[No Regrets for Fandom Activities] What to Check First If You Want to Display Your Smartphone on TV
Long time no see, this is Tama, an active electronics retail staff member.
Recently, I've been getting more consultations like this at the store.
"I want to watch my favorite idol's live stream on TV, will this cable work?"
Lately, there are really more people who want to enjoy live streams, sports broadcasts, and YouTube on their TVs.
Many people end up buying a USB-C to HDMI conversion cable for that purpose, but...
Actually, there are smartphones that won't display even if you buy the cable.
Since this is a very common consultation on the floor, today I will summarize the points you should know before purchasing.
The cause is whether it supports "DP Alt Mode"
There is only one point.
DisplayPort Alternate Mode (DP Alt Mode)
It's about whether it supports this function or not.
It sounds difficult, but
"a function that can output video from a USB-C port"
is all you need to think of it as.
In other words,
Just because it's USB-C doesn't mean it will display on a TV.
If it supports DP, it will display with a single cable, but if it doesn't, even if you buy a cable that costs several thousand yen, it will only charge.
In the last few years, the number of compatible models has increased significantly.
As a current guideline,
⭕ Models that often support it
iPhone 15 series and later (excluding e-series)
Pixel 8 series and later
Galaxy S/Z series
Xperia 1/5 series
AQUOS R series
❌ Models that are often incompatible
iPhone 14 and earlier (HDMI output via Lightning port is possible)
Galaxy A series
Xperia 10 series
AQUOS sense/wish series
*Please refer to the quick reference table below.
"Cheap smartphone does not mean bad smartphone"
One thing I don't want you to misunderstand here is that,
it doesn't mean it's a bad smartphone just because it doesn't support DP.
Entry-level models often omit this feature to keep the price down.
I think many people won't have any trouble with it for daily use.
Conversely,
"I want to watch live performances on TV"
"I want to use it for presentations"
"I want to display it on an external monitor"
If you are one of these people, it is worth checking before you buy.
There are ways to watch on TV even if it doesn't support DP
Even if it is not supported, you can use
Fire TV Stick
Google TV Streamer
Android TV
You may be able to mirror to your TV via Wi-Fi by using tools such as these.
If you only want to watch videos, this method can sometimes be easier to use.
Recently, "whether it can mirror to a TV" is also a key point in choosing a smartphone.
Previously,
"camera performance"
"battery life"
were what many people were concerned about, but
lately, due to the influence of live streaming and fandom activities,
"Can I mirror this to a TV?"
is a question I have been receiving much more frequently.
If you are planning to buy a new smartphone, in addition to the camera and storage,
"whether it supports wired output to a TV"
is also a surprisingly important checklist item.
If you are unsure, please ask at the store,
"Can this model mirror to a TV?"
and ask them.
The staff will be able to check it for you right away.
Summary
It mirrors because it is USB-C.
This is actually a misconception. If you are going to buy a smartphone from now on,
Whether it supports DP Alt Mode
Please be sure to check this as well.
It will make watching live streams and videos much more comfortable.
However, most compatible devices are expensive.
Please refer to these purchasing methods that can save you tens of thousands of yen.
Also, if there are any common questions increasing at venues, I will summarize them in an easy-to-understand way.
This was Tama.