DisplayLink adapter vs built-in ports: DisplayLink is the only way to run two external monitors on an M1 MacBook Air

The M1 chip physically only supports one external display via USB-C, so you need a DisplayLink adapter or dock to get two. It works fine for code, writing, and browsing, but not for video editing or gaming due to slight compression and latency. Skip HDMI splitters (they just duplicate) and Sidecar (not a real second monitor)—go with a reputable DisplayLink dock from Plugable, Dell, or Anker.