
Should you click an affiliate link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.) Official Adapter costs $60-70 # (DISCLOSURE: This post includes affiliate links. The model number is written on the adapter but is very faint and small, so you might have to squint 👀

If you’re using this adapter and seeing only 4K 30Hz resolution options, make sure you’ve got the newest model.
#4K MONITORS FOR MACBOOK PRO FULL#
In recent MacBook models, Apple has removed the full HDMI ports and replaced them with USB-C Thunderbolt ports that perform video-out duties. Step 2: Make sure you’ve got the right adapter # So, this is the first order of business to tackle and find out if your machine can support 4K external display and, more importantly, at 60 Hz. Both these 2016 models support 4K resolution ( 3840 by 2160 pixels or higher), but the 2016 MacBook only supports running an external display at 30 Hz. Notice the difference above in the bolded text. Up to two displays with 4096-by-2304 resolution at 60Hz at over a billion colors One display with 5120-by-2880 resolution at 60Hz at over a billion colors Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display at millions of colors and: Here are two examples of the 2016 models.ĭual display and video mirroring: simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 3840 by 2160 pixels at 30Hz on an external display, both at millions of colors Then the supported resolution’s are usually specified in the “Video Support” section. NOTE: You’ll need to specify the year and screen size (13, 15, 16 inches etc.) to match your machine. A search query like the following will usually bring up the correct model.Īpple macbook 13 inch 2016 technical specifications

The best place to check is on Apple’s Support website. The first step is to make sure your MacBook supports outputting 4K signal to an external monitor. Step 1: Check if your MacBook supports 4K resolution # To figure out a solution, here’s what I recommend. MacBook only runs the 4K resolution at 30 Hz aka animations and mouse movement is choppy.


Here are two kinds of problems you might encounter: To run a 4K monitor at 60 Hz requires the right combination of hardware, cables, and adapters.
#4K MONITORS FOR MACBOOK PRO PRO#
A higher refresh rate results in a smoother picture, which is why an iPad Pro screen that refreshes at 120 Hz is smoother to use. The refresh rate on the MacBook retina displays is 60 Hz, which means the screen updates with new images 60 times each second. This, though, is the root of the problem. Now, the external display can be on par with the retina screens' crispness and clarity. 4K monitors have only recently become mainstream. The problem starts when we start hooking up an external monitor to match the clarity and DPI of the MacBook’s retina screen i.e., a 4K or 5K monitor. It’s no fault of our MacBook’s though - this is the tradeoff we make for portability. With many of us knowledge workers working from home in the COVID-19 era, our trusty Apple MacBook’s retina displays often need a bigger friend to take over the display duties.
