In 2014, Microsoft’s Wireless Display Adapter introduced Miracast support to a wide range of devices. Anything sporting Windows, whether it be a tablet, laptop, or smartphone, would be capable of mirroring its display onto any HDTV regardless of brand. In fact, you didn’t even need a Smart TV; anything with HDMI input would suffice.
Now the company is coming out with a sequel to the first-generation Wireless Display Adapter, this time designed for phones, tablets, and laptops boasting Windows 10. Notably, this model promises to decrease latency, all while donning an improved form factor as depicted below.
While it didn’t exactly take the world by storm, the Wireless Display Adapter, and Miracast alike, found their respective audiences, mostly because of the compact size, easy setup, and the lack of an Internet requirement in place, unlike some of its closest competitors such as Google’s Chromecast and Apple’s Airplay.
Microsoft elaborated on some of the device’s popular uses in a blog post published this morning:
Road warriors have been using the device to make mobile work stations at hotel rooms without being hunched over a desk, and students found it useful for streaming movies to a TV directly from the couch. Additionally, businesses are plugging their Wireless Display Adapters into their overhead projectors; eliminating the need for those multiple cords, wires, and adapters we all scramble for in order to present in a conference room.
The new-gen Wireless Display Adapter is available for pre-order starting today, in both the United States and Canada. You can expect to start seeing them on the literal and figurative shelves of Best Buy, Amazon, and the Microsoft Store on March 1 for an MSRP of $50.
Interestingly enough, that’s $10 cheaper than the original Wireless Display Adapter, so while this one doesn’t seem to offer much more than its predecessor, you can take delight in the fact that it’s now easier on your wallet.
