bryce Hyland / Future) 

The likely reason why the M3 MacBook Air could only connect to two displays 
when its lid was closed came down to bandwidth: the laptops chip couldnt 
support the required video throughput for three screens at once. 

Now that the M4 MacBook Pro works with higher resolutions and frame rates, 
the suggestion is that it has greater video bandwidth than the M3 chip. And 
if thats the case, theres a chance that the MacBook Air could make use of 
that. 

That means we could see the M4 MacBook Air support three screens in total: 
its built-in display, plus two external monitors, all without having to close 
its lid. That would potentially make it a very attractive device to 
prospective buyers. 

Much of this is speculation and guesswork at the moment. But with the M4 
MacBook Air expected to launch soon, it wont be long until we find out 
whether its received this significant display upgrade. You might also like M3 
MacBook Pro update will finally let you craft a multi-display setup soon 
Apple fans, get ready for another MacBook refresh - M4 MacBook Air reportedly 
set to launch this year, amid M5 chip rumors The best MacBook Air deals in 
January 2025



======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/computing/the-m4-macbook-air-could-launch-with-a-big
-display-upgrade-for-multi-taskers


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