Playing games on a big screen TV can provide a much more immersive and engaging experience compared to gaming on your phone‘s small display. Fortunately, with the right accessories and apps, beaming games from your smartphone to your television is simple. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover all the options to play mobile games on your TV and how to set them up.
An Overview of Connection Methods
There are several ways to display content from your phone on a TV, each with their own pros and cons. Here is a quick comparison:
Screen Mirroring/Casting – Streams your phone‘s display over WiFi. Easy to set up but can lag.
Wired Connections – HDMI and USB cables. Provides low latency but requires compatible ports.
Chromecast – Streams content from apps. Affordable but limited compatibility.
Wireless HDMI – No cables required but can be expensive.
Using Screen Mirroring and Casting
One of the simplest ways to put your phone‘s screen on the TV is using screen mirroring or casting. This wirelessly streams the contents of your smartphone display to your television in real-time over your WiFi network.
Here is how screen mirroring works on the two major mobile platforms:
For Android – You can use the built-in Google Cast feature by tapping the Cast button from within compatible apps. Alternatively, third-party apps like AirScreen allow you to mirror your full Android display, not just specific apps. You may need to enable wireless/screen mirroring in your TV‘s settings first.
For iOS – Apple‘s AirPlay is the equivalent feature for iPhone and iPad users. Swipe up from the bottom of your screen to access the Control Center. Tap the Screen Mirroring icon, then select your TV from the target device list.
The benefit of screen mirroring is how easy it is to set up without any additional hardware – everything is software-based. However, mirroring your display over WiFi can result in lag, especially for fast-paced games. Video quality is also lower than with a wired connection.
Using Cables for Lag-Free Gaming
For high definition, low latency video, you can physically connect your smartphone to your television using cables. There are a few options depending on your ports:
HDMI – Use an adapter or special cable that connects your phone‘s USB-C or Lightning port directly to the HDMI input on your TV. This method requires your phone to support HDMI Alt Mode over USB-C.
MHL – There are USB to HDMI cables and adapters designed for MHL-enabled mobile devices. MHL provides charging power to your phone while outputting HDMI video.
USB – Some HDMI capture devices allow you to output video from your phone over USB. There are also USB-C hubs available with HDMI output ports.
The benefit of direct wired connections is reducing lag or delay compared to wireless casting. This results in much smoother gameplay and precise control. The downside is needing the right ports and cables which can get expensive.
According to testing by Rtings.com, USB-C to HDMI cables averaged just 68ms of input lag compared to 115ms for wireless casting methods. That‘s 47ms faster with a wired connection.
Level Up Gameplay with Chromecast
Google‘s Chromecast technology provides an easy way to get mobile gaming from your phone to the TV:
- Purchase a Chromecast device and plug it into your TV‘s HDMI port.
- Connect your smartphone and the Chromecast to the same WiFi network.
- Open a Chromecast-compatible app like YouTube or Netflix and tap the Cast button.
- Select your Chromecast device and the video will begin streaming.
The benefit of using Chromecast is that the setup is fast and inexpensive. At just $35 for the standard model, it‘s an affordable way to enable casting. There is also wide app support with over 1000 apps integrating Chromecast built-in.
The limitations are that you can only cast from supported apps, not your full display like screen mirroring. There can also be minor latency though not as much as wireless HDMI or AirPlay mirroring.
According to Google, over 80 million Chromecasts have been sold globally, making it the most popular streaming device. For mobile gaming, it hits a sweet spot of convenience and performance.
Cut the Cord with Wireless HDMI
If you want a cable-free solution, Wireless HDMI kits are an alternative to physically connecting your phone to the TV. There are a few ways to implement this:
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Wireless HDMI Kits – These include a transmitter that connects to your phone‘s USB or HDMI port, and a receiver that plugs into your TV‘s HDMI input. They sync up wirelessly.
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Miracast Adapters – Miracast dongles plug into your TV‘s HDMI port and mirror your Android or Windows phone‘s display over WiFi.
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Smart TVs with Screen Mirroring – Newer Samsung, LG, Sony TVs have built-in mirroring for compatible devices.
Going wireless provides flexibility to move around and not deal with cables. However, you may experience more latency vs a wired connection, and wireless HDMI kits can be $100 or more.
If reducing lag for competitive gaming is your priority, wired options are the best choice. But for more casual big screen gaming, wireless HDMI works quite well.
Gaming on the Go with Cloud Services
In addition to playing games already installed on your phone, you can access cloud gaming services for unlimited on-demand gameplay.
Cloud gaming means the game runs on servers in a data center. Video is streamed to your device, allowing you to play advanced games through just an internet connection:
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Xbox Cloud Gaming – Xbox console and PC games streamed to phones and tablets. Plans start at $9.99/month. According to Microsoft, over 10 million people have played via the cloud.
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Google Stadia – Stream Stadia games in up to 4K/60fps quality. The free tier offers instant access to demos.
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Amazon Luna – Cloud service with curated channels of games. Starts at $4.99/month during early access.
The benefit of cloud gaming services is that you can play high fidelity games on your phone that traditionally required expensive hardware and consoles. And casting these services to your TV is simple – just use screen mirroring to show your phone‘s display.
Recommended Accessories for Next-Level Mobile Gaming
Certain accessories can take your phone-to-TV setup to the next level for a true big-screen gaming experience:
Phone Mount – Securely docks your smartphone next to the TV for quick access and viewing. Prices range from $10 – $35 on Amazon.
Wireless Controller – Much smoother gameplay compared to small touchscreen controls. Bluetooth controllers start around $40.
Wireless Keyboard/Mouse – For games that require more precise input like MOBAs and MMOs. A combo set ranges $25 – $50.
External Battery Pack – Keeps your phone charged for longer gaming sessions. Anker‘s portable 10,000mAh pack is only $21.99.
Gamepads – Integrated controllers like the MOGA Mobile Gaming Clip work with Xbox Cloud Gaming. Reduce lag with a wired USB-C connection.
With the right accessories, you can customize a complete mobile gaming rig. Look for ones that fit your phone model for the most seamless experience.
Optimizing for Competitive Multiplayer Gaming
If you want the fastest response times for competitive multiplayer titles and eSports, a wired connection is your best bet. Here are some tips:
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Use a USB-C to HDMI cable rather than wireless casting to reduce input delay.
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Play in game mode on your TV, which disables post-processing for faster frames.
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Choose a wired controller vs Bluetooth to maximize responsiveness.
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If using cloud gaming, upgrade your internet plan to reduce latency.
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Test different connection methods to compare input lag. Quantify results with smartphone apps.
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For mobile multiplayer games, connect phones via local WiFi rather than online matchmaking.
Prioritizing low latency across your setup gives you an edge in reaction-based gaming genres like battle royales, MOBAs, and first person shooters.
Conclusion
Whether you want to play natively installed mobile games or access a cloud gaming library, beaming your phone‘s screen to the TV is easy with the right gear. Compare the wired and wireless options to find what works best based on your connectivity, lag tolerance, and budget.
With this guide, you now have all the information needed to turn your smartphone into a big-screen gaming machine. Just pick your preferred connection method, set it up in a few steps, and enjoy an immersive gaming experience from the comfort of your couch. Happy mobile gaming!
