Skip to Content

New MacBook Pro Models Include HDMI 2.0 Port Instead of HDMI 2.1

by

Apple in 2016 removed all of the ports from its MacBook Pro models except for Thunderbolt ports, a design that persisted for years -- until today. The newly announced 2021 ‌MacBook Pro‌ models include an SD card slot and an HDMI port alongside three Thunderbolt ports.

2021 MBP Profile Feature Yellow
As noted in Apple's technical specifications for the new machine, the HDMI port is unfortunately not top of the line -- it is an HDMI 2.0 port instead of an HDMI 2.1 port.

The HDMI 2.0 port supports a single 4K display with a refresh rate of up to 60Hz. HDMI 2.1 technology would have allowed the port to run a 4K display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

It's curious that Apple did not include HDMI 2.1 in the ‌MacBook Pro‌ models because the Apple TV 4K that was released earlier this year does have an HDMI 2.1 port.


With the Thunderbolt 4 ports, the M1 Pro ‌MacBook Pro‌ models overall support up to two external displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz. The M1 Max ‌MacBook Pro‌ models support up to three external displays with up to 6K resolution and one external display with up to 4K resolution at 60Hz.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple Released Seven New Products Today

Wednesday March 11, 2026 7:05 am PDT by
Starting today, the seven new Apple products that were announced last week are available at Apple Stores and beginning to arrive to customers. The colorful MacBook Neo and all of the other new products are on display at most Apple Store locations around the world starting today. Apple Stores have inventory of the new products for both walk-in customers and Apple Store pickup, but...
Read Full Article • 22 comments
ios 26 4 yellow

Everything New in iOS 26.4 Beta 4

Monday March 9, 2026 3:50 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to test the iOS 26.4 beta, and the latest update is now available for developers and public beta testers. As testing goes on, there are fewer new features in each beta, but today’s release adds new emoji characters and a few other changes. New Emoji Apple added new emoji characters, including trombone, treasure chest, distorted face, hairy creature, fight cloud, orca,...
Read Full Article • 71 comments
Apple 50 Years of Thinking Different

Apple Announces 50th Anniversary Plans

Thursday March 12, 2026 6:10 am PDT by
Apple today announced that it will celebrate the company's 50th anniversary over the coming weeks, but it has yet to reveal any specific plans. Apple was founded on April 1, 1976, so the company will turn 50 on April 1, 2026. "While Apple is known for looking forward, this milestone offers a special moment to reflect on the journey that has brought the company here, to celebrate the...
Read Full Article • 80 comments

Top Rated Comments

B
bierdybard
57 months ago
Completely a bandwidth based decision.

There are almost certainly 4 TB4/PCIe4 channels. The fourth one is likely split between the SD card and the HDMI port (and perhaps a couple other peripherals, we'll have to see what System Information says next week). HDMI 2.1 utilizes up to 48Gb, TB4 has a 40Gb channel. You do the math. Even with the SD card using only a lane or two, a lot of the HDMI 2.1 benefits wouldn't be there.

On a side note, this is a good example of "you get what you ask for". Instead of having the fourth TB4 port and the flexibility to do what we want with it, the dongle-haters have prevailed and now we lose the flexibility. SMDH.
Score: 84 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zakarhino Avatar
zakarhino
57 months ago
It's more than enough for what a lot of us use HDMI on our Macs for: presenting and plugging into TVs on the fly, most of which are not 120Hz or 8k.

At home usage on 4k 120 or 8k displays isn't really a huge deal for me considering I use a thunderbolt dock or DisplayPort over USB-C which is better than HDMI anyway.

For that reason I see the built in HDMI as a quick display connector, not as the primary port for at home or at office desk connecting.
Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zorinlynx Avatar
zorinlynx
57 months ago

They don't want customers buying these and cannibalizing their Apple TV sales.
The use cases for the two devices are so completely different that this can't possibly be the reason.

"Huh, I can buy a $180 Apple TV or a $2K laptop... YEAH I'LL BUY THE LAPTOP!!111one"
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
M
Macropanda
57 months ago
Every device, every year... something is held back so they can entice customers to upgrade to the next model.
It's annoying but I guess it makes money.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
T
till
57 months ago
I figure most people with higher-end monitors have been using DisplayPort for a long time anyway?

Like the SD card slot, I see the HDMI port as a "built-in dongle". It's there to serve a specific common usage: interfacing with HDMI gear such as projectors.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fenderbass146 Avatar
fenderbass146
57 months ago
Do the Thunderbolt ports? If so this is a non issue.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments