Apple's New M1 Chip Brings 6K Display Support to Mac Mini and Base 13-Inch MacBook Pro For the First Time

Tuesday November 10, 2020 4:41 pm PST by Joe Rossignol

Apple's new Mac mini and 13-inch MacBook Pro models with the custom-designed M1 chip are compatible with up to a 6K display, including Apple's Pro Display XDR. By comparison, the previous-generation Intel-based Mac mini and Intel-based entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro with two Thunderbolt 3 ports support up to a 5K display.

mac mini pro display xdr
The new MacBook Air with the M1 chip can also drive a 6K display, but so can the previous Intel-based MacBook Air released earlier this year.

6K display support is becoming widespread across the Mac lineup, with other capable models including the 2018 and newer 15-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro, 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro with four Thunderbolt ports, 2019 or newer iMac models, and 2019 Mac Pro. Apple's Pro Display XDR is also compatible with any Mac model with Thunderbolt 3 ports that is capable of being paired with a Blackmagic eGPU.

The new Mac mini, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air mark the beginning of Apple's transition away from Intel processors in Macs. In June, Apple revealed its plans to begin using its own custom chips in Macs, promising industry-leading performance per watt. At the time, Apple said that the transition would take about two years to be completed.

Apple says the M1 chip delivers up to 3.5x faster CPU performance, up to 6x faster GPU performance, and up to 15x faster machine learning, while enabling battery life up to 2x longer than previous-generation Macs.

Related Roundup: Mac mini

Tag: Pro Display XDR

Buyer's Guide: Mac Mini (Buy Now)

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Top Rated Comments

DHagan4755

78 months ago

"Pair your $699 Mac mini with our $5,000 display. If you're feeling really lucky, splurge $1,000 on the stand too."

Score: 110 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Freeangel1

78 months ago

who buys a cheap Mac mini and spends 5 grand on a 6k display??

come on.

Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)

CJ Dorschel

78 months ago

Or maybe just buy your next 3 or 4 MacBook Pro upgrades for the price of the monitor and get a normal monitor that will probably be just as good for almost all people.

I like the Apple monitor but the $6K is absurd, they really need a model well under $2K that is "good enough" and I'm on board.

I miss the days when Apple had award winning dedicated display lines. The 20", 23", and 30" CCFL LCD's were stunning and pro's bought up the 30" displays without blinking. Many I know still use the 30" ones. I wish Apple would produce a reasonable display. The 24" and then 27" LED Cinema Display's were simply repurposed iMac panels in an enclosure. Unfortunately, the PSU's failed on them due to poor soldering. I went through over a dozen 24" and 27" displays over the years but thankfully Apple replaced or repaired them.

I was ecstatic when Apple announced a return to the tower Mac Pro and a display, then like the audience spit out my coffee at the price points. When they announced the stand was extra for $999, I was done.

Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)

BWhaler

78 months ago

A new $1,200 display should have been the one more thing today.

It’s stunning to me Apple is OK with their computers being hooked up to junk monitors.

Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)

AgentElliot007

78 months ago