I use a Linux machine that boots to a big picture interface with these apps:

• Jellyfin Desktop client (pirate everything)
• VacuumTube (YouTube TV interface with adblocking)

And I use a Flirc receiver so I can use a remote for all of it.

There is a guy making LineageOS Android TV builds for Raspberry Pi and other devices.

2nd hand mini PC running Linux?
https://plasma-bigscreen.org/ looks nice, though I haven't used it.

There are a few options.

• A repurposed PC or SBC running LibreELEC (which uses Kodi as its interface and sole application). If you plan on using Kodi, don't mind messing with Kodi addons, and don't need Dolby Vision or HDR10+ support, this is a great option. HDR10 should be supported just fine, though.
• A repurposed PC or SBC running a Linux distro with Plasma Bigscreen. Note that Plasma Bigscreen is still in beta and the app ecosystem is not very usable at the moment. This option also does not support Dolby Vision or HDR10+ (though it does support HDR10).
• A streaming box or SBC running the Android TV version of LineageOS without Google services installed. This will probably give you the most flexability and would be my preference. Some options will also give you compatibility with HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10+ depending on hardware. This is my preference at the moment because it has the most robust ecosystem currently, at least until Plasma Bigscreen and Linux on TV becomes more robust. I use SmartTube for YouTube and Nuvio for TV and Movies, though Kodi and Jellyfin are also available depending on your preference.

It’s appletv unless you’re willing to use a custom sbc with a taped together third party android version.

I don’t recommend the latter option because it fucking sucks and you seem like a psycho to others who may use it or watch stuff with you.

You can just host jellyfin from your pc (or a server in your closet) if you wanna get away from streaming services and it works good with either option.

I want to be clear as day that you cannot get a privacy friendly experience from any Android streaming device unless you load it yourself and make sure it’s something like the lineageos Android tv stuff linked by another user.

It’s probably worth it for you to put into words what you’re trying to accomplish, being as clear and explicit as possible.

If you are looking specifically at commercial ones only, I read that AppleTV is the least evil. https://www.tomsguide.com/tvs/apple-tv-4k-is-still-the-best-streaming-box-when-it-comes-to-privacy

Obviously there are better opensource options out there.

I run a Jellyfin server and then have a nvidia shield with lineageos installed directly attached to the tv with Whole installed on that. The shield remote works perfect, nothing connects to google/elsewhere unless I want it to, and if you wanna get fancy, you can always do a full/semi-full *arr stack, wholphin can connect to Seerr to request stuff so you barely need to touch the back end unless something goes wrong (I believe there are a couple of "public" jellyfin/Seerr servers but I've never really meased around with them, but that would eliminate the need to run a Jellyfin server for yourself. If you do end up going that route shoot me a message and I can see if I can find the addresses for the "public" jellyfin server)

Also worth noting, you should be able to install wholphin and try out jellyfin with your current setup without needing new hardware immediately, that way you can see if it's for you before buying a Shield /something else

I tried finding the same thing recently. The best I have found is a device running legion OS. It has critics about bit being perfect, but comparatively it's a lot more privacy focused.

My current solution is also a mini pc behind the TV. Set up a script to shut down the computer after x minutes and use the TV timer when I'm watching too late. It works but it's cumbersome.

There are some android TV devices that you can run LineageOS on which is what I do. But they are few and far between, and require specific firmware versions which makes it pretty impractical. I have used a Raspberry Pi with LibreELEC before as a frontend for Jellyfin and that worked decently well.

My dream is for Plasma Bigscreen to be supported well enough that I can just use a standard Linux machine for my TV, and there are tons of options in that ecosystem for casting, airplay, etc. But last time I tested it the issues were too numerous to ignore, specifically around application stability and UI navigation

The bigger privacy concerns are going to be from the streaming services you use, not the box itself, unless your using something like a SuperBox which is a known botnet.

Debian

Something (Raspberry PI, old computer, whatever) on Linux with jellyfin and Kodi (you can launch Jellyfin from Kodi with a controller).

Do you need works out of the box without a ton of work on your part but the privacy isn't totally perfect? Then Apple TV 4k.

Do you use no major commercial streaming services and only your own hosted content from Plex/Jellyfin and you want to do some very light cloud gaming from the couch/bed? Then an Intel N150 mini PC or AMD equivalent (at present with RAM prices expect to pay at least $400 though if you want you can probably get a used SFF PC made recently (important for energy saving hardware decoding of video codecs) may work for you with either Jellyfin client or Kodi.

Caveat: HDR on Linux isn't happening anytime soon and forget Dolby Vision. Also forget above 720p, maybe 1080p in Google Chrome for online streaming services.

Vero V by the OSMC people is also an option but won't work with commercial streaming services though it is more private but you have to use your own content. It's more plug and play than the mini-pc route and does support HDR and such. But unlike mini-pcs you can't even open a browser to jankily watch commercial streaming services using it.

I can't speak from personal experience, but I'd suggest looking into Kodi. It's an open source OS designed for DIY stream boxes, meaning I believe you would need to install it on a mini PC or similar. Since I haven't used it myself, I can't provide you much specific advice on it, but depending on your use cases, it might be worth a shot.

Kodi. Why just stream when you can have movies/TV, IPTV, games, Podcasts, youtube, BandCamp, Mixcloud, weather, etc... I'm pretty sure there are addons for Netflix and that kind of proprietary stuff for people with accounts.

I recommend compiling from source for latest/fastest. It can be a project to set everything up, but I've been loving mine since I got it rolling.

I'm using a Flirc too. Highly recommend.

might get some hate here for this one but my parents hooked me up with vseebox. Just don’t log any info into it. This is coming straight from a tech illiterate person so I don’t fuck around with Linux or anything

Theres osmc.tv or HDhomerun ive never used either however also with HDhomerun you can use it with jellyfin

Kodi with the jellycon add-on, does require a jellyfin setup though.

If you dont mind live TV that is. While possible on kodi it is a bit more work.

That Chromecast watches every damned thing you do down to the last click. I'm using the same thing and have maybe 50 or so rule blocks for it on the PI hole. I was thinking of making a generic Android tv box from scratch. Hell you wouldn't need more than a used nuk or mini pc and a drive. Everything else you can setup how you like including adding plugins to help de- Google and get some privacy back with YouTube . Course the cost of that has gone up a lot since I planned. Try the Nvidia Shield Pro if you want a lot more power and less stuttering. It's at least not made by Google.

Offline Android device, e.g. video projector, with VLC on it that starts at boot. Content from a USB stick.

If I want something live, I plug my GrapheneOS phone on it with a USB-C to HDMI cable.

Basically keep the device as just a monitor.

Surprised nobody mentioned roku

I haven't used it in a decade, but wasn't this the intention of the roku project?

There's no such thing, unfortunately