How to Cast Your Android Phone on TV if it’s not a Smart TV: 4 Simple Ways

By Vigneshwar

| Updated: Saturday, August 27, 2016, 15:48 [IST]

Whether it is a Daredevil on Netflix, some viral video on Youtube, or watching the TED talks, your smartphone is a great way to access a huge amount of content without having to invest in some costly Apple TV or Set-Top box.

Cast Your Android Phone on TV if it’s not a Smart TV: 4 Simple Ways

However, the screen of the devices is not pretty much big! When it comes to movies or shows, bigger is always better. As most of the homes have a big LED or LCD TV nowadays, it makes perfect sense to cast or mirror the content on your smartphones to TV.

Moving on, you can connect your smartphone to TV in two ways -- Cabled and wireless. While going wireless is always easy, cable is most reliable on some situation as well.

HDMI

"High-Definition Multimedia Interface" or HDMI is the most common way! In terms of smartphone connection, the HDMI comes in three categories -- Type A (full size, regular), Type C (Mini) and Type D (Micro).While Type A features the larger devices, it is Type C and Type D that is compatible with portable devices.

MHL

In case, if your Android device doesn't support HDMI port, there are chances that you can make it support via "Mobile High-Definition Link" or MHL. This cable uses your smartphones/tablets micro USB port, with a cable that has a full-size HDMI connection on the other end, to connect to your TV.

Chromecast

Google's Chromecast is one of the cheapest modes of mirroring your smartphone on to TV. This can be controlled via Wi-Fi from your smartphones/tablet. You can set up the Chromecast by downloading the app from Google Play Store.

Meanwhile, the Chromecast is compatible with Android phones and Android tablets running Android 2.3 and higher, the Chrome browser on Windows 7 and 8, and Mac OS 10.7 and above, and Chromebooks running Chrome 28 or higher.

Miracast

If you have a device running Android 4.2 or higher, there is a direct option known as "Wireless display". Also, make sure, your TV supports screen mirroring technology as well. Miracast is also an alternative to viewing videos and pictures from your Android device as it uses H.264 for video transmission, which means efficient compression and decent picture quality.