Two displays with any of the M1, M2, M3 Macs along with their Pro and Max variants
Page Title

Apple Silicon and Connectivity with Plugable

MacBooks come packed with all the power you need for portable productivity, but that doesn’t mean it’s a one-size-fits-all laptop. Out of the box, many MacBook models only support one extended screen. Adding monitors isn’t the only connection limitation users might lament, the scant selection of onboard ports can also prevent you from adding your preferred peripherals.‌

In this collection of resources for Apple Silicon, learn how a technology called DisplayLink can allow you to add two or three screens to your M1, M2, or M3 MacBook. Find compatibility reports, and suggested docking stations, ports, and accessories. And if you still have questions, get in touch with one of our Mac specialists to find the perfect pair for your laptop.











Dual Display USB-C Docking Stations

Plugable offers a variety of USB-C dual display dock options for driving two external monitors on your M1, M2, or M3 Mac.

  • Plugable Universal Dual Monitor Docking Station (UD-3900)
  • Plugable Universal Docking Station for Dual 4K Monitors (UD-6950Z)
  • Plugable USB 3.0 Dual Monitor Horizontal Docking Station (UD-3900H)
  • Plugable USB 3.0 and USB-C 4K Dual Monitor Docking Station (UD-6950H)

View how they compare against each other in the table below:

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14e7931ae5cc75043a6fd072d815353d
9c714e29a742d606e2d636d5e3ca7ad1
15180bc9bb08b9efd15e2ed0c6a4dacb
UD-3900
$99.95 USD
UD-6950Z
$129.95 USD
UD-3900H
$73.95 USD
UD-6950H
$159.95 USD
Laptop Connection
USB-A or USB-C
USB-A or USB-C
USB-A or USB-C
USB-A or USB-C
Video Connections
DVI & HDMI
DisplayPort or HDMI
DVI & HDMI
DisplayPort or HDMI
Max Resolution
1920x1200 @ 60Hz
3840x2160 @ 60Hz
1920x1200 @ 60Hz
3840x2160 @ 60Hz
Laptop Charging
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Total Ports
11
10
11
12





Triple Display USB-C Docking Stations

Extend your workspace by up to three external displays on your M-series MacBook with a triple display docking station.

  • Plugable USB-C Triple Monitor Docking Station (UD-3900PDZ)
  • Plugable USB-C Docking Station, 4K Triple Monitors (UD-6950PDZ)
  • Plugable USB-C Triple Monitor Docking Station with 100W Laptop Charging (UD-ULTCDL)
  • Plugable USB-C Triple 4K Monitor Docking Station with 100W Laptop Charging (UD-ULTC4K)

View how they compare against each other in the table below:

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4fab07cdfff0f27d9eec5dadafb532fc
6cedbdd4dcf9fe01163769c962314b7f
45c15919606d9c2bda64fe445e41c9e5
UD-3900PDZ
$149.95 USD
UD-6950PDZ
$189.95 USD
UD-ULTCDL
$169.95 USD
UD-ULTC4K
$229.95 USD
Laptop Connection
USB-C, USB4, Thunderbolt
USB-C, USB4, Thunderbolt
USB-C, USB4, Thunderbolt
USB-C, USB4, Thunderbolt
Video Connections
HDMI or Display Port
HDMI or Display Port
HDMI or Display Port
HDMI or Display Port
Max Resolution
1x 3840x2160 @ 30Hz & 2x 2048x1152 @ 60Hz
1x 3840x2160 @ 30Hz & 2x 3840x2160 @ 60Hz
1x 3840x2160 @ 30Hz & 2x 1920x1200 @ 60Hz
3x 3840x2160 @ 60Hz
Laptop Charging
60W
60W
100W
100W
Total Ports
12
12
13
13










Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Plugable docks that use DisplayLink USB video technology allow for additional monitors on M1, M2, or M3 Macs because they make use of an app to convert video data over USB. Please make sure to install the required DisplayLink Manager Application in order to use the dock.

DisplayLink allows you to connect multiple monitors over a standard USB data connection. To do this, DisplayLink makes use of software installed on your Mac (DisplayLink Manager App) to communicate with the DisplayLink graphics controller built into the dock or graphics adapter.

From there, DisplayLink leverages Apple's SoC (CPU/GPU) on the Mac to detect changes in screen content to re-encode external image content in realtime. With this implementation, only changing pixels need to be managed, which reduces the total bandwidth required to send pixels to the display.

