MacBook Pro M4 with thunderbolt 5 and portable monitor

I asked Plugable Technologies to test its USB-C portable monitor for laptop (USBC-PDMON) which has 2x 10Gbps USB-C ports for data or connecting peripherals, 100W PD pass-through (85W charging), 15.6” IPS display, cover/stand with a M4 Pro 14" MacBook Pro using one of the T5 ports. Looks like it works:

We've tested the USBC-PDMON with a MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2024, M4 Pro) and they worked well together. The portable monitor was able to successfully show video from the Mac, and the other functions such as the 10Gbps USB hub ports and Power Delivery pass-through also worked well.

Just passing that information on to those who are interested. Obviously contact the company to make certain before you buy it.

David S. wrote:

I asked Plugable Technologies to test its USB-C portable monitor for laptop (USBC-PDMON) which has 2x 10Gbps USB-C ports for data or connecting peripherals, 100W PD pass-through (85W charging), 15.6” IPS display, cover/stand with a M4 Pro 14" MacBook Pro using one of the T5 ports. Looks like it works:

We've tested the USBC-PDMON with a MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2024, M4 Pro) and they worked well together. The portable monitor was able to successfully show video from the Mac, and the other functions such as the 10Gbps USB hub ports and Power Delivery pass-through also worked well.

Just passing that information on to those who are interested. Obviously contact the company to make certain before you buy it.

Exactly WHERE were they connecting the power supply? All these displays work if you connect a power adapter to the DISPLAY. The issue is whether they can negotiate to get enough power from the Mac across ONE interface from the MAC's ThunderBolt-5 port.

I sent a followup to Plugable asking them whether the portable monitor supports power and video through one USB-C cable, or whether a second USB-C cable must be used to independently provide power to the display.

Yes, some work, some don't.

Tried two. An Innoview 18" (very nice, btw) potable does NOT work with Mini M4 Pro, yet works with M3 Macs, and probably M4 Macs without TB5. However, A UPerfect 16" DOES work with TB5, so there's that, go-figure

Fix for Innoview is to use HDMI and then a USB-C cable from the front of the Mini to power it. Hopefully, this is a temporary fix, as there's something amiss with TB5 presently.

So everyone, don't even bother except to let Apple know, so they can hopefully patch this. It's pretty clear cut at this point. I'm using Apple's TB4 cables, which are enough, so....

note: Also tried a TB5 cable I had, doesn't work either, which was expected.

I’m not sure this is Apple’s issue to fix since this is an incompatibility of the monitor with Thunderbolt 5. It's generally a manufacturer's responsibility to release firmware updates to make their products compatible.

The only way the onus would be on Apple to correct anything would be if their implementation of TB5 were somehow faulty — which absolutely could be the case; I just personally don't think it's that likely.

Edit: Unfortunately I also get the impression that Arzopa is the kind of company that won’t bother releasing those firmware updates and instead will release a new product with the updated firmware included instead. (Also added a paragraph break)

So after some further testing, for my external monitors, the UPerfect z14, it did not matter what ports on my Mac I used however, I switched the ones on the monitors I use and it seems if I use the same ones that are in line, one monitor does not get the required power. When I rolled the ports on the monitors that the cable is plugged into the other monitor powered on no issue. Again, I was having the same issues as shown in the first picture but it has now resolved without using a power source and HDMI mini.

Same issue -- went from an M1 MacBook Pro to M4 and now the monitor won't detect a signal from the M4 MBP. I've seen lots of work-arounds including powering the monitor, then connecting to the MBP but that's ridiculous. It should just work with a single (correct) USB-C connection.

Issue with External Display Compatibility on MacBook Pro M4 Pro

Dear Apple Support,

My name is Gustavo, and I am writing to report a frustrating issue I am experiencing with my recently purchased MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro.

Unlike my previous MacBook Pro M1 Pro, which worked seamlessly with multiple external displays (including portable monitors), this new device consistently fails to recognize or connect properly to the same monitors, using the same cables and configurations. This has significantly affected my workflow as a radiologist who relies on multiple displays for professional tasks.

I have researched the issue and found multiple reports from other users experiencing similar problems, which appear to be unresolved.

I kindly request that Apple investigates this matter and provides a resolution or guidance on how to restore full compatibility with external displays. This issue was not present on previous Mac models and has caused an unexpected disruption to my professional use of the device.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response and a solution soon.

Sincerely,

Servant of Cat's wrote, "Please provide a link to the Technical Specifications which state that the M4 Max MacBook Pro will provide large amounts of power – in excess of the minimums for USB or Thunderbolt ports – to an accessory."

The Thunderbolt 5 specification requires that a port provide a minimum of 15W of power for accessories. https://www.thunderbolttechnology.net/sites/default/files/Thunderbolt_5_TechBrief_2023_09_12.pdf page 2.

Apple is advertising the ports on the Macbook Pro M4 as Thunderbolt 5 ports, as your post shows. Therefore, those ports are required by the Thunderbolt 5 specification to provide at least 15W of power for accessories. Ibid. But, available evidence suggests that the ports do not provide the required 15W of power.

My external monitors (Arzopa Z1FC) require a supply of 5v capable of 2.4A according to the manual. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0570/9280/0675/files/Arzopa_Z1FC.pdf?v=1707041874 But, the ports on my Macbook Pro M4 Pro do not work with the monitors with a single cable (even with a USB SS20 cable which can handle 5A.)

Thank you for your reply.

I had composed a detailed response. But, apparently, if I click reply to another message without first posting this one, then the post is deleted. I had also written a detailed (and complementary) reply to Servant of Cats, which was also deleted when I came to add a few things to my post to you (which unknown to me was gone) before submitting.

I think I might be onto something, but I won't have the time to re-draft my messages until later today or tomorrow.

Thank you for your reply.

I had composed a detailed response. But, apparently, if I click reply to another message without first posting this one, then the post is deleted. I had also written a detailed (and complementary) reply to Grant Bennet-Alder, which was also deleted.

I think I might be onto something, but I won't have the time to re-draft my messages until later today or tomorrow.

The overall Apple support community forums POLICY is that anything to be included in a discussion needs to be HOSTED on this discussion board.

Otherwise, that important information might be lost when you decide to stop supporting it.

I think most of the information in your video could be made available to all with a simple TEXT transcription of that Video. That would also allow non-native speakers of English to auto-translate and get access as well.

I will say though USB4 =/= Thunderbolt 4.

Speed for the USB ports should read 120Gbps. That's confirmation it is TB5; TB4 is only 40Gbps

Edited: Marked out device ids just in case.

well, there is this presentation in "system report":

...