Term of the Moment
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Definition: Mini DisplayPort
A version of the DisplayPort interface introduced by Apple in 2008. Mini DisplayPort uses a smaller plug and socket than the full-size DisplayPort. Also used on some Windows PCs, the Mini DisplayPort (Mini DP) was the foundation for the Thunderbolt interface. See DisplayPort and Thunderbolt.
Version 1.4a
Introduced in 2018, the latest version added improvements to compression, error correction and multi-stream transport (see VESA Display Stream Compression, forward error correction and MST).
DisplayPort Plugs
Support for HDMI
Version 1.4a
Introduced in 2018, the latest version added improvements to compression, error correction and multi-stream transport (see VESA Display Stream Compression, forward error correction and MST).
Maximum Maximum
Bandwidth Resolution
DP Version (Gbps) Single Monitor
1.4a 2018 32.4 7680x4320 8K
1.4 2016 32.4 7680x4320 8K
1.3 2014 32.4 7680x4320 8K
1.2a 2010 See adaptive sync.
1.2 2009 17.28 4096x2160 4K
The Mini DisplayPort is also used for the Thunderbolt interface, which adds PCI Express capability (see Thunderbolt). (Image courtesy of Amazon.com.)
With passive cables, "dual-mode" DP (++ logo) connects to TVs via HDMI. However, earlier Mini DP interfaces did not support HDMI audio. To connect Mini DP to an HDMI TV required a split cable that merged DP video and USB audio into a single HDMI plug. See HDMI.