Can I use dual monitors on a MacBook Air, and is it worth it?

Yes, DisplayLink adapters let you run two external monitors on a MacBook Air (even M1/M2/M3 models), but there’s a performance trade-off. The video signal is compressed over USB and uncompressed in software, using CPU power, which causes stutter and lag for video, scrolling, or gaming. It also uses a USB-C port and the driver can be finicky with macOS updates. If you can survive with one external monitor and the built-in screen, do that—it’s smoother and less headache. Only go DisplayLink if the extra screen is a must and you’re willing to put up with occasional glitchiness.