How to Connect a TV to an iPhone or Android
If you have an iPhone or Android phone, you can connect it to a TV in a variety of ways. You can mirror your screen using AirPlay or a wired HDMI adapter, use Google Cast to play Apple TV and other video content on the big screen, or plug your device into a streaming stick.
You can also stream photos from your mobile to a compatible TV, or watch movies on the big screen through Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other services. Some devices can even act as a personal media server, which means you can send music and videos to other devices in the home without having to worry about copyright issues.
How to connect your iPhone or Android to a TV
One of the easiest ways to connect your iOS device to a TV is with AirPlay, which is built into many newer smart TVs and other streaming devices. All you have to do is launch an app on your phone and tap the AirPlay button on the bottom of the screen.
While AirPlay is convenient, it requires your phone and TV to be on the same Wi-Fi network. That’s not always possible, especially if your home Wi-Fi isn’t strong enough to handle streaming. If you need a reliable way to mirror your iPhone’s display, a wired HDMI adapter is a great alternative.
To use a wired HDMI adapter, you’ll need an HDMI cable and a Lightning cable to connect the adapter to your iOS device and your TV. Then, set your iPhone to the appropriate input and plug in the power cord to keep it charged while it mirrors its display on the TV.
If your TV doesn’t support AirPlay, you can still connect your phone with a USB cable. Nearly all smartphones and tablets support a USB port, and that means you can simply plug the phone into your TV’s USB port to project its display onto the TV.
Another way to connect your iPhone or Android phone to a TV is via MHL, which allows you to output your phone’s HDMI output through a separate micro-USB port. You can connect your phone to an MHL-enabled TV with a separate cable or adapter, or you can use an MHL adapter to convert your TV’s standard HDMI output to the micro-USB output of your phone.
A third option is SlimPort, which is similar to MHL but offers additional outputs. In addition to HDMI, SlimPort can also output DVI and DisplayPort, making it more versatile than its MHL predecessor.
How to connect your Samsung phone to a TV
If you’ve got a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, you can also use DeX to turn your device into a desktop computer with a full-fledged OS. You can connect your DeX-enabled phone to a Samsung television with a special dock or a USB-C to HDMI cable.
If you’re looking for a more hands-free option, consider Chromecast, which lets you wirelessly mirror your display and cast your favorite apps and music to the big screen. You can also watch Netflix, YouTube and other media on your TV through Chromecast if you have the Chromecast dongle or app.