It will tell you the computer’s year of release and model specifics. You can determine your MacBook’s year and model by selecting “About This Mac” from your laptop’s Apple menu, located at the top left of the screen. Others may just want to take a look at the machine’s ports and go from there. For many people, the easiest way to do that is find out the year and model of your laptop and look up its specifications. What does this all mean? Simply put, in order to use HDMI cables with your MacBook you have to determine the type of ports on your machine. Either Thunderbolt 2 or 3 is commonly used by most of today’s MacBook models. Thunderbolt cables and ports are usually identified with tiny lightning bolts, so be sure to look for them. Standard USB-C connections are different than Thunderbolt 3 ones, even though their ports look the same. It can be confusing to look at the ports on the side of a Mac, though. Thunderbolt 2 and Thunderbolt 3 followed, with the latter utilizing USB-C ports to transfer data. It was reintroduced as Thunderbolt on 2011 MacBooks, and it used a special port (which looked the same as a Mini DisplayPort) to connect the laptop to other devices. Meanwhile, Apple was working with Intel to improve and rebrand Firewire. When DisplayPort debuted shortly after the MacBook did, Apple created its own version known as Mini DisplayPort and began adding it to MacBooks in 2009. When the MacBook was first introduced in 2006, most models used DVI and/or old Apple Firewire technology to interface with outside components, and updated Firewire ports are still found on a few MacBook Pros even today. (One other supposed justification for refusing to adopt HDMI has been that the ports take up more space than the alternatives.)
Instead, Apple has chosen other options, refusing to pay the royalty required to install HDMI sockets and leaving a generation of MacBook users frustrated.
Even though HDMI has become a nearly-universal technology, very few Apple products have ever had HDMI ports (two exceptions have been the Mac Mini and MacBook Pro Retina). What has always confounded many MacBook owners, however, are the machines’ external connection ports. On-board processors, memory, controllers, screen size, graphics cards and display resolutions have all been repeatedly improved (as have the machines’ aesthetics), as new models have been introduced.
The MacBook has changed quite a bit since it was introduced well over ten years ago. Unfortunately, the answer is one of those aggravating responses everyone hates to hear: it depends. How on earth do you connect a MacBook to a flat-screen monitor or other device that relies on HDMI connectivity?
There is one compatibility issue that often does rear its head, though. The MacBook’s operating system is updated frequently, crashes are rare, there are no end-of-life support issues, and compatibility problems are virtually non-existent because Macs primarily interface with other Apple software.
Some users simply love the look of the MacBook, while others got accustomed to using Macs and Apple products while still in school. There are many reasons why MacBooks remain extremely popular despite their high prices. Also, works with Mac computers that have Thunderbolt.Back to Learning center Using HDMI Cables With MacBooks Apple Computers with Mini Display Port: MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac Mini. The Mini DisplayPort adapter will need to be used with an HDMI cable (sold separately). Your photos, your videos, your presentations, your games - view them all in HD on the big screen. Simply, plug the Mini DisplayPort end into your Mac®, and connect the HDMI end to an HDMI (Type-A) cable, then plug the cable into your HDMI input jack. Viewing your MacBook on your HDTV doesn't get any easier. Mini DisplayPorts dating before April 2010 do not support audio out and will not transmit sound. You should check what port type you have before purchase. Ideal For: HD Video/Photo Playback Streaming Media Viewing Documents Sharing Content with Friends/Family The Mini DisplayPort is only found on newer models of Macs.
Supports PC resolutions up to 1920x1200 and HDTV resolutions up to 1080p.