Android phones and tablets are usually not too big. Even if we have a large device, its screen is unlikely to exceed 6 inches on phones and 11/12 inches on tablets.
There are things that definitely look much better on 30 or 40-inch screens, such as a good television. Today, we review the most common methods to transmit the content of our smartphone to the TV screen . fancy?
How to connect an Android phone to TV
The reasons for wanting to do so can be several:
- Games: many titles take on a totally different meaning if we play them on a television. It is not the same to play alone with your mobile, in a corner, than to share it with your friends on the TV in the living room at home. If we also add a gamepad to the equation, we can turn our Android mobile into a more or less functional console. Of course, beware of lag! One piece of advice: if you have a smart TV, stop transmitting from your mobile and take advantage of one of the many games compatible with Android TV . A marvel!
- Photos, music and video: another important reason to broadcast from the phone to the TV is to be able to share all those photos and other multimedia content that we have stored on the big screen. There is no color!
The 7 methods that work best to connect an Android phone (or tablet) to the TV
That said, let’s see what are the best alternatives to connect our Android smartphone to the TV at home. Spoiler: in most cases we will need our TV to have an HDMI input . Although, yes, if we have a Smart TV , things become much simpler. Let’s go by parts…
1# Do you have a Smart TV or an Android TV Box?
If we have a smart TV or a TV Box with Android, things are greatly simplified, since both in one case and in the other we can establish contact with the phone wirelessly.
- Many Smart TV models (such as Sony, among many others) usually have the Chromecast function (also known as Google Cast) built in, which means that we can send the screen directly to the TV from the Google Home app. We can also cast content directly from YouTube, Netflix, and any other Chromecast-enabled app. The only necessary requirement is that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- We can also mirror the mobile screen on the TV using a remote capture app such as Teamviewer.
- As with Chromecast, if our television offers support for Miracast, we can also send the mobile screen without having to install anything on the phone.
- Finally, if we have a smart TV or a TV Box with Android, we can also take advantage of and stream via DLNAusing an app like Plex or BubbleUPnP. You can see some of the best apps to send content via DLNA in THIS POST .
2# Google Chromecast
This is the fastest method to display mobile content on a “non-smart TV” TV without too much hassle . The Chromecast is a small device with an HDMI connector that we can plug into the TV, and it has a price that is usually around 30-40 euros. We just have to pair it with our Android device and we will have it configured.
To broadcast on the big screen, we just have to press the “Send” button that appears in the quick settings drop-down menu of the terminal. Some applications also usually include this button within their corresponding menus, within the app itself (YouTube, browser, etc.).
If we click on “Send” here we will make a mirror of what is seen on the mobile on the TV screen
In addition to that, we can also use the Google Home app to cast the screen content to the Chromecast. The truth is that the possibilities are quite wide in this regard.
In the following tutorial we can see in detail How to configure Google Chromecast on Android . As a detail we must also mention that the Chromecast device only works if we have a Wi-Fi connection at hand, although luckily we can skip that restriction by “cheating” the device, as we explained in THIS OTHER POST .
In addition to the standard Chromecast, in the Google store we will also find an updated version of the device that includes the Google TV system to be able to run applications and a remote control. Its price is currently around 70 euros.
Chromecast device with Google TV + Remote Control.
3# Fire TV Stick
Amazon’s best-selling device as an alternative to the classic Android TV Box and Chromecast also allows you to broadcast from your mobile to your TV. For this we only have to synchronize our Fire with the mobile and send the screen to the Stick.
It is a device that initially offers more features than the standard Chromecast, since it allows you to install applications and games. We are talking about a device that has been quite successful, and today Amazon has several models available, such as a Lite version that barely reaches 30 euros, and a 4K Max version with higher resolution and better features (this one is around 60- 65 euros)
In this short 30 second video we can see how the connection process works:
Amazon | Buy Fire TV Stick
4# Wireless Dongle with Miracast
If we prefer to go in other directions, we can also get a “ dongle ”. It is a type of device very similar to Chromecast : a small device with an HDMI output that we connect to the television to act as an intermediary between the TV and our Android.
To connect to a dongle with Miracast from a device with Android 6.0 or higher, we just have to go to “ Settings -> Connected devices -> Send screen ”, and select our dongle. The good thing about these devices is that they are usually cheaper than a Chromecast or a Fire TV Stick.
Amazon | See list of Dongles with Miracast
5 # Use a USB to HDMI converter
Another feasible alternative, although somewhat less comfortable (since we would not broadcast wirelessly) is to use a USB to HDMI adapter. These types of converters allow us to take the data from the USB or USB C output of our phone and convert it into a video and audio signal that we can connect to the TV via HDMI.
There are 2 types of connections:
- MHL(Mobile High-Definition Link): Provides HD output and 8-channel surround sound. There are adapters for both micro-USB and USB Type-C.
- Slimport: It has a low power consumption, which means that we can connect the mobile to the TV without consuming a large amount of battery. Some slimport cables also include a micro USB port to connect the charger cable.
The compatibilities are varied, so before buying a USB to HDMI cable or adapter, it is best to make sure that it is compatible with our brand and model of terminal (the easiest, by doing a Google search).
Amazon | See USB to HDMI converters
6# Connect the phone or tablet as a USB flash drive
This option is a little more “radical”, since it consists of connecting the Android terminal with a cable as if it were a USB memory to use. In this way, although we will not be able to transmit the screen, we will be able to open and reproduce all the photos, videos and images as if it were a normal pen drive.
Of course, it is necessary that our TV has a USB input (something that is not so common, on the other hand, in old televisions).
Amazon | See USB cables
7# Send content wirelessly via DLNA
In addition to televisions, there are many other devices, such as game consoles and Blu-ray players, that are compatible with the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) protocol. This means that if we have the appropriate app installed on our Android, we can transmit content directly to the TV.
For this we will need an app like BlubbleUPnP , Plex or even the classic VLC player . The advantage of using apps like Plex is that it also works as a free streaming platform , with live TV and on-demand series/movies without registration.
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BubbleUPnP DLNA/Chromecast
Developer: Bubblesoft
Price: Free
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Plex: Live TV, movies and more
Developer: Plex, Inc.
Price: Free
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VLC for Android
Developer: Video Labs
Price: Free
Do you know any other worthwhile method to take the screen of an Android to the TV? If so, do not hesitate to stop by the comments area!
