Encore vs Luna Display.
For an old iMac as a monitor.
Luna Display is a hardware dongle from Astropad: it costs $89.99 for the USB-C unit and supports iMacs from 2011 on, with native 5K on the USB-C unit. Encore is software only. Pick Luna Display if you want native 5K on a 27-inch Retina iMac, or also need an iPad or a Windows PC in the setup. Pick Encore if your iMac is older than 2011, if you want no extra hardware, or if you want the iMac as a clock when you stop.
Who should pick which
- Pick Luna Display for native 5K on a 27-inch Retina iMac, for an iPad or a Windows PC as part of the setup, or if your Mac can only run an older macOS (Astropad supports macOS 10.13 and up, Encore needs macOS 14 on your Mac).
- Pick Encore for an iMac from Late 2009 or 2010, or 2007 to Early 2009 with Encore Receiver Legacy; for a setup with no dongle; for the iMac's own keyboard and mouse over a cable; and for a smart display when you stop working.
Side by side
| Encore | Luna Display | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free during the public beta | $89.99 for the USB-C unit, one time. Shipping is extra and usually takes 14 to 21 business days. |
| What you install | Two apps: Encore on your Mac, Encore Receiver on the iMac | A USB-C dongle in your main Mac, plus Astropad's apps. Required for every connection type |
| Your Mac | macOS 14 Sonoma or later, Apple silicon or Intel | macOS 10.13 or later, any Mac with a USB-C port |
| Oldest iMac | Late 2009 (macOS 10.13). 2007 to Early 2009 with Encore Receiver Legacy | "Most iMacs from 2011 onward", macOS 10.13 or later |
| Connection | Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet or Thunderbolt | USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Thunderbolt |
| 5K on a 27-inch Retina iMac | No. Retina iMacs are sent at up to 2560 x 1440 | Yes, with the USB-C unit; other units default to 4K or under |
| Latency | Not published yet | Astropad states 1 to 4 ms wired and 7 to 25 ms on Wi-Fi, without describing a test method |
| iMac keyboard and mouse control your Mac | Yes, over a cable | Not listed on the Astropad pages we checked |
| iMac camera and microphone for your Mac | Coming soon | Not listed on the Astropad pages we checked |
| iPad or Windows PC | No. Mac to Mac only | Yes: iPad as a display, Windows PC as the main computer |
| Smart display when idle | StandBy clocks, weather, calendar, AirPlay music, Hey Mac | No |
The dongle is the main difference
Luna Display needs its hardware plugged into your main Mac for every connection, including Wi-Fi. Astropad says to connect it directly to a port, with no adapters, so a MacBook gives up one of its ports. The secondary Mac needs no hardware. Encore has no hardware at all: two apps and, if you want the best picture, a cable you may already own.
Which iMacs each one covers
Astropad says "most iMacs from 2011 onward" work and its requirements ask for macOS 10.13 on the secondary Mac. It gives a 2020 iMac driving a Mid 2011 iMac as an example. We found no statement about 2009 or 2010 models. Encore supports every Intel iMac from Late 2009 to 2020, and 2007 to Early 2009 with Encore Receiver Legacy, at a smaller picture of about 1440 x 900.
5K, and where Encore is weaker
If you own a 27-inch Retina iMac and want every one of its 5120 x 2880 pixels driven, Astropad says the USB-C unit does that. Encore sends Retina iMacs at up to 2560 x 1440. That is the clearest reason to pick Luna Display over Encore. For a side view of all the 5K routes, read using a 5K iMac as a monitor.
Encore also has no published latency figure yet; we will publish measurements per iMac model. Astropad's figures come from its own support page and an older 2018 test on an iPad, not an independent lab.
Where Encore does more
Over a cable, the iMac's keyboard and mouse can work for your Mac, and its speakers can play your Mac's sound. When you stop working, the iMac becomes a smart display with clock faces, weather, your calendar and AirPlay music. The Astropad pages we checked don't list that for Luna Display.
What to plug in
With either one, a cable gives a better result than Wi-Fi. For Encore, the minimum is 400 Mbps between your Mac and the iMac: see the cable guide, the help center if something doesn't connect, and Wi-Fi or cable for a second screen for why it matters.
Facts on this page were checked on 9 November 2026 on the linked pages. Speeds are each maker's own figures, not independent measurements. Something out of date? Tell us and we fix it.
Questions
Can Luna Display use any old iMac as a second screen?
Astropad says "most iMacs from 2011 onward" and asks for macOS 10.13 or later on the iMac. We found no statement that it works on 2009 or 2010 models. Encore supports every Intel iMac from Late 2009 to 2020, and 2007 to Early 2009 with Encore Receiver Legacy.
Do I need a Luna dongle on both Macs?
No. Astropad says only the primary Mac needs the Luna hardware, and it must be plugged in directly for every connection type.
Does Luna Display do native 5K on an iMac?
Astropad says iMacs used as a secondary display only show 5K Retina resolution when you use the USB-C Luna Display. Other units default to 4K or under. Encore sends Retina iMacs at up to 2560 x 1440.
Does Encore need extra hardware?
No. Encore is two apps. Wi-Fi works with nothing to buy, and a cable gives the best picture.
How much does Encore cost compared with Luna Display?
Encore is free during the public beta. Luna Display's USB-C unit is listed at $89.99 by Astropad, checked 9 November 2026.