5 Ways iPhone/Android Can Cast Screen to TV Without Chromecast.
If you’re tired of squinting at your smartphone while watching a movie, wouldn’t it be convenient if you could play it on a big screen? Well, you can, but it’s not always easy to output it to a large screen TV. There are many options to choose from; one of the most popular is Chromecast.
Although I personally would recommend a Chromecast ($ 35) for casting your Android or iOS device’s screen to a TV; this is not the only option. Over the past weeks, we’ve tested several ways to mirror your smartphone to your TV. From Apple TV to Smart TV to MHL cable, each method has its pros and cons, so here are some of the best ones.
Cast iPhone / Android Screen to TV without Chromecast
1. Running device
Do you have a smartphone and a simple TV with only an HDMI port? Well, guess what, Chromecast isn’t the only streaming device that can cast a smartphone to a TV. Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, Apple TV, and more have built-in screen mirroring options.
While the Amazon FireTV Stick ($ 39) isn’t quite as good as the Chromecast when it comes to streaming, it still works. You can access the mirroring option by pressing and holding the Home button on your Amazon Firestick remote. The rest of the workout stays the same as long as both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Apparently the 3rd generation Fire Stick no longer supports this feature.
Roku 2017 and higher models also support screen mirroring for Android and Windows 10 users. To enable mirroring on Roku, go to Home Settings System Screen Mirroring . Once there, choose your preferred connection method. Then on your Android smartphone, go to Settings and find Wireless Display Settings . You should see a Roku wireless display there. Just tap on it and then on the broadcast screen to start the connection process.
Apple TV has one of the simplest options for smartphone mirroring, but it has a limitation of only being able to connect to an iPhone or iPad (sorry Android users). You can simply click the screen mirroring icon in the control bar by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and clicking the name of your Apple TV. Not only that, you can even record your Apple TV screen using your Macbook. Please be aware that no other media streaming device offers a screen recording function.
Overall, when it comes to screen mirroring, Chromecast is king. Works on Android and iOS without lag. Although Roku, Firestick and Apple TV are also good options if you already have them.
Pros
- Cost effective and reliable
- Apple TV can record screen.
Cons
- Roku and FireStick are not recommended for screen mirroring.
2. Cast Android Screen to Smart TV
But what if you don’t want to carry an extra key with you all the time? Well, that’s where smart TV comes in.
Most smart TVs are now equipped with Miracast technology, which means you can connect your phone to your TV directly without the need for additional hardware. For example, we have an LG smart TV that supports screen mirroring via Miracast.
For the unknown, Miracast is a wireless communication standard designed to mirror the screen of a smartphone, Windows PC, and TV without using any physical cables. FireStick and Roku use the Miracast standard like most Smart TVs. This is why you will find that most mirroring devices are compatible with Android and Windows computers, but not Apple devices.
Like the Chromecast, Miracast also uses a peer-to-peer connection, which means that mirroring can be done safely and without an internet connection. The Miracast hardware also supports HD and 4K streaming, we were able to play games and HD videos without any problems, despite the connection being wireless, there is no lag. And yes, for anyone interested, Miracast transmits both audio and video.
However, there is a downside to using Miracast. Unlike Apple AirPlay and Google Chromecast, which can directly receive a video source from the Internet (for example, when streaming a YouTube video from a Chromecast), Miracast, on the other hand, can only mirror the device’s screen. This means that with Miracast, your phone screen must remain on at all times.
All in all, if you’re looking for a long-term solution for your business, Miracast can do video conferencing, slideshows, and product demos. For home users, Miracast offers a great way to stream HD video.
Pros
- Works flawlessly on Android and Windows 8/10
Cons
- Doesn’t support iPhone.
- Smart TV is expensive and often not worth the investment.
- Phone screen must remain on while using Miracast
3. Telephone – computer – TV
If it’s just a one-off thing, we don’t recommend purchasing a smart TV to mirror your screen, there is a much more efficient and cheaper way to do it.
For example, if you just want to mirror your Android on a TV for a one-off presentation, there is no point in buying an expensive device. Instead, if you have a computer, you can use it as a bridge. Simply connect your Windows computer to your TV with an HDMI cable and set it up to use as an external monitor. This way, whatever you see on your laptop will be streamed to your TV.
