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Not exactly your experience, but using a single (non-4k) external monitor is slightly painful for me with my MBP. It sometimes takes ~10 seconds for my display to work after plugging it in, with lots of intermittent flickering as the OS "figures it out". And afterwards, the menu bar on the external is a bit glitchy looking on the right side until I click on it. With my other laptop running Fedora the experience is much faster/cleaner.

Not a big deal, but just thought I'd mention that macOS isn't exactly perfect when it comes to external monitors.




Apple introduced some issues in recent generations of hardware that I haven't heard many people talk about. A recent Macbook and Macbook Pro with USB-C using an Apple's USB-C to HDMI adapter had terrible connection issues for me. I did hear a few references online from others with the same issue. Using a 2009 and 2011 Thunderbolt to HDMI the same monitor worked fine.

I fixed the issue by using a USB-C to DisplayPort adapter made by a third party. I think that also allowed 4k at 60Hz. I later switched to a multi-port adapter with HDMI out and didn't have this problem.

This problem was horrible noise and loss of connection. People hate dongles for the convenience and price factor, but I think everyone underestimates how it introduces technical and compatibility issues.


The worst thing about dongles is that the shape of the connector is not the sole interface differentiator.

I plug in a display port to HDMI adapter to find that it's not the right kind of HDMI and therefore only does 30hz.


This is an area of macOS that's gotten slightly worse over the years. It used to work much better than that, even El Cap used to flicker only once.


The usb ports of the MBP delivers too little Wattage. Try having a hub with power. It solved my problems.


USB =/= MiniDisplayPort/Thunderbolt




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