SideScreen

Project Overview

Side Screen brings true second-display functionality to your Android tablet — over USB-C cable for the lowest latency, or wirelessly over WiFi. While Apple's Sidecar only works with iPads, millions of Android tablets sit unused. Side Screen bridges that gap with hardware-accelerated H.265 streaming, sub-30ms pipeline latency, and full touch input.

Key Features

• USB-C or Wireless: USB-C uses adb-reverse port forwarding automatically; wireless uses QR code pairing with auto-reconnect (5 GHz strongly recommended)
• Virtual Display: Create a true virtual display on your Mac — not mirroring, but extending
• Ultra-Low Latency: Hardware-accelerated H.265 encoding/decoding with async pipeline delivering frames in under 30ms
• Touch Support: Use your tablet's touchscreen to interact with macOS
• HiDPI (Retina) Support: Renders at 2× resolution internally for sharp text and icons
• Gaming Mode: Optimized settings with 1 Gbps bitrate, ultra-low latency encoding, and 120 FPS
• Customizable: Configure resolution (up to 4K/8K), frame rate (30–120 FPS), and bitrate
• Headless Mode: Run a Mac with no display of its own using the tablet as its only screen

Target Audience

• Users with an Android tablet and a Mac
• Mobile workers who need a second display
• Users seeking a cost-effective extended display solution

Quick Start

1. macOS: Download the .dmg file, open it, and drag Side Screen to Applications
2. Android: Download the .apk and install it (enable "Unknown sources")
3. Connect via USB-C or pair wirelessly with a QR code
4. Start using your tablet as a second display

Core Advantages

• Turns unused Android tablets into Mac second displays
• Ultra-low latency (<30ms)
• Touch input and HiDPI support
• Open-source and free

System Requirements

• macOS Host: macOS 13+, Apple Silicon or Intel
• Android Client: Android 8.0+, H.265 hardware decoder
• USB mode: USB-C port + adb
• Wireless mode: Same WiFi network (5 GHz recommended)