The first generation of the Apple M1 SoC is convincing in many respects. However, the chip quickly reaches its limits when connecting additional monitors. The LMP USB-C Dual Adapter provides the solution.

The LMP Dual Adapter can be used with any generation of Mac with Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports – Intel or M1 including M1 Pro and M1 Max. A maximum of 2 LMP Dual Adapter or 4 additional monitors (2 HDMI and 2 VGA) can operate via USB-C or even USB-A ports (with an appropriate USB-C (f) to USB-A (m) adapter). In fact, the LMP Dual Adapter can even be installed onto a USB-C Dock’s USB-C or USB-A output port. This is made possible by the Silicon Motion video chipset and its driver and the fact that the video signal is being transmitted via USB protocol rather than the DP Altmode signal. The resolutions go up as high as 4K@30 Hz (HDMI) and Full HD (1920×1080@60 Hz) for VGA output.

This means that the user can add no less than 4 additional monitors to the number which Apple specifies as maximum number of external monitors. So a first-generation M1 device may use one monitor via DP Altmode and another 4 by adding 2 LMP Dual Adapter (provided that there are enough free USB-C or USB-A ports to attach the 2 LMP Dual Adapters). And a whopping 8 external monitors could be used with the latest MacBook Pro M1 Max, showing each an independent picture (Extended Mode). The same is true for any Mac with Intel processors and Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports.

Examples:
MacBook Air M1
Number of external monitors specified by Apple (via DP Altmode, e.g. via HDMI of an LMP USB-C mini Dock): 1 monitor
+ 2 LMP Dual Adapter (with driver, via USB protocol) each with 1 VGA (1080p) + 1 HDMI (4K@30 Hz) monitor: 4 monitors
Total maximum of 5 external monitors (2 of which must be connected via VGA and 2 via HDMI).

The two LMP USB-C Dual Adapters can be connected either directly to the MacBook Air Thunderbolt (USB-C) port OR to a USB port of a USB-C dock (e.g. to the USB-C port of the LMP USB-C mini dock, as this port allows Power Delivery as well as data transfer via USB protocol).

Note: The USB-C port of the LMP USB-C Travel Dock is capable of Power Delivery only, so the LMP USB-C Dual Adapter cannot be connected directly to the USB-C port there, but would have to be installed to a USB 3.0 port using a USB-A (m) to USB-C (f) adapter.

MacBook Pro M1 Max
Number external monitors specified by Apple (via DP Altmode): 4 monitors
+ 2x LMP USB-C dual adapters with max. 4 external monitors
Total max. 8 external monitors, 2x of which must be connected via VGA, 2x via HDMI.