> So while I agree that creating what looks like arbitrary limitations some of the lower models is very annoying ( particularly around external monitor support [1] ) - you can see why commercially they might have done so.
This is Apple's strategy for segmenting their products. Their lower priced models typically have a painful limitation or missing feature. For the macbook air it's lack of support for external displays.
> For the macbook air it's lack of support for external displays.
Lack of support for a third display (counting the internal display). And that's not specific to the MacBook Air but rather to the base SoC vs the Pro and Max chips. IIRC the M3 added the slight improvement that closing the lid disables the internal display and allows for driving a second external display.
This is Apple's strategy for segmenting their products. Their lower priced models typically have a painful limitation or missing feature. For the macbook air it's lack of support for external displays.