In 2011, fewer laptops were chunkier, less powerful, and slightly cheaper than today’s machine. Fast forward to 2021; countless laptops from influential brands whose power rivaled the desktops and cost a bomb. So, what did we lose? Well, something that hinders our productivity.
We see many slimmer laptops that have to offer the best specifications, but they lack when it comes to ports. Yes, the input through which we execute our work is connecting our external drives or monitors. I use a Dell XPS 15 9500, and it only has 3 USB-C ports, an SD card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The same can be said of modern MacBooks.
Apple equiped only 3 ports in the M1 MacBook Air & MacBook Pro (13 inch); this somehow hinders our productivity and workflow. It also means buying additional gadgets. Well, that is the price we have to pay for lighter, slimmer, and compact machines. I’ll tell you how many ports MacBook Pro M1 has and a simple and effective solution to the obvious problem.
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How Many Ports Does MacBook Pro M1 have?
M1 MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020) comes with two Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 ports and a 3.5 mm audio jack.
These two thunderbolt/USB 4 ports offer support for:
- Charging
- External Display (up to 6K resolution at 60Hz)
- Thunderbolt 3 (up to 40 Gbps)
- USB 4 (up to 40Gbps)
- USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps)
Intel-based MacBooks offer four Thunderbolt 3 ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Adding More Ports With a USB-C Hub
USB-C Hub is a simple solution to the lack of ports. You can simply plug a USB-C hub into one of the type-c ports and use other peripherals at once. Many manufacturers have created such hubs after MacBooks opted for uni-port. With the ease of use and connectivity, getting a hub makes sense as USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 can handle numerous external devices.
Make your workflow productive by adapting the dongle life. Following are some USB-C Hubs that will allow you to connect to external displays, external drives, mouse, keyboard, iPhone, etc.
- Satechi Type-C USB 3.0 3 in 1 Combo Hub
- Satechi USB-C Slim Multi-Port with Ethernet Adapter
- AmazonBasics USB 3.1 Type-C Hub
- QZ USB 3.1 Type C Hub
- Kapa USB C Type HUB
- EKSA USB C Hub
- HyperDrive Viper USB-C Hub Docking Station
FAQs
Does MacBook Pro M1 have USB ports?
Yes, MacBook Pro M1 has 3 ports.
What inputs does a MacBook Pro have?
MacBook Pro has four Thunderbolt 3 USB‑C ports that support charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3 (up to 40Gb/s), and USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s).
Does MacBook Pro M1 have HDMI?
M1 MacBooks can connect to one monitor, but you’ll have to use the USC-C port if you want to connect more.
Is it worth it to buy a MacBook Pro 2020?
Yes, if you can afford it. The M1 chip is better than Intel.
Which is faster, USB-C or Thunderbolt?
Thunderbolt is remarkably faster than USB-C. Thunderbolt 3 supports transfer rates up to 40 Gbps, while USB-C supports transfer speeds ranging from 480 Mbps (USB 2.0) to 20 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2×2). People say 10 Gbps is the most common speed they get.
Conclusion
Even though there aren’t many ports on the M1 MacBook, you can solve the problem with dongles.
I know that it’s a bit compromise – a thinner laptop and a light back but an additional peripheral. But that is what you get for a tiny frame of Apple’s technology. At least we have ports now! Shouldn’t we be grateful for those!
