Macbook Air HDMI out?

[audi321]

Hi all, I have just got a new MBA 15" from work and unsurprisingly, it has no HDMI port (just USB C/Thunderbolt).

From Apple, the dongle is a whopping £75!

From Amazon, there are USB C to HDMI connections for under £5.

Will they do the same thing? All I want to do is connect to my external monitor which has a HDMI input.

Thanks all.

[Rushjob]

Watching with interest having just bought a similarly equipped MacBook Pro

[mikef]

Or a USB-C to HDMI cable from Amazon which looks less messy than an adaptor

Yes, they work

[JulianHJ]

Any adapter from a reasonable brand should be fine. I currently have a preference for Ugreen or Anker via Amazon.

[audi321]

Thanks guys, just bought this one from Amazon then.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/PAUGGE-HDMI-Cable-Thunder...

I know Apple charge a premium, but £75 is absolutely scandalous!

[phil-sti]

audi321 said:

Hi all, I have just got a new MBA 15" from work and unsurprisingly, it has no HDMI port (just USB C/Thunderbolt).

From Apple, the dongle is a whopping £75!

From Amazon, there are USB C to HDMI connections for under £5.

Will they do the same thing? All I want to do is connect to my external monitor which has a HDMI input.

Thanks all.

yes the cheaper ones work but they just aren't great. what is it you are trying to do?

[audi321]

phil-sti said:

yes the cheaper ones work but they just aren't great. what is it you are trying to do?

When you say they're not great what do you mean? I'm simply trying to connect the MBA to a monitor to work from....

[mikef]

The Apple Usb-C to HDMI adapter isn't just that - it allows pass-through USB-C charging (more useful before MagSafe was re-introduced) and a USB-A peripheral. To just drive a USB monitor, those basic cables are fine

[NWMark]

I use this Novoo one - https://www.amazon.co.uk/NOVOO-Aluminum-Adapter-De...

and the wife uses one without the card reader again novoo - https://www.amazon.co.uk/NOVOO-Delivery-Multiport-...

Both work flawlessly in numerous monitors at home and in work, PD works great too for charging.

[mikef]

You can certainly also use Thunderbolt 3/4 or USB-C mini-docks to add USB peripherals and/or Ethernet. I've acquired a collection over the years



But the £5 cables from Amazon will work fine with your HDMI monitor. My company used to hand them out with every new MacBook

[phil-sti]

audi321 said:

phil-sti said:

yes the cheaper ones work but they just aren't great. what is it you are trying to do?

When you say they're not great what do you mean? I'm simply trying to connect the MBA to a monitor to work from....

Dropping connection frequently leaving you with a blac screen until you reset everything. If i need a big screen i send it to my TV, if i need a 2nd screen screen I just use sidecar onto my ipad.

[camel_landy]

audi321 said:

Hi all, I have just got a new MBA 15" from work and unsurprisingly, it has no HDMI port (just USB C/Thunderbolt).

From Apple, the dongle is a whopping £75!

From Amazon, there are USB C to HDMI connections for under £5.

Will they do the same thing? All I want to do is connect to my external monitor which has a HDMI input.

Thanks all.

USB C ones work for me but can you get work to buy the genuine one for you?

M

[audi321]

Probably, but why spend £75 when £4.99 does the job, just because 'work will pay'?

Goes against my ethics

[Tycho]

phil-sti said:

audi321 said:

phil-sti said:

yes the cheaper ones work but they just aren't great. what is it you are trying to do?

When you say they're not great what do you mean? I'm simply trying to connect the MBA to a monitor to work from....

Dropping connection frequently leaving you with a blac screen until you reset everything. If i need a big screen i send it to my TV, if i need a 2nd screen screen I just use sidecar onto my ipad.

That's strange as none of my cheap ones do that. Anyway, an adaptor from someone like Anker should do fine.

[xeny]

audi321 said:

Probably, but why spend £75 when £4.99 does the job, just because 'work will pay'?

Goes against my ethics

I've encountered some that only support HDMI up to 1920 x 1080 or are unpredictably unreliable. I agree the £75 is ludicrous, but some of the really cheap ones can be a false economy.

[Speed 3]

I use one of these so that I've also got USB-A and SD card slots. Works fine on everything I've plugged it into. £25.

[FMOB]

I find the Anker adaptors work well, if looking for a dock the i-tec thunderbolt ones are reasonable.

[Rushjob]

Speed 3 said:

I use one of these so that I've also got USB-A and SD card slots. Works fine on everything I've plugged it into. £25.

Just ordered one, thanks.

[x5tuu]

I ordered the Amazon Basics one - and it just didn't work at all - it was recognised as connected by both the MBA and screen but the signal wasn't transmitting.

Amazon replaced is assuming faulty but the replacement was the same.

Returned and ordered the Anker version (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07THJGZ9Z/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

This has been used daily since on my MBA and 32" iMac to drive second screens and I have also used it my iPhone 15P for a presentation last week and worked perfectly eradicating the need to even take my laptop with me.

[Piginapoke]

I upgraded to a USB C monitor, so no need for HDMI- just one cable. Much neater.