Anyone using a Mini DisplayPort without Thunderbolt will want to consider choosing an active adapter. The good news is that Thunderbolt has native support for DP++. If you don’t have dual-port mode, then you’ll need an active converter. If your device has DP++ then it will be able to convert data without help from the adapter.

Whether or not you need an active adapter largely depends on if the device you’re connected to supports DP++ or Display Port dual-mode. Active adapters have a special chip inside that helps it dynamically convert the signal from your Mini DisplayPort device to your HDMI display. You’ll also want to think about whether the adapter you’re getting is an active or passive adapter.

If you want an adapter that’s future-proofed, you may want to consider looking for support for resolutions beyond full HD. But even if you’re not currently using resolutions beyond 1080p today, higher definition content is the future. If you don’t plan on using resolutions beyond 1080p, you may not have to worry about these things. You won’t be pushing a 4K signal through an adapter built for 1080p, and you won’t be pushing a 120Hz refresh rate through technology older than HDMI 2.0. Similarly if you’re using a display that’s operating with a higher refresh rate, you’ll need an adapter that can carry those extra frames. What resolution will you be running through your adapter? If you choose an adapter that supports only 1080p, you won’t be able to get higher resolution signals through to your display. Using a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter helps you keep the one-plug solution aspect of Mini DisplayPort, while joining in on the rising standards of HDMI – a powerful and dynamic media connection positioned to stay relevant for at least a decade. In the modern age of high definition content, HDMI is what you want to carry your HD connections. Apple used Mini DisplayPort as a standard for at least 8 years, and only as recently as 2016 did they decide to phase it out of all their new devices. In 2010, one of the strongest selling points for Dell and Toshiba laptops was their support for Mini DisplayPort. For nearly a decade, it was a default technology for most major motherboards. Another consequence is technology you bought only a few years ago can get left in the dust, as cables and connection ports get replaced.Īnd the era of Mini DisplayPort is over.

As a result, your devices perform faster, look better, sound crisper, and cost less. But as technology keeps improving, computer connections and the ports they use change to keep up. Combining DisplayPort, PCI Express, and DC power into one outlet, thunderbolt was equal parts convenient and fast. When Thunderbolt first launched, it transformed DisplayPort from an obscure connection port to a highly-sought feature.

Mini display to thunderbolt adapter