Despite being a couple of years old, the M1-based MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are fantastic laptops that offer great performance and endurance. Here are the best DisplayLink docks to connect multiple monitors to M1 Macs.
Plugable USB-C Laptop Dock
- Ports: 2 x HDMI, 2 x USB 3.0, 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x 3.5mm Audio
- Display outputs: 2
Plugable’s DisplayLink dock is one of the most affordable adapters you can buy to connect multiple monitors to your Mac. There are two HDMI ports that can output at 1080p 60Hz. You also get additional ports like USB-A and an Ethernet connector with the device.
The Plugable USB-C Laptop dock is a full-fledged docking station. So it’s important to note that it’s meant to be used on your desk and it isn’t geared for travel. You can connect up to two 1080p monitors to your MacBook Air or Pro using the two HDMI ports on the Plugable dock.
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Wavlink 4K Display Docking Station
- Ports: 6 x USB 3.0, 2 x HDMI, 2 x DP (dual video outputs), 1 x USB-C (In), 1 x Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x Audio out, 1 x Mic
- Display outputs: 2
The Wavlink docking station allows you to connect high-resolution displays to your Mac. The dock also has a lot more ports which give you better connectivity options. If you’re a creator and you want the extra pixels, the Wavlink dock is a no-brainer.
If you choose not to connect two displays, you can use the DisplayPort output from the dock to connect a single 5K monitor as well. Regardless of how many monitors you connect, note that the refresh rate is limited to 60Hz.
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Plugable 14-in-1 Triple Monitor Docking Station
- Ports: 3 x HDMI, 5 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB-C (100W), 2 x SD & microSD card reader, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x Audio In, 1 x Audio Out
- Display outputs: 3
Plugable’s 14-in-1 dock is compact and can seamlessly fit into your backpack. Thanks to this, if you have a multi-monitor setup at both home and work, you can pop this into your backpack and hook up your Mac to multiple displays wherever you want.
The dock comes with three HDMI ports on the rear so that you can achieve a triple monitor setup with this dock. Furthermore, you can connect up to a 4K 60Hz display using the primary HDMI ports, while the other two ports can only output at 1080p 60Hz. Apart from this, there’s an ethernet port accompanied by five USB-A 5Gbps ports.
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Minisopuru Docking Station for M1 MacBook
- Ports: 2 x 4K HDMI, 2 x 4K DisplayPort, 2 x USBA 3.2 Gen1 port 1 x USB C 3.2 Gen1, 1 x USB-C (100W), 2 x USBA 2.0, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x 3.5 mm Audio/Mic
- Display outputs: 3
If the output resolution on the Plugable 14-in-1 dock is low for your needs, Minisopuru has you covered. The dock lets you connect three 4K displays at 60Hz. You also get two additional USB-C ports to charge or connect external devices.
While it’s nice to be able to connect three 4K monitors to your Mac, the dock’s port selection will raise a few eyebrows. We say this, as the second monitor has to compulsorily connect via a DisplayPort cable. So, if you have a monitor with an HDMI port, you’ll have to purchase an HDMI to DisplayPort adapter.
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Tobenone Dual Monitor Dock
- Ports: 2 x HDMI, 2 x DisplayPort, 7 x USB, 1 x USB-C 3.1, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x SD/TF card reader
- Display outputs: 2
While you don’t get a wide variety of ports on the Tobenone dock, the biggest advantage of this product is its excellent heat dissipation. It has a large chassis so even if you connect multiple devices at once, you don’t have to worry about the dock overheating and malfunctioning.
As a result of the large form factor, the Tobenone dock is meant to be kept on a table or desk. The rear has four ports for displays — two DisplayPort outputs and two HDMI ports. Do note that you can only use two of them at once to power up to two 4K monitors at 60Hz. As for the rest of the I/O, the dock ships with three USB-A 2.0 ports accompanying the display out ports on the rear.
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UGREEN 12-in-1 MacBook Docking Station
- Ports: 1 x HDMI 8K, 1xHDMI 4K, 1x DP 4K, 1x USB-C (100W), 1x USB-A 3.2, 1 x USB-C 3.2, 2 x USB- A 3.0, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x SD/Micro SD card reader, and 1x 3.5mm AUX port
- Display outputs: 3
The UGREEN 12-in-1 dock allows you to connect up to three 4K 60Hz displays to your M1 Mac. The difference here though is that if you also use a Windows machine, the Ugreen dock can output at a whopping 8K resolution at 30Hz.
UGREEN’s accessories are generally of excellent quality and the brand’s 12-in-1 dock is no different. It has a solid construction and arguably the best design out of any dock on the list. If you have a clean setup, the UGREEN dock will fit right in with the aesthetic.
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FAQs
Yes, it’s absolutely safe to use a DisplayLink dock or adapter with your Mac. Think of it as connecting external displays to your Mac — except via the USB port instead of HDMI.
The number of monitors you can connect entirely depends on the dock you buy. Some docks let you connect two displays while some may have the ability to connect three monitors. You can get the appropriate display based on your usage.
Yes, you will have to download DisplayLink’s software in order to use a dock with your computer for the first time. This applies to both macOS and Windows.
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Last updated on 22 April, 2024
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