I have an older LG smart TV. It's not connected to cable, but it is connected to the internet. I do some streaming on it occasionally, but the interface is really slow and clunky, and it doesn't have some of the apps I would like to use.

I'd like to connect my iPad to it, and watch the iPad on the TV. Is it just as simple as buying a $15.00 cable? Are all USB C to HDMI cables created equal?

That might work. The Mrs bought the Apple device to "mirror" her pad to the TV

Should be doable. But, I'd go with an adapter that allows you to both connect for streaming and still charge your iPad.

So much easier to buy an Apple TV as a dedicated streaming box. With the ATV in place you can do most things app related from your iPad and airplay them directly to TV via ATV. I used to do that before all the apps were available on the ATV.

Yes.
Other ways to do it but it will work.
Buy a cable long enough to reach where you sit.

We've used lightning to HDMI and USB-C to HDMI to hook our iPhones to our TV at our house in MI. We had great cell service, but lousy DSL internet. HDMI cables are thick and inflexible, while the adapters are thin and flexible. The adapters would break because they couldn't take the strain of picking up the phone to do stuff. They worked well until they broke.

If you have good internet service to begin with, I'd suggest getting a streaming device, Amazon FireStick for example, and plugging that into one of your TV's HDMI inputs.

Firestick doesn't let you cast from an iPhone that I can tell, but you can side load apps to the FireStick and stream just about every service, get the 4K stick, the cheaper sticks don't allow Sideloading.

You can also get Android tv boxes and load apps to stream, utoob, instacrap, and others.

If you want to play from the iPad to the tv, get a ROKU box/stick, it allows Mirroring from iStuff to the stick/box. That way you keep you iPad close by, even on a charging cord, and you can run everything from your recliner.

Eh Eye says....


To cast or mirror an iPhone to a TV using a USB device, you generally cannot connect the phone directly via a standard USB cable; instead, you need specific adapters or streaming hardware.

Wired Connection Options

USB-C to HDMI Cable: For iPhone 15 and newer models, a direct USB-C to HDMI cable is the most reliable wired method, allowing you to plug the phone directly into the TV’s HDMI port.

Lightning to HDMI Adapter: For older iPhones with a Lightning port, you need an Apple Lightning Digital AV Adapter connected to an HDMI cable to mirror the screen.

USB-C to HDMI Adapter: For iPhones with USB-C ports (iPhone 15/16), a USB-C to HDMI adapter dongle can also be used to connect to the TV's HDMI input.

Wireless Streaming Devices (Connected via USB/HDMI)

Apple TV: Connects via HDMI to the TV; uses AirPlay to wirelessly mirror your iPhone screen.

Roku Stick: Connects via HDMI; many models support AirPlay 2, allowing wireless mirroring from compatible iPhones.

Google Chromecast: Connects via HDMI; uses the Google Home app to cast or mirror your iPhone screen wirelessly.

Important Note on Direct USB Connection Directly connecting an iPhone to a TV’s USB port does not work for video mirroring, as TV USB ports are typically limited to reading storage devices (like flash drives) and do not support video input protocols.

I have never used the native apps in TVs. I have either Roku box or Apple TV to load apps onto. They work great and turn on older "dumb" TV into streaming whatever you want. I use the wired boxes, one less thing to to wonky if the wireless part gives out.

quote:

LG smart TV

If your TV supports AirPlay2 (check the user manual, or this online list from LG) then you won't need cables or any hardware. The list includes models going back to 2018 so maybe there's hope for yours.

Anyway, if yours does, you just need them both connected to the same network and then you press the AirPlay button on your iPad when your video is playing. No hardware, add-on devices, cables, etc. necessary.

Thanks guys. Couple things I hadn't thought of. We have a Firestick on one TV, and it works great. Don't know why I didn't think of that.
I only use this TV maybe twice a month, so a Firestick might just fill the bill. Gonna check on the mirroring thing too.

Ha! The screen mirroring worked perfectly. Exactly what I needed.

Thanks again.