# Lagless vs screen mirroring

> Screen mirroring is the usual workaround for AirPlay delay on a Mac. How it compares with lowering the AirPlay buffer, and when each makes sense.

Updated 2026-10-06. Canonical page: https://lagless.app/vs/lagless-vs-screen-mirroring/

> Screen mirroring sends audio together with video, which users report keeps them in sync, but it needs a mirroring target such as an Apple TV and mirrors your screen. Lagless lowers the delay for system audio to any AirPlay speaker, with no display involved, to about a third of a second.

## Side by side

| | Screen mirroring | Lagless |
|---|---|---|
| Needs | An Apple TV or AirPlay display | Any AirPlay speaker |
| Audio delay | Reported in sync with mirrored video | 350 ms |
| Affects | Your screen too | Only audio |
| Good for | Watching on a TV | Speakers at your desk |

A [MacRumors user](https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/audio-lag-with-airplay.2306123/) describes mirroring as sending audio alongside the video without the usual delay.

## Which to choose

- **Watching on a TV with an Apple TV:** mirroring or the app's own AirPlay button.
- **HomePod or another speaker at your desk:** lowering the buffer, which is what Lagless does.

## Sources

- [MacRumors: Audio lag with AirPlay?](https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/audio-lag-with-airplay.2306123/)