The 5 Best Wireless Display Adapters
What if we told you there's a way to project all the videos, photos, and apps on your phone or laptop onto your big screen TV without wires or annoying cables? Well, you can, and all you need to do it is one of these nifty wireless display adapters. By casting or mirroring your smartphone's display onto that of your TV, they represent a quick and effective way to enhance your viewing experience and get the most out of both devices. They're also very affordable and extremely easy to set up, making them a great budget alternative to more expensive streaming devices or cable boxes. Of course, many streaming devices today also offer mirroring functions, so we've included a few of those alongside more traditional wireless display receivers in this ranking.
1. Actiontec Screenbeam Mini2 Wireless Display Receiver (SBWD60A01)
Actiontec Screenbeam Mini2 Wireless Display Receiver (SBWD60A01)
When it comes to true wireless display adapters, the choices can feel pretty limited. True, there are many streaming devices out there capable of casting or mirroring your phone’s display on your TV, but they also tend to be either expensive, overly complicated, or both. That’s why we judged the Actiontec Screenbeam Mini2 to be one of the best options on the market today for anyone looking for a true wireless receiver — i.e., a device that simply projects your phone’s display to your TV, and nothing more. There’s little else to say about it, other than it’s compact, is compatible with a huge range of devices, and gets the job done.
Pros:
- Works with laptops, phones, etc
- No extra wires or charging cables
- WiFi Miracast certified
Cons:
- Does not work with Apple products
- Videos may lag a little
2. Google Chromecast (3rd Generation)
Google Chromecast (3rd Generation)
Google’s Chromecast has come a long way from its initial roll-out, when it was limited to Android devices and was only compatible with certain apps. Today, Chromecast works with a host of operating systems and devices, plus is constantly improving to accommodate new apps and services, such as Amazon Prime. All told, it’s an extremely easy way to make the most out of all your wireless tech, and is ideal for households with many different devices, since it’s very easy to connect to and use. It’s an especially great addition to Google-oriented households, since it’s designed to work seamlessly with other products like Google Home and Google Assistant.
Pros:
- Compatible with over 2000 apps
- Responds to voice commands
- Very affordably priced
Cons:
- Requires home WiFi
3. Microsoft P3Q-00001 Wireless Display Adapter
Microsoft P3Q-00001 Wireless Display Adapter
Designed to work exclusively with Windows devices, the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter is another true wireless display adapter that simply mirrors your phone or laptop’s screen with that of your TV. That means you can display whatever it is on your device, with no limitations — whether it’s a browser window, a streaming app, or a Powerpoint presentation. Unlike other receivers, such as Google Chromecast, it also requires no other messy power cords or connectors to work — just plug both ends into the appropriate ports, and voila.
Pros:
- Very easy to set up and use
- Ample 23 foot range
Cons:
- Not compatible with Mac, iOS, or Android operating systems
4. Roku Streaming Stick+
Roku Streaming Stick+
Why settle for a simple wireless display adapter when you can get a full-fledged streaming device, capable of not just mirroring your phone but also playing all the top apps all on its own? That’s exactly what the Roku Streaming stick can do. It’s one of the most popular of all the streaming devices out there, offering hundreds and hundreds of top entertainment apps like Youtube, Disney+, Prime Video, and Netflix, all in a compact package that plugs right into your TV. But it also doubles as a great wireless display receiver, as it comes with a free Roku mobile app that allows you to cast your phone’s display to the TV.
Pros:
- Includes universal remote
- Great picture quality and no lagging
- Works with Alexa
Cons:
- Requires power and WiFi connection
5. NVIDIA Shield TV
NVIDIA Shield TV
There are wireless display adapters, there are streaming devices like Roku and Amazon’s Fire Stick, and then there’s the NVIDIA Shield TV. This comprehensive, all-in-one media player is one of the most advanced streaming devices out there, capable of playing movies and shows in stunning 4k HDR quality and serving as a complete replacement for your old cable box. It’s packed with features for enhancing your viewing experience no matter what you’re watching, including Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos sound, and AI-driven upscaling, which enhances video quality in real time. Of course, if you’re simply looking to project your phone’s display to your TV, it does that, too.
Pros:
- Google Assistant and Chromecast built-in
- Sleek black design
Cons:
- Somewhat expensive
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a wireless display adapter?
A wireless display adapter, also called a wireless display receiver, is a device that allows you to display the content from your mobile device on your TV or projector screen. It’s typically small in size and connects to your TV through its HDMI port, though some also require other connections and/or power sources to work. Your phone can pair with the device via a wireless technology such as Miracast.
What’s the difference between a wireless display adapter and a streaming device?
Streaming devices, suck as Roku’s TV stick and Amazon’s Fire Stick, are essentially tiny media players that allow you to stream content directly to your TV. They usually work by plugging into your TV and streaming the content via WiFi, so they don’t require any other devices except a power cord to work. But most streaming sticks and boxes also double as wireless display adapters — that is, they usually incorporate a function that allows for the mirroring or casting of your phone or laptop’s display to your TV. Because quality dedicated wireless display adapters are fairly rare these days, we’ve included models from both of those categories in our ranking.
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