DisplayLink USB graphics is great for general office applications, web browser windows, or productivity tasks. However, we don't recommend it for more graphics intensive purposes like gaming, full-screen video editing and streaming, or other heavy GPU/CPU loads due to the potential for increased latency/lag as a result of the software overhead.






Looking for more options?

Try our Plugable Dock Finder tool to find a product that fits your needs!






Apple Silicon M-Pro & M-Max and Thunderbolt

Users of Apple's M-series Pro and Max CPUs have additional docking station options available to them, including Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 docking stations.

  • Plugable Thunderbolt™ Docking Station, Dual HDMI with DisplayPort, 96W Charging (TBT3-UDC3)
  • Plugable Thunderbolt™ and USB-C Dual Monitor Docking Station, 96W Laptop Charging (TBT3-UDZ)
  • Plugable Thunderbolt™ 4 Docking Station for 4 Monitor Setup, 100W Laptop Charging (TBT4-UDZ)
  • Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 HDMI Docking Station with 96W Charging (TBT4-UDX1)

Compare Plugable's Thunderbolt docking stations for the M PRO and M MAX here:

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d5bda323da6a7cb37b0a6c04046a0211
5cd1f092f5f971e3f4a5c97120a5034a
d644e1bf9edbda43a0038d4e3cd8450b
TBT3-UDC3
$159.95 USD
TBT3-UDZ
$239.95 USD
TBT4-UDZ
$269.95 USD
TBT4-UDX1
$249.95 USD
Laptop Connection
Thunderbolt 3 / 4, USB4, USB-C
Thunderbolt 3 / 4, USB4, USB-C
Thunderbolt 3 / 4, USB4, USB-C
Thunderbolt 3 / 4, USB4, USB-C
Video Connections
HDMI & DisplayPort
HDMI or DisplayPort
HDMI or DisplayPort
HDMI or DisplayPort
Max Resolution
2x 4096x2160 @ 60Hz
2x 4096x2160 @ 60Hz
4x 4096x2160 @ 60Hz
2x 4096x2160 @ 60Hz or 1x 7680 x 4320 @30Hz
Laptop Charging
96W
96W
100W
96W
Total Ports
11
14
16
11





Single Display USB-C Hubs

For adding a single display to your M1, M2, or M3 Mac, Plugable's USB-C multiport hubs are a cost-effective yet powerful accessory to increase your productivity. These hubs are excellent accessories to stow in your laptop bag and make great remote or hybrid working companions.

  • Plugable USB-C 5-in-1 Hub Designed For Apple MagSafe (AMS-5IN1E)
  • Plugable USB-C 4-in-1 Hub (USBC-4IN1)
  • Plugable USB-C 7-in-1 Hub (USBC-7IN1)
  • Plugable USB-C 7-in-1 Hub with Ethernet (USBC-7IN1E)

Compare these adapters and their features:

758c1615699b9df18922f993fe83b48e
a21c35e2f834555df716ffdd1761d5f6
f2f58c2471c86d9c3fdefad9a6b062a7
e8845e350f4cc4d5e98ab9afe37cb145
AMS-5IN1E
$32.95 USD
USBC-4IN1
$28.95 USD
USBC-7IN1
$34.95 USD
USBC-7IN1E
$39.95 USD
Laptop Connection
2x USB4/Thunderbolt
USB-C/USB4/Thunderbolt
USB-C/USB4/Thunderbolt
USB-C/USB4/Thunderbolt
Video Connections
USB-C
HDMI
HDMI
HDMI
Max Resolution
6016×3384 @ 60Hz
3840x2160 @60Hz
3840x2160 @ 30Hz
3840x2160 @ 60Hz
Laptop Charging
100W
100W
87W
87W
Total Ports
5
4
7
7





USB-C Chargers

Reliable, safe, and fast charging for your Mac is available with the Plugable 140W USB-C GaN Power Adapter.

This adapters EPR (Extended Power Range) technology ensures safe, efficient charging at your device's optimal level up to 140W.

The PS-EPR-140C1 charges a 16” MacBook Pro from 0% to 50% in as quick as 26 minutes or 0% to 100% in 90 minutes using a MagSafe cable.

Buy the Plugable 140W USB-C GaN Power Adapter

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