Chromecast is taking over with an affordable price and growing library of supported apps, but it lacks a huge feature Belkin is willing to give you. The Belkin Miracast Video Adapter has just been announced and it looks to be Chromecast’s only real competitor for now.
Belkin Miracast Video Adapter features
So what is it that makes this dongle better? Well, it offers screen mirroring. Google is currently testing Chrome tab mirroring from a computer, but it still doesn’t support smartphone/tablet mirroring. In essence, this dongle simply mirrors your Android device, making any app or content available for viewing in the large TV screen.
The Belkin Miracast Video Adapter looks much like the Chromecast. It is a small dongle with a USB connection for power. It will also come with an HDMI extender, just in case you need it. The device supports full HD 1080p streaming and is pretty much plug-and-play.
Belkin Miracast Video Adapter drawbacks
Not everything is beauty and glory with Belkin’s new device, though. Screen mirroring will cost you $79.99 if you wish to choose Belkin’s solution! This is more than twice the price of the Chromecast.
In addition, Miracast is not supported by every device. It is natively supported by Android 4.2.X and above, though some manufacturers started including it since Android 4.1.X.
Chromecast vs Belkin Miracast Video Adapter
So here comes the question: which is better? I will say being able to mirror an Android screen without limitations is nice. You can use all the apps you want and it even supports local media, which the Chromecast doesn’t. Yes, Belkin’s dongle is twice the price, but that may be worth it depending on your needs.
On the other hand, Chromecast is still developing. I have the feeling Belkin’s HDMI dongle is a finished product, whereas Chromecast is a work-in-progress. I am hoping it will get screen mirroring at some point.
Chromecast is not limited to mirroring. It has much more to offer. Your device becomes a controller when you are playing media, for example. You can leave your media playing while you do other things with your phone, and more apps are gaining support.
Also, because of its popularity it is set to become a standard for Android apps. And not only Android, because we must remember Chromecast supports multiple platforms. It all depends on your needs, but unless you need screen mirroring now, we say Chromecast is still your best bet.
