MacBook – Can someone clarify how many (and what types) of display the new MacBook Pro can use

displaymacbook pro

I have the new (late 2013) MacBook Pro 15" with Retina display, the model with Intel Iris Pro graphics and not Nvidia.

I was wondering, firstly, how many displays it can possibly drive at once without buying Thunderbolt displays. 1xHDMI and 2xThunderbolt adaptor?

And secondly, can this drive a 4K display properly? (When I say properly, I mean at a smooth frame rate, such as 30fps +). If I use a 4K display, how many other displays can I have attached? Could I have a 4K display + 1080p display? Two 4K displays? etc.

Best Answer

I'm going to start off backwards. 4k Display will require some sort of cable, wether DVI, Display port, or Thunderbolt that is from manufacturer to manufacturer and model to model different. According to the tech specs of 4K it is compatible with Display port 1.2.

According to : http://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/specs-retina/

"Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on up to two external displays, both at millions of colors"

This could however simply be that Apple has only tested it on displays with that resolution and once 4k displays are out in the real world people can test it.

So your MBP Retina can support 2 external displays and the use of the the clamshell display at the same time. Those external display can be attached via HDMI and Thunderbolt (adapters) or both via Thunderbolt adapters. But so far the tech specs limit the resolution to 2560x1600. It could also be that the resolution output could be enhanced with a software update (firmware update) at a later time.

Archived Specifications page:

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