Best hardwired alternative to Sidecar? Luna Display or Duet Air?

[BeatCrazy]

I've been experimenting using Sidecar to support my 2018 iPad Pro 11" as a second display to my M1 Mac min + Pro Display XDR.

Sidecar does work, but it seems to randomly move its windows back to my main display. Sometimes it does this waking from sleep, sometimes it does it just because Tuesday. I really want it to act like a true second monitor! But my desk space is limited, and an iPad-sized display is perfect for the extra windows I want available at-a-glance.

I have no problem using hardwired connection to the iPad. I don't need tablet features, TouchBar features, or Apple Pencil support. I just want a reliable way to have the iPad act as a "real" second monitor.

 

[the future]

You can also use Sidecar with a wired connection. Did you try this? May be more reliable.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Sidecar works well most of the time but, I found it can also be a RAM hog. I tried the wired option and didn't notice any real difference from wireless. Hopefully, the OP will have better results.

 

[BeatCrazy]

You can also use Sidecar with a wired connection. Did you try this? May be more reliable.

Yes, I primarily used it wired. It worked/connected just fine. I just don't like the behavior of how windows randomly come back over to the main display after sleep (or whatever). A reboot, I can understand.

 

[macsound1]

I've used Duet wired with 2013 and 2015 MBPs and have great results.
Haven't tried it with my M1 mini yet which I know has window management issues as I tried using it as a desktop with vertical displays and failed.

 

[BeatCrazy]

I've used Duet wired with 2013 and 2015 MBPs and have great results.
Haven't tried it with my M1 mini yet which I know has window management issues as I tried using it as a desktop with vertical displays and failed.

Does Duet require any hardware? I'm not opposed, I think I've purchased it in the past (before it was "Air") and it didn't need anything but a client and host app.

 

[BeatCrazy]

I've used Duet wired with 2013 and 2015 MBPs and have great results.
Haven't tried it with my M1 mini yet which I know has window management issues as I tried using it as a desktop with vertical displays and failed.

I realized that I did purchase Duet in the past, so no harm/$$ for trying it out again for this scenario.

Unfortunately, it behaved even worse than Sidecar. Yes, it "worked", but coming out of sleep was even more of a disaster than native Sidecar. It often would not even work after waking sleep, without an app relaunch.