Encore vs RetinaRelay.
For an old iMac as a monitor.
RetinaRelay is built for one job: native resolution over a cable. It costs $49 once for one host Mac and claims native 5K at 60 fps. Pick it if you have a Retina iMac and want every pixel, and a Late 2012 or later iMac is fine. Pick Encore if your iMac is from before Late 2012, you want a lower price, or you want the iMac's keyboard and mouse working for your Mac and a smart display when you stop.
Who should pick which
- Pick RetinaRelay for a 27-inch Retina iMac on a cable where resolution comes first. Its page reports a 2017 27-inch iMac at native 5120 x 2880 at 60 fps. Your Mac can run macOS 13 or later.
- Pick Encore for an iMac from Late 2009 to 2011, or 2007 to Early 2009 with Encore Receiver Legacy, for a lower one-off price, or for the iMac's keyboard and mouse over a cable and a smart display after work.
Side by side
| Encore | RetinaRelay | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free during the public beta | $49 once, 7-day trial, no card |
| Licence | Every iMac you own, every update | 1 activated Host Mac, transferable; unlimited iMacs; free updates |
| Your Mac | macOS 14 or later | macOS 13 or later, M-series or Intel |
| Oldest iMac | Late 2009 (macOS 10.13); 2007 to Early 2009 with Encore Receiver Legacy | Late 2012, macOS 10.15 Catalina or later |
| Connection | Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet or Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt, USB SuperSpeed, Gigabit Ethernet; Wi-Fi as a slower option in its own words |
| Native 5K | No. Retina iMacs are sent at up to 2560 x 1440 | Up to native 5K at 60 fps (maker's claim) |
| Latency figure | Not published yet | None published; its Host app shows a measured figure |
| iMac speakers | Yes | Yes, one switch |
| iMac keyboard and mouse | Yes, over a cable | Not stated |
| iMac camera and microphone | Coming soon | Not stated |
| Smart display when idle | StandBy clocks, weather, calendar, AirPlay music, Hey Mac | No |
Resolution first
A 27-inch Retina iMac has 5120 x 2880 pixels. RetinaRelay measures your cable and aims for up to native 5K at 60 fps, and its site lists a 2013 21.5-inch iMac at 1080p60 and a 2017 27-inch iMac at native 5K as measured examples. If you bought a Retina iMac for that panel, RetinaRelay is the option built around it. Encore sends Retina iMacs at up to 2560 x 1440 and aims for a sharp, lossless picture over a cable with at least 400 Mbps.
Cables
RetinaRelay says Wi-Fi is "slower and less steady" than its cable options, and that over Gigabit Ethernet fine detail is traded away on heavy video. With Encore, the picture is always lower quality on Wi-Fi than on a cable. Whichever you pick, plan on a cable. Exactly which one for your iMac is in the cable guide, and the reasons are in Wi-Fi or cable for a second screen.
Older iMacs and the rest of the iMac
RetinaRelay starts at the Late 2012 iMac on Catalina. If yours is older, or if you still run it on High Sierra, Encore is the one that works. Encore also makes more of the iMac: its keyboard and mouse over a cable, and a smart display when you stop.
Where Encore is weaker
No native 5K. No published latency figure. Your Mac needs macOS 14, against macOS 13 for RetinaRelay.
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
Does RetinaRelay work over Wi-Fi?
Yes, but its maker says Wi-Fi is "slower and less steady" than Thunderbolt, USB SuperSpeed or Gigabit Ethernet.
Which iMacs does RetinaRelay support?
Late 2012 or newer, on macOS 10.15 Catalina or newer, according to its site. Encore also covers Late 2009 to 2011, and 2007 to Early 2009 with Encore Receiver Legacy.
Which is better for native 5K?
RetinaRelay, on paper: it claims up to native 5K at 60 fps. Encore sends Retina iMacs at up to 2560 x 1440. Neither has an independent test we can point to.
Does RetinaRelay use the iMac's keyboard and mouse?
Its site doesn't say. With Encore, the iMac's keyboard and mouse can control your Mac over a cable.