How to Connect a Mac® Device to Your Projector for Screen Mirroring?

With the new MacBook Pro laptop using the M2 chip and offering increased performance and versatility, we expect more MacBooks than ever will be used in meeting rooms to connect to a projector or TV. But what is the best way to get a group of creative thinkers to share their screens on a projector without disrupting the flow of a good meeting?

Here are three easy ways you can enable your Mac users to quickly and easily connect their Mac devices to a TV or a projector, no matter what model MacBook they have.

While using a cable seems easy, it can be confusing to figure out what the right cable to use is with all the different Mac models available today.  Most MacBooks sold over the last few years only come with a USB-C port, while some versions of the newer MacBook Pro M2 and, conversely, older models of MacBook laptops have HDMI ports, Mini-Display Port and even VGA in the case of much older models. So which type of cable do you need to use to help everyone connect?     

Most projectors and TV’s only have HDMI connectors, so you will want to make sure you have a variety of adapters available in meeting rooms to convert HDMI to the ports available on your MacBook laptop. The projector won’t know the difference and all the HDCP copy protection and image quality enhancements such as resolution scaling will work to make any Mac device look good on the screen. Apple has a helpful guide on their website that sheds more light on this.

The other thing to consider is that if you want your conference room desk to have a clean and organized look, hiding and managing cables can be expensive, forcing you to spend precious resources to hire contractors to cut holes into desks and run cables through walls and ceilings. Of course, if you outgrow your space and need to move it’s wasted money. However, this issue can be solved by using a wireless connection.

The other option to connect a Mac to a projector or a TV is with an Apple TV. This uses the built-in AirPlay® app as an easy way to wirelessly share photos and videos from your Mac, if your Apple TV and your Mac are sharing the same network.

While Apple TV is an easy and inexpensive casual solution for sharing your Mac content on a projector, it may not be the perfect solution for a collaboration space in an enterprise or other organization. The biggest drawback is that if you have someone in the room that wants to use the projector from a Windows notebook or Chromebook, it just won’t work. 

One of the most popular wireless presentation systems for Mac devices is the BenQ InstaShow. It uses a simple button transmitter you plug into your Mac’s USB-C port (Thunderbolt 3) or the HDMI port (in your new M2 Pro or older MacBook Pro) to connect a Mac to a projector in seconds. InstaShow works with:

• Any HDMI device, such as a Mac or Windows notebook, and even digital cameras
• Chromebooks
• 
  Linux development boards, so your programmers can put raw code up on the projector from their prototypes
• 
  AirPlay to connect your iPhone or iPad to a TV or a projector, with the BenQ InstaShow enabling anyone to share hassle-free
  

The other advantage of BenQ InstaShow is that it keeps your content and network secure. The system encrypts all wireless content and doesn’t require any complicated networking setup. Commercial Integrator found they were able to set up the system in minutes without any IT help, which is especially important if you are considering moving offices over the next few years.

One other point is that like many Mac devices, the InstaShow is the winner of both the iF Design and Good Design awards, so it makes your company look good when placed on conference room desks. Mac enthusiasts love the InstaShow. MyMac.com gave it Nemo’s MyMac Tech Innovation of the Year 2019 Award (10 out of 10), while Relaxed Technology rated it a whopping 9.5 out of 10.  Projector Central reviewed the product and shared that “InstaShow's combination of video quality with ease of set up and use is nothing short of amazing.” 

While cables and AirPlay are convenient ways to connect a Mac to a projector at home or in other casual settings, you may want a more secure wireless presentation system designed for professional collaboration when connecting to a projector at work. If your company is looking to improve collaboration and to connect a Mac to a projector or a TV, BenQ InstaShow is for you. Please fill out the form and try InstaShow for free today.