With reference to Apple Mac computers, the list of devices supporting the highest resolutions available, is rather extensive, and most Macs built after 2013, and a small number built as far back as 2011. By that token, we can’t assume that every device on the market today has the capability to extend its desktop real estate to multiple 4K or 5K displays.

The standards supporting UHD, 4K, 5K and above, include USB Type-C, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt and HDMI, among the most common, however, the connector is only the end-point that carries the source of the signal. As mentioned earlier, in references to notable examples like the Apple iMac Retina 5K, it seems that there is no longer a limit to the amount of pixels current and future hardware can push on a screen.

That scenario has changed drastically, with laptops and desktop devices often reaching twice or more the number of pixels. Up until a couple of years ago, the typical resolution for most higher-end laptops and PCs, was in the 1080p range, or 1920 x 1080. With the iMac Retina 5K, and subsequently its 4K entry-level option, Apple has officially let consumers know that the bar on computer display resolutions has been raised, and the options for PC and Mac users looking to expand their desktop real estate, are multiplying. In regard to computers, Apple’s Retina display has been an early pioneer, at least in the concept of multiplying the number of pixels to render a sharper image, which in Apple’s case, does not apply to actual pixel resolution. Most of the latest smart TV sets available to consumers have left 780p and 1080p resolutions in a trail of dust, in favor of Ultra HD displays and above. Ultra HD, 4K, 5K, are already becoming the new standard in home entertainment. External displays for your Mac: how high can you go, how many can you have.

Late 2013 imac ports