Modern multimedia systems require flexibility, especially when it comes to interactions between ecosystems. Apple smartphone owners often face the desire to show photos or videos on the big screen, and Xiaomi smart TVs running on Android TV or PatchWall provide excellent opportunities for this.
There are several proven ways to connect devices, each with its own features and use cases. Some are ideal for watching movies in high resolution, others are better for showing presentations or games. Understanding the difference between Miracast and AirPlay 2 will help you choose the most suitable option for your particular situation.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at all the current iOS and Android TV sync techniques. We’ll look at built-in features, third-party apps, and possible connectivity issues so you can enjoy content without delays and artifacts.
Basic requirements and equipment preparation
Before setting up, you need to make sure your equipment meets the minimum technical requirements. The fundamental condition for any wireless broadcast is that both devices are on the same local Wi-Fi network. If your iPhone is connected to 4G/5G mobile Internet and your TV is connected to your home router, a direct connection via the local protocol will not be established.
Also worth paying attention to is the version of your TV's operating system: Xiaomi models released after 2019 often have AirPlay 2 support built in, making the process as simple as possible.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure that the router has turned off the customer isolation function (AP Isolation, otherwise devices won’t see each other on the network, even in the same band.
Check the battery power of the smartphone, as active transmission of the video stream can significantly consume energy. For stable operation, it is recommended to use a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network, which provides higher bandwidth compared to 2.4 GHz.
Using the built-in AirPlay feature on Xiaomi TVs
The most preferred way for Apple appliance owners is to use the native AirPlay protocol. Many modern Xiaomi TVs have a built-in support module for this standard, which allows you to stream content directly through the standard iOS menu without installing unnecessary applications.
To get started, open the app list on your TV and find a program called Apple AirPlay or AirPlay. Once the app is launched, the confirmation code and device name will appear on the screen. If it's not preinstalled, you can find it and install it through the built-in Google Play Store on your TV.
Then take your iPhone and open Control Point. On Face ID models, swipe down from the top right corner, and on Home models, swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen. Press Screen Replay (two rectangles) and select your TV from the list.
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If the TV requests a code, enter the numerical combination displayed on the TV screen on your iPhone screen.
Once paired successfully, the smartphone screen will be fully mirrored onto the TV, which means all notifications, messages and actions will be visible on the big screen, so it’s best to turn on Do Not Disturb mode before showing personal photos.
Broadcasting through Mi Remote and the Mi Home ecosystem
If the built-in AirPlay for some reason does not work or your TV model does not support it, you can use official tools from Xiaomi. the Mi Remote app (or “Mi Remote”) is often preinstalled on smartphones, but for full work with media files, it is better to use the Xiaomi Home app (Mi Home).
Once you install the app and add your TV to your device list, open your TV card. The control interface often has a Translation button or a Cast icon, which allows you to send video files stored in your phone's memory directly to your TV without fully mirroring the screen.
The advantage of this method is less power consumption of the smartphone, since the processor of the phone does not encode the video stream in real time, but only acts as a remote control.
☑️ Checking before connection
It is worth noting that the functionality of the application may vary depending on the region chosen when setting up your Xiaomi account. If you can’t see your TV, try changing the region in the app settings to “China” or your country of residence.
Third-party broadcasting apps: LetsView and analogues
When regular funds fail, third-party developers come to the rescue, and one of the most popular and stable solutions is the LetsView app, which is available for free for non-commercial use and supports a wide range of devices.
The installation process is simple: download the LetsView app from the App Store on your iPhone and find a similar app in the Google Play Store on your Xiaomi TV (or install it). APK-file if you don't have it in the store. Run the app on both devices.
The smartphone will automatically find the TV on the network. You can choose Mirror Phone to TV for full display or Push File for specific video files, a solution that often works more stable than the built-in features on older TVs.
⚠️ Note: Ad integrations are possible when using free versions of third-party apps.
Another popular option is Web Video Caster, which is perfect for streaming video from a browser, you open a website with a movie in your browser on your iPhone, click on the Translation button, and you select a TV, and the video is buffered and played by the TV.
Comparison of Connection Methods and Their Characteristics
To make it easier for you to choose the best way, we have compiled a comparative table of the main methods of broadcasting, each of which has its own strengths depending on the type of content and the model of your equipment.
| Method | Image quality | Delay (Latency) | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in AirPlay 2 | High (up to 4K) | Low. | Tall. |
| Mi Home / Cast | Medium/High | Medium | Medium |
| LetsView | High. | Low. | Tall. |
| Google Home (Chromecast) | High. | Low. | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, the built-in AirPlay 2 remains the leader in terms of settings for iPhone users, but if your TV does not support this protocol out of the box, applications like LetsView become a great alternative.
It is important to understand that the quality of the broadcast depends on the power of your router. If you plan to watch video in 4K resolution, make sure that the router supports Wi-Fi 5 (AC) or Wi-Fi 6 (AX) standards and is located in close proximity to the TV.
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To view video in 4K HDR, it is critical to have a router with support for 5 GHz and a channel width of at least 80 MHz.
Solving common connection problems and errors
Even with the right setup, there can be technical difficulties. One of the common problems is that the TV doesn't appear in the list of available devices on the iPhone. In this case, you need to check the settings of the router's firewall. Often antivirus programs or built-in router protection block local connections between devices.
Another reason could be the use of a guest Wi-Fi network. Guest networks are usually isolated from the main network, so a phone and TV connected to different SSIDs (even on the same router) will not be able to "see" each other.
If the video is streaming but the image is twitching or compression artifacts appear, try to lower the stream quality in the translation application settings or reboot the router. The accumulation of errors in the router buffer is a common cause of unstable multimedia operation.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to broadcast protected content (DRM) from some streaming services through simple screen mirroring – the image can be black due to copy protection.
In some cases, resetting network settings on the iPhone helps. Go to Settings → Mainstream → Removing or resetting iPhone → Reset → Reset network settings.This will delete stored Wi-Fi passwords, but often solves device detection problems on the LAN.