iPhone 17, iPhone Air and iPhone 17e to a TV: which work with a cable
The iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max can: they send video over USB-C, up to 4K HDR, to a USB-C display or through a USB-C to HDMI adapter. The iPhone Air and iPhone 17e can't: their USB-C ports carry no video, so they need AirPlay to an Apple TV. Every model mirrors its screen, except in apps like ScreenCommand that draw their own picture on the TV: a full-screen desktop browser.
Checked against Apple's Tech Specs and support articles · October 2026iPhone 17: what it does with a monitor or TV
| iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max | iPhone Air | iPhone 17e | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | A19 | A19 Pro | A19 Pro | A19 |
| Released | 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2026 |
| Port | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
| USB speed | USB 2 (480Mb/s) | USB 3 (10Gb/s) | USB 2 (480Mb/s) | USB 2 (480Mb/s) |
| Best wired output | 4K 60Hz | 4K 60Hz | No video over USB-C | No video over USB-C |
| With an HDMI 2.0 adapter | 4K 60Hz | 4K 60Hz | No video over USB-C | No video over USB-C |
| With a monitor or TV | Mirrors only | Mirrors only | Mirrors only | Mirrors only |
| Newest software | iOS 27 | iOS 27 | iOS 27 | iOS 27 |
| Model numbers | A3258, A3519, A3520, A3521 | A3256, A3257, A3522, A3523, A3524, A3525, A3526, A3527 | A3260, A3516, A3517, A3518 | A3575, A3634, A3635 |
| ScreenCommand | Cable or AirPlay | Cable or AirPlay | AirPlay only | AirPlay only |
Apple Tech Specs: iPhone 17 125089 · iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max 1, 2 · iPhone Air 125092 · iPhone 17e 126470
What sets the iPhone 17 apart
- The iPhone Air has the A19 Pro chip of the 17 Pro, but its USB-C port is USB 2 with no DisplayPort, so it has no wired video.
- The iPhone 17e has the A19 chip of the iPhone 17, and also no video over USB-C.
How to connect the iPhone 17 to a monitor or TV
- Cable (recommended): plug a USB-C monitor straight in with a USB-C cable that carries video, or use a USB-C to HDMI adapter for a TV. An HDMI 2.0 adapter gets you the full 4K 60Hz. The picture appears as soon as it's plugged in.
- Wireless: open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring and choose your Apple TV. It works, with slightly more cursor lag than a cable.
- iPhone Air and iPhone 17e: no video over USB-C, so a cable or adapter shows nothing. Use AirPlay to an Apple TV instead.
Either way, the iPhone 17 mirrors its screen until an app draws its own picture on the TV. Open ScreenCommand and the TV shows a full-screen desktop browser instead, with the iPhone 17 as the trackpad.
What ScreenCommand puts on the TV
- Full screen, no black bars: desktop websites at the display's own resolution, not a copy of a small screen.
- Your device is the trackpad: glide a finger to move the cursor and tap to click, with 8 cursor styles you can see from the couch.
- Typing: click a text field on the TV and the keyboard appears on your iPad or iPhone. A hardware keyboard works too.
- Windows and tabs: up to 4 windows of 12 tabs each, one on the TV or two side by side, with your logins kept.
- $4.99 one-time: no subscription, no account, zero data collection.
Frequently asked questions
Can the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air connect to a TV with a cable?
The iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max can: they send video over USB-C, up to 4K HDR, to a USB-C display or through a USB-C to HDMI adapter. The iPhone Air and iPhone 17e can't: their USB-C ports carry no video, so they need AirPlay to an Apple TV. Every model mirrors its screen, except in apps like ScreenCommand that draw their own picture on the TV: a full-screen desktop browser.
What adapter does the iPhone 17 need for a TV?
A USB-C to HDMI adapter for a TV, or a USB-C cable that carries video for a USB-C monitor. With an HDMI 2.0 adapter the iPhone 17 outputs up to 4K 60Hz. Nothing needs setting up: the picture appears when you plug it in. The iPhone Air and iPhone 17e can't use one: there's no video over USB-C, so use AirPlay to an Apple TV.
Can the iPhone 17 play Netflix on a TV?
Yes, over a USB-C cable. With the iPhone 17 wired to the TV, Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+, Paramount+ and Peacock play in ScreenCommand. Over AirPlay, copy-protected video goes black, so use a cable for those, or the service's own app on the TV. On the iPhone Air and iPhone 17e, which have no video over USB-C, use the service's own app on the TV or an Apple TV.