Then all you need is an Android screen mirroring on your computer. While there are many apps that do this, we recommend the Airdroid app, just install Airdroid on your smartphone and connect it to your computer using a web browser. Then when you click the screenshot button, you will see that it will start broadcasting your Android to your laptop, which then broadcasts it to your Android (video tutorial)
After that, you can turn off your laptop screen (but not power off your computer) and cast your Android screen to your TV. There was a slight lag in screen mirroring in our testing, you were unable to stream videos or games, and there was no audio. In general, this method can be quickly corrected, but it is ineffective in the long term.
Pros
- Cheap, no need to buy additional equipment
Cons
- Unreliable
- Only works for Android
- No sound
4. AnyCast – Send screen to TV with WiFi
Like the previous method, this method is more of a hack than a real workaround. Instead of buying a Smart TV, the best solution is to get a cheap Miracast dongle from Amazon. Consider it a cheaper alternative to chrome plating. They are supplied by local brand and support 3 modes: Airplay / DLNA / Miracast. This means that it will not only work on Android and Windows PCs, but also support the Apple ecosystem.
To get started, simply plug the Anycast dongle into your TV’s HDMI port and turn it on with the supplied USB cable. Then you will see the AnyCast page in Wi-Fi settings, connect it to your Wi-Fi network and it should start casting your smartphone screen to the big TV.
Please note that some streaming applications (such as Hotstar and Jio TV) do not support screen mirroring when using the Miracast standard. So, before making a purchase, be sure to read the reviews to find out what works and what doesn’t.
While screen mirroring is good with no lag, the only problem is that a decent Miracast dongle will cost you between $ 15 and $ 20. You can easily buy a $ 35 Chromecast that offers a lot more features than a Miracast dongle. And let’s be honest though, it’s practical to spend an extra $ 15 and buy a Chromecast instead.
Pros
- Stream both Android and iOS.
- Stream audio and video with almost no lag.
Cons
- A bit expensive and not worth the money.
5. MHL Cable – Cast Screen to TV without WiFi
So it would be great if we could get screen mirroring on the cheap. Well, this is where the MHL cable comes in handy. In fact, they are the whole reason why we brought this up.
For those who don’t know, an MHL cable is a cable that can be used to cast your smartphone screen to a large screen.
The MHL cable supports screen mirroring right out of the box. Just plug one end of the MHL cable into the micro USB port on your phone and the other end to the HDMI port on your TV or monitor. There is another USB end that acts as a power supply, you can plug it into the TV’s USB port (like you do with a Chromecast or Firestick) or plug it into a wall adapter.
While MHL cables are readily available on Amazon for under $ 10, we decided to try our luck at local stores. And you know what, it was our lucky day, we got the cable for Android and iOS for less than $ 7.
To connect your Android device to your TV, just plug the HDMI end into your TV’s HDMI port and also enable USB, then insert the other Micro USB end into Android. That’s it, casting starts right out of the box.
Likewise, to connect your iPhone to your TV, you can get a similar cable with a light connector on it. Although we had to add our TV as a reliable device for it to work.
When it comes to performance, there are almost no lags and you can stream audio as well. Ideal for business and home use.
The only drawback is that MHL requires an MHL compatible device. So, before buying an MHL cable, google if your devices support MHL. In our experience, most Samsung devices, as well as iPhones with a backlight port, do this.
Pros
- Very cheap compared to the alternative.
- Available for Android and iOS.
- Can stream both audio and video.
Cons
- Only works on MHL compatible devices.
- Unfortunately, MHL is slowly dying, very few vendors support it now.
Wrap-around: iPhone / Android Cast Screen to TV without Chromecast
All in all, there are many ways to mirror your smartphone screen to a large TV. In most cases, streaming devices are the best bet, especially Chromecast. Smart TV is also a good option if you’re looking for something permanent. And finally, if you’re looking for a cheaper solution, use the MHL kit, but make sure it’s compatible with your device before purchasing.
So this was our take on how to mirror your smartphone screen to your TV, what did you guys think? Do you have a better method that we are missing? Let us know in the comments below.