How Can I Connect a Mac M1 to BenQ Monitors?

Since Apple launched the new M1 chip, we at BenQ have received a significant amount of inquiries and questions concerning compatibility and connectivity between Mac M1 and BenQ monitors. We have listed the most frequently asked questions below. If you can’t find your specific Mac M1-related concern, please contact BenQ Support. 

• Do BenQ monitors work with Mac M1? 
• Why is my monitor locked at 4K 30Hz when connected to Mac M1?
• Can my monitor connect to MacBook or Mac M1 via a Thunderbolt 3 to DisplayPort adapter?
• What cables provide the best performance with Mac M1?
• Is PME (Palette Master Element) supported on Apple M1?
• Is Paper Color Sync supported on Apple M1?
• Is DisplayPilot supported on Apple M1?
• Can I use Rosetta or Rosetta 2 on Apple M1 devices with support for BenQ software?

Yes. We strongly recommend connecting BenQ monitors to Mac M1 directly via HDMI or Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) in order to maintain consistent performance.

BenQ has a series of monitors that support M1-based Mac Mini and MacBook Pro laptops, so you can select one of those to achieve the connectivity you need. Take a look below for links to the right monitor models.

The new M1 CPU platform from Apple may cause the resolution and refresh rate to be limited to 4K 30Hz when connected via USB-C. In order to fix this compatibility issue, a new firmware update is needed for the monitor. The new updated firmware will launch by the end of May 2021. Other connections such as DisplayPort and HDMI do not have this issue.  

Again, the resolution and refresh rate being limited to 4K 30Hz results from a compatibility issue limited to USB-C when connected to an M1-based device. A new firmware version will be available by the end of May 2021 to resolve this issue, which doesn't affect DisplayPort and HDMI. We recommend using these two connection types until the new firmware arrives.  

Apple M1 devices with Thunderbolt 3 connections to monitors may exhibit a resolution and refresh rate lock to 4K 30Hz. Make sure you have the latest MacOS version with all the newest updates to resolve this issue, which is caused by an out of date operating system version. 

The new M1 CPU platform from Apple may cause the resolution and refresh rate to be limited to QHD 60Hz when connected via DisplayPort and USB-C. In order to fix this compatibility issue, a new firmware update is needed for the monitor. The updated firmware will launch by the end of April 2021. Other connections such as HDMI do not have this issue. 

If there's any further question concerning this issue, please contact BenQ Support.

If your BenQ monitor uses HDMI, DisplayPort, and Mini DisplayPort for video output => input, it will work with any properly-certified and made USB-C to DisplayPort or HDMI adapters. But in order to get the best experience, we suggest you buy Thunderbolt 3 (or USB-C Alt Mode) compatible monitors.

We recommend connecting your monitor directly to Mac M1 via HDMI or Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)  to ensure the best performance. Make sure your monitors support either of these connection types.

BenQ is aiming to provide the best user experience with PME,  a new version of PME  has been expected to be released to support M1 natively.

At this time, Mac M1 can't run Display Pilot due to a lack of support for DDC/CI, which prevents communication between the software and the device. We are working on a new solution but also encourage you to send feedback to Apple Customer Service regarding the addition of DDC/CI support. Your voice could prove very important and helpful. 

Display Pilot won’t work when using Rosetta or Rosetta 2. Even though BenQ programs can run with Rosetta on the app layer, they can't communicate with the monitor under the root layer of the Apple Mac M1 ARM architecture.

Palette Master Element and Paper Color Sync at this moment can’t work on Rosetta or Rosetta 2. The latest PME and PCS were already released to support M1 natively.