Buzz
Your iPad may not be a full-fledged computer, but it offers plenty of functionality, including gaming. With a variety of games available on the App Store, you can even connect controllers from your PS5 or Switch to play them. But when it comes to playing Switch games, you would typically have to leave your iPad and go back to the console itself, either in handheld mode or through your TV, right?
As it happens, your iPad can actually act as a portable, high-quality gaming monitor for your Switch, and any other console that connects via HDMI—if you invest in a $20 capture card, such as this one. Dan Barbera from MacRumors has an excellent video demonstrating the setup process. It's surprisingly easy and budget-friendly, provided you already own a compatible iPad and Nintendo Switch:
What You Need to Play Nintendo Switch Games on Your iPad
USB-C capture card: A capture card allows you to capture game footage from your console and send it to another device. Here, we're using it to display the game console's output directly on your iPad.
iPad with USB-C: Unfortunately, this setup only works with iPads featuring a USB-C port, as the USB-C capture card is essential for it to function.
iPadOS 17: The key to this trick lies in Apple’s upcoming iPadOS update, which enables developers to build capture card apps for displaying and recording game footage. The update is expected next month, but you can try the beta version now and see it for yourself. Though beta software can have some bugs, it's nearly at the end of its testing phase, so it’s more stable now.
A capture card app: Since iPadOS 17 is still being developed, only a few apps are available at the moment. However, you can download the test version of Capture Pro from TestFlight today.
A video game console: Obviously, you'll need one.
Once everything is in place, begin by connecting your capture card to the console of your choice. If you’re using your Switch, for example, plug the HDMI cable from the Switch dock into the capture card’s HDMI input. Then, plug the USB-C end of the capture card into your iPad's USB-C port—don’t use the port on the keyboard case, if you have one.
Next, launch the capture card app (such as Capture Pro) and power up your Switch. When the console starts and the app detects it, you should see the Switch home screen on your iPad. Dan Barbera notes that there is a slight input lag, but it didn’t significantly impact his overall gaming experience:
This is especially helpful for Switch users, as console players have often resorted to other methods for displaying games on their iPads. These methods typically involve streaming games from your PlayStation, Xbox, or PC to your iPad using a dedicated app. However, such solutions come with their own issues, particularly poor video quality and lag if your internet connection can't handle the streaming. While there’s a bit of input lag with the capture card method, the wired connection ensures the overall quality is quite good.
