[6gvONxR4sf7o]

I’m so frustrated by what apple has done with externals in the last few iterations, especially displays. I am an outlier in that I use three external displays, and my current MacBook can just barely support it if I make sure to spread my devices over separate usb-c dongles. If I try to put keyboard, mouse, power, and monitor on a single advertised as supporting multiple USB and power and HDMI, the keyboard and especially mouse stop working correctly, even with “just” two external monitors. I thought things were moving in a direction where I’d have one hub/dock I plug all my peripherals into, leaving one cord to plug into the laptop, but now I have a maze of dongles I have to load balance!

I don’t mind what they did on phones with the headphone jack, because they provided an excellent alternative. On MacBooks, they just take away ports without a solid replacement.

[matthewmacleod]

Have you looked at the larger Thunderbolt hubs, rather than one of the cheaper and more ubiquitous USB-C dongles?

I use a 15" MacBook Pro and a Caldigit TS3+ – more expensive, but I have a single cable supplying power, a bunch of USB ports, Ethernet, audio, an SD reader and 2x4k monitors. It pretty much feels like magic and has been completely flawless. It won't run three screens though – I do sometimes use a third myself, but that needs an additional direct HDMI -> USB-C cable.

[zebnyc]

I usually use 3 external monitors and I just ordered the new M1 Mac Mini last week. I am having trepidations about buying a port expander which is almost half as expensive as the machine itself.

[Terretta]

I own that magic box, mine runs 3 x 4K screens, via two USB-C and one DisplayPort. I have it plugged to right rear port because of the charging heat rumors.

Rumor source: https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/363337/how-to-find...

EDIT: Not HDMI, DisplayPort.

[rmilk]

Same here - using OWC (MacSales.com) TB3 hub on Mini 2018 for 4K and 1K display, supports up to 2x4K. Haven’t seen any that support 3 screens. Has USB A and C connectors, wired Ethernet, etc. They also have smaller versions, for example without Ethernet. Works from boot with MacOS and Windows. Only issue is with Windows safe mode (!).

[6gvONxR4sf7o]

Even that wouldn't support three monitors, right? I think I read somewhere that the 2019+ macbooks only support two monitors per side of the laptop, so not three through one USB-C port.

[matthewmacleod]

Nope - as I mentioned above, it won’t work with three screens. You’ve got a minimum of two cables for three screens, unfortunately!