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Is Mini DisplayPort becoming obsolete?

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Is Mini DisplayPort becoming obsolete?

How Thunderbolt and USB-C replaced the need for a dedicated video port.

For a while, Mini DisplayPort was one of the main options for video output on smaller devices. Apple announced it in 2008 to replace interfaces like VGA and DVI with a single, slimmer connector. While it was seen on most Mac models for several years, it's since become difficult to find computers with Mini DisplayPort — even Apple has removed the port from Macs.

But does that mean it's obsolete? Not exactly, although you won't see it as often as you used to. The DisplayPort standard remains popular, especially among workstations and gaming monitors, so it's not as if the technology itself has become obsolete. But we now have another small port that's favored.

Mini DisplayPort is called "mini" for a reason. The full-size version (simply called DisplayPort) supports the same core specifications, but with a larger connector. Apple always opted for the tiny version because it fits better on smaller computers like MacBooks and the Mac mini.

It doesn't matter whether you use DisplayPort (DP) or Mini DisplayPort — both can transmit video and audio through a single cable. Compared to older connectors like DVI and VGA, one of the main advantages of DisplayPort is that it offers much higher bandwidth. Depending on the generation, DP can handle resolutions up to 8K and beyond, at high frame rates (144+Hz) depending on the resolution. Meanwhile, older connectors struggle with anything above 1080p.

When the Thunderbolt standard emerged, its first two iterations used the Mini DisplayPort connector.


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