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User profile for user: BobTheDoggy
BobTheDoggy Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Does mirroring use cellular data?

If I download content to my iPhone 7, then set us a hotspot so that I can connect my Apple TV through wifi. Then once it connect, I play the movie on my phone (already downloaded) and then I mirror it to my Apple TV, will it use my cellular data?

Posted on Sep 12, 2018 2:01 PM

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User profile for user: Tesserax
Tesserax
User level: Level 10
152,666 points

Posted on Sep 12, 2018 3:38 PM

Ok, when mirroring from an iOS to an Apple TV, AirPlay Mirroring is in effect.


Here's where the differences between AirPlay and AirPlay Mirroring come into play for streaming:

  • If the media source is located on the Internet, your iPhone would open a direct connection to the Internet source. The device (in this case, the Apple TV) would be "authorized" to access that source and no actual streaming would occur between the iPhone and the Apple TV. You can think of your iPhone as being the "control head" for the Apple TV. If your home network is gaining Internet access via a cellular hotspot, then you would see a significant data usage occur during the video playback as it's coming from the Internet.
  • On the other hand and in this case, when the media source is on your iPhone, your iPhone uses AirPlay Mirroring to establish a H.264 video stream to the Apple TV. This stream is created using the phone's graphics chip and the stream uses a TCP connection over Wi-Fi to the Apple TV.
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User profile for user: Tesserax
Tesserax
User level: Level 10
152,666 points

Sep 12, 2018 3:38 PM in response to BobTheDoggy

Ok, when mirroring from an iOS to an Apple TV, AirPlay Mirroring is in effect.


Here's where the differences between AirPlay and AirPlay Mirroring come into play for streaming:

  • If the media source is located on the Internet, your iPhone would open a direct connection to the Internet source. The device (in this case, the Apple TV) would be "authorized" to access that source and no actual streaming would occur between the iPhone and the Apple TV. You can think of your iPhone as being the "control head" for the Apple TV. If your home network is gaining Internet access via a cellular hotspot, then you would see a significant data usage occur during the video playback as it's coming from the Internet.
  • On the other hand and in this case, when the media source is on your iPhone, your iPhone uses AirPlay Mirroring to establish a H.264 video stream to the Apple TV. This stream is created using the phone's graphics chip and the stream uses a TCP connection over Wi-Fi to the Apple TV.
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Does mirroring use cellular data?

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