Encore vs Second Display.
For an old iMac as a monitor.
Second Display is the closest app to Encore. It is $39 once for one Mac, it publishes a measured figure of about 9 ms over Thunderbolt, and it has a Windows version. Pick it if your iMac is from Late 2015 or later, you connect with Thunderbolt, and you want a published latency number or Windows. Pick Encore for an older iMac, for the iMac as a smart display after work, and for a lower price.
Who should pick which
- Pick Second Display for a Late 2015 or newer iMac over Thunderbolt, for a Windows 11 host, or if you want a published speed figure before you commit. It also keeps working on any Mac that runs macOS 12.3 or later as the display.
- Pick Encore if your iMac is older than Late 2012, if you want no account (Second Display asks for an email address to start its trial), or if you want the iMac as a clock with weather, your calendar and AirPlay music when you stop.
Side by side
| Encore | Second Display | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free during the public beta | $39 once after a 7-day trial; Pro $59 once or a $20 upgrade |
| What a licence covers | Every iMac you own, every update | One Mac you work on; each further Mac $19; display Macs free. Licences bought before 22 October 2026 cover up to 3 Macs |
| Your Mac | macOS 14 or later | macOS 14 or later, or Windows 11 |
| Oldest iMac | Late 2009 (macOS 10.13); 2007 to Early 2009 with Encore Receiver Legacy | Late 2015 or later, or any Mac on macOS 12.3 or later. Late 2012 to Mid 2015 with the free Second Display Connect on macOS 10.15.7 |
| Connection | Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet or Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt (lossless), USB-C, Wi-Fi or Ethernet (compressed to fit the link) |
| Latency | Not published yet | About 9 ms over Thunderbolt and about 29 ms on Wi-Fi at Medium, in its own test from an M3 Pro to a 24-inch M1 iMac |
| Native 5K on a 27-inch Retina iMac | No. Retina iMacs are sent at up to 2560 x 1440 | Not stated. Its page gives 4480 x 2520 on a 24-inch iMac and does not mention 5120 x 2880 |
| iMac speakers | Yes | Yes |
| iMac camera and microphone | Coming soon | Yes |
| iMac keyboard and mouse | Yes, over a cable | "Keyboard and mouse control" is listed as a Pro feature; the page does not say if it uses the iMac's own |
| Smart display when idle | StandBy clocks, weather, calendar, AirPlay music, Hey Mac | No |
| Account | None | An email address to start the trial |
Thunderbolt and latency
Second Display publishes figures, which we respect: about 9 ms over Thunderbolt in a test from a MacBook Pro M3 Pro to a 24-inch M1 iMac, and 12 ms as a median of what six owners reported. Those are the maker's own numbers, and the test machine is not an Intel iMac, so an old iMac may differ. Encore has not published latency yet; we will publish per iMac model.
Encore over a cable needs at least 400 Mbps and sends a sharp, lossless picture, and Ultra sends ProRes 4444 up to 1440p over Thunderbolt. Retina iMacs are sent at up to 2560 x 1440.
Older iMacs
If your iMac is from 2012 to Mid 2015, both apps can work, Second Display through its free Connect app on macOS 10.15.7. If it is from Late 2009 to 2011, Second Display's list stops: its page starts at Late 2012. Encore works on every Intel iMac from Late 2009 to 2020. Your exact model is on the compatibility page, and the cable guide covers what to plug in for each year.
Where Encore is weaker
Second Display has a measured latency figure and a Windows version, and Encore does not. If you want those, it is the better choice. Encore is Mac to Mac only.
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 Second Display work with old iMacs?
Its page says iMacs from Late 2015 or later work directly, any Mac on macOS 12.3 or later can be the display, and Late 2012 to Mid 2015 iMacs can use the free Second Display Connect on macOS 10.15.7. It does not list iMacs from before Late 2012.
Does Second Display do 5K on a 27-inch iMac?
Its page gives 4480 x 2520 on a 24-inch iMac and does not mention 5120 x 2880 or 27-inch 5K iMacs, so check with the maker before buying for that.
Is Encore cheaper than Second Display?
Encore is free during the public beta. Second Display is listed at $39 once for one Mac after a 7-day trial, and Pro at $59 once. Prices checked 9 November 2026.
Which one has lower latency?
Second Display reports about 9 ms over Thunderbolt in its own test. Encore has not published a figure yet, so there is no measured comparison between them.