What is MHL?


MHL aka Mobile High-Definition Link, comes as standard on many smartphones and tablets, but what is MHL? Find out here.

What is MHL?

MHL is basically an industry standard for connecting your smartphone or tablet to your HDTV (High Definition TV). MHL was first shown off at CES in 2008 as Mobile High-Definition Link. By 2010 The MHL Consortium made up of Sony, Samsung, Nokia and others was announced.

What does MHL do?

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The main purpose of MHL when built-in to a Smartphone or tablet is to connect the device to your HDTV. This allows you to watch video, play games, browse the web and interact with other applications through your phone on your TV.

MHL Features

As well as the main feature of displaying content on your TV, MHL also charges your device from the televisions power source while simultaneously playing content. As for contact MHL is designed to support 1080p video at 60FPS and 8 channel 7.1 surround sound audio.

What can I use MHL for?

The main uses of MHL are to play uncompressed 1080 HD video from your device to your TV, however you can also show photo slide shows, play games, browse the web or even make use a great apps such as the BBC iPlayer on your TV!

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24 Comments

  1. June 11, 2013

    I havent seen many mtk6589 phones that support MHL … Neo N003 … ??

    • nagasaky2x
      June 11, 2013

      I have only seen NEO N003 so far.

      • Martin
        June 11, 2013

        I would be great to have a list informing chinese phones with MHL. Actually NEO N003, Mogu M5, Xiaomi 2, Meizu MX, Meizu MX2 have MHL.

  2. Amper
    June 11, 2013

    what is the different MHL and phone that have HDMI?

    • Amper
      June 11, 2013

      beetween*

      • Amper
        June 11, 2013

        between* lol sorry for the spam, andy optimization for the site,massage editor or X button for delete. 🙂

        • Norman Zakaria
          June 11, 2013

          message* Hehehe. Adding to the spam :p

    • simik
      June 11, 2013

      For one thing, MHL can power connected device at 5V/500-900mA
      Samsung’s MHL also has integrated USB connection

      • Metalartin
        June 17, 2013

        My understanding is if you see MHL on a phone it is always integrated into the micro-USB port(which then is just referred to as an MHL port rather than micro-USB). This was the first implementation of MHL although its not tied to any kind of connector but it wouldnt make sense to waste space or extra parts putting an extra port on there.

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_High-Definition_Link

  3. Flamer
    June 11, 2013

    Can it do via wireless or is it wired only?

    • nagasaky2x
      June 11, 2013

      This one is wired, wireless is Miracast.

  4. Guest
    June 11, 2013

    I havent seen many mtk6589 phones that support MHL … Neo N003 … ??

    • Guest
      June 11, 2013

      I have only seen NEO N003 so far.

    • Guest
      June 12, 2013

      I would be great to have a list informing chinese phones with MHL. Actually NEO N003, Mogu M5, Xiaomi 2, Meizu MX, Meizu MX2 have MHL.

  5. Guest
    June 11, 2013

    what is the different MHL and phone that have HDMI?

    • Guest
      June 11, 2013

      beetween*

    • Guest
      June 11, 2013

      between* lol sorry for the spam, andy optimization for the site,massage editor or X button for delete. 🙂

    • Guest
      June 11, 2013

      For one thing, MHL can power connected device at 5V/500-900mA
      Samsung’s MHL also has integrated USB connection

    • Guest
      June 11, 2013

      message* Hehehe. Adding to the spam :p

    • Guest
      June 17, 2013

      My understanding is if you see MHL on a phone it is always integrated into the micro-USB port(which then is just referred to as an MHL port rather than micro-USB). This was the first implementation of MHL although its not tied to any kind of connector but it wouldnt make sense to waste space or extra parts putting an extra port on there.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_High-Definition_Link

  6. Guest
    June 11, 2013

    Can it do via wireless or is it wired only?

    • Guest
      June 11, 2013

      This one is wired, wireless is Miracast.

  7. Mario
    June 13, 2013

    One further cool function of MHL is with the Pioneer Appradio car stereos. The head unit (the car bit) is basically a touch screen with a radio and bluetooth etc. You connect your Android, run a special connection app and the head unit screen becomes the Android touch screen. Neat! Means your GPS app can be whatever you want,and you can use apps like Torque for a cool display.

  8. Guest
    June 13, 2013

    One further cool function of MHL is with the Pioneer Appradio car stereos. The head unit (the car bit) is basically a touch screen with a radio and bluetooth etc. You connect your Android, run a special connection app and the head unit screen becomes the Android touch screen. Neat! Means your GPS app can be whatever you want,and you can use apps like Torque for a cool display.