I get this all the time with my 2560x1440 144hz monitor even though it is plugged directly into my m1 mbp. It's maddening and I still can't figure out how to resolve it.
Even apart from the monitor just hanging in the sleep state... a lot of them have glitchy behavior until you hard reboot the monitor. Some monitors actually will (internally) execute a full reboot of the monitor controller board when you wake them as a result, because they can't reliably come back out of the Deep Sleep state, and that's another source of the "monitor disconnects and windows moves my icons/windows" glitches. The monitor is actually electrically unplugging itself and replugging when it wakes.
Vendors don't really care because everyone (who's in the know) turns the feature off because it's broken and causes problems.
This particular EU regulatory exercise was a failure. Or at least, EU needs to rip off the bandaid and require that it be enabled with no option to disable it, which would obviously lead to problems and poor reviews, which would eventually lead to a fix... after a couple years of glitchy monitors.
I do wish reviewers paid a bit more mind to the myriad of GUI/usability issues w.r.t. monitors (waking from sleep, DP disconnects, slow menus that are plagued with inconsistencies depending on the monitor's state, etc). Sometimes, if I'm lucky, a reviewer will make a side note about it in their comments section.
I think Apple cheaped out on the HDMI port.
I attach a variety of USB devices (keyboard, mouse, backup drives) and haven't had any trouble with it.
It's over-priced at $250, but I picked it up from Costco last December for $100.
I mention it because it's been trouble-free for me and it never seems to be listed in the reviews I've seen.
I really think they included the HDMI, just for projectors. It’s worthless, as a daily monitor port (to me).
I didn't want to shell out all that dosh, just to be disappointed.
Edit: spelling
This is the cable that I use: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074V5MMCH
I’ve learned to avoid DisplayLink. It’s a hack.
I have a USBC-to-DP adapter, that I plug into a TB port.
I think almost every hub out there (besides CalDigit) has the same “guts,” as the port layout is almost identical.
The only docks that have worked for me, have been the CalDigit TSX docks, which I have used for a long time. The TS4 is out of stock on the CalDigit site, and I'm never using Amazon again, for anything over about $100. I'll get it, eventually.
I have the latest 14-inch MBP (M1Max).
The biggest issues that I encounter are:
1) External keyboard wake up/recognized.
If I use a dock, the keyboard is often not recognized. I found that I need to plug directly into the Mac. Otherwise, it sometimes won't wake the computer, or the computer sometimes "forgets" the keyboard.
2) Monitor Handling.
I use a 49" LG Ultrawide (5120 X 1440). I used to have it split into two monitors (3840 X 1440, 1680 X 1440), but now use it as a single, ultrwawide, after Apple started natively supporting that resolution.
I found that many docks (even "Thunderbolt" ones) and adapters, refused to allow me to select the ultrawide size. Also, the monitor would often fail to be recognized, after the computer wakes, and I would have to reach under, and unplug/replug, to get it recognized. I have the monitor plugged directly into one of the TB ports, with a TB-to-DP cable, and it works great.
From what I understand, the new CalDigit should fix these issues.