M3 Pro MacBook Pro setup makes laptop its third display

A medical school student’s charming dual-display setup adds an M3 MacBook Pro as a third display by keeping it open on a stand. And the three displays form a pleasingly staggered formation, with one in portrait on the left, one in landscape at center and then the laptop’s screen.

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M3 Pro MacBook Pro setup uses the laptop as a third display

Redditor and medical student felluimeinmeer (“Lu”) showcased the charming setup in a post entitled, “New setup.” Its subhed reads, “What is missing?”

“To give you the best tips, though, we need to know what you’re using it for,” a commenter pointed out. “Editing, coding, streaming? It helps to suggest stuff that actually fits your needs — like, no point in a webcam if you’re not video calling, right? Let us know your workflow, and we can go from there!”

“It basically just for med school,” Lu replied. “Having multiple sources open without interruption is the goal of this setup: Safari, Digital Book Word/Notion and a video. No need for a webcam I only have like two meetings in one semester.”

Space black M3 Pro MacBook Pro

Lu uses a space black M3 Pro MacBook Pro to drive two 27-inch Dell 4K displays, one in portrait orientation (vertical) and the other in landscape (horizontal). The MacBook sits open on an Amazon Basics stand. A nice BenQ Screenbar Halo LED Monitor Light sits on the center display.

The laptop may look exactly the same as the base M3 MacBook Pro, but it features a big step up in the chip department. And you can’t get the base model in space black, by the way. But the bigger difference is in computing power, with the M3 Pro, which gives you 50% more bandwidth with its greater number of CPU and GPU cores, not to mention more unified memory. And the base M3 only supports one external display.

Check out the base offering next to M3 Pro:

• M3 MacBook Pro: 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 8GB unified memory, 512GB SSD
• M3 Pro MacBook Pro: 11-core GPU, 14-core GPU, 18GB unified memory, 512GB SSD

Lu rounds out his setup with a full-sized Magic Keyboard with number pad and Touch ID, a Logitech MX Master 3S for Mac mouse and a pair of KEF LS50 Wireless II speakers.

So what’s missing?

And given the subheading on his post, did commenters tell him what’s missing? You bet they did.

Commenter recommendations for the M3 Pro MacBook Pro setup:

• “I would recommend the LG DualUp Monitor. It’s excellent for multitasking, allowing you to keep multiple sources open within your direct line of sight.”
• “KEF stands would be a nice addition.”
• “Get rid of the spotlights.” (Lu’s reply: “They are for my eye health, without them at night it’s quite eye-straining with the huge contrast between monitor and wall.” Separate reply to the reply: “Turn down the brightness on the monitor then?”)

Shop these items now:

Computer and stand:

Displays and lightbar:

Input devices:

Audio:

If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to [email protected]. Please provide a detailed list of your equipment. Tell us what you like or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any special touches, challenges and plans for new additions.