Apple has just released a new version of macOS, and with the update to Sonoma 14.6, a major new feature has been introduced to the base model (vanilla M3) 14-inch MacBook Pro: namely, support for dual displays.
With macOS Sonoma 14.6 installed, owners of this MacBook Pro model can now use two external displays with the laptop while it is in clamshell mode, that is, when the lid of the device is closed.
Previously, the base model of the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro only supported the use of one display when in clamshell mode, while the higher-end versions of this laptop with the M3 Pro and M3 Max processors could drive two. What was odd was that the MacBook Air M3 models also supported the use of dual monitors in this manner when they debuted in March 2024, leaving us in a rather strange situation where the Air M3 was superior to the entry-level Pro M3 laptop when it came to multi-display support.
Apple promised to remedy this situation at the time.and the solution finally arrived with the Sonoma 14.6 update, after a long wait, it must be said.
After installing this update, your 14-inch MacBook Pro with the standard M3 chip will be able to support two external displays with 5K resolution (up to 50Hz) when the lid is closed, or one external display with 6K resolution when the laptop lid is open.
If you want more details on this development, you can check out the macOS Sonoma 14.6 support document, and you may also want to see the support document specifically about using dual monitors with a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro with an M3 chip.
Stay safe and up to date with macOS Sonoma 14.6
In addition to this important functionality for the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro, macOS Sonoma 14.6 offers several fixes for vulnerabilities detailed in this support document about the security content of the update. MacRumors notes that, fortunately, there are no reports of malicious actors exploiting these vulnerabilities.
Of course, Apple has addressed and documented these security issues here, which will draw attention to them and possibly mean that more people are looking to exploit these vulnerabilities. So, it’s a good idea to make sure you update your Mac to this latest version, if you’re running macOS Sonoma, as soon as possible, to ensure your device is as secure as possible.
You can do this by opening System settingsGoing to Software update section and download the update for free. macOS Sonoma 14.6 should appear if your Mac meets all the requirements.
