Any Linux distro with Flex Launcher and an Air Mouse+Keyboard Remote.

This is what my HTPC looks like currently:

I tried what you are describing: Using a Pi4 and loading lineageOS (KonstaKANG) on it. Before that I tried libreELEC with Kodi or something like that… Internet via WLAN. Both setups suck. Everything is slow, input with my cableless keyboard/touchpad is laggy and I am not using the TV because of it… Watching jellyfin on my smartphone is more convenient.

But I am new to all this stuff, so maybe I missed some ways to optimize this setup. Next time I will just take a long HDMI cable and connect the TV with my main PC.

There are many multimedia solutions for ARM (e.g. libreelec, kodi, plex, jellyfin etc etc), however, these work best for non-big-streaming sites. The moment you’re after a really good youtube experience, or netflix/disney+/etc, then things start break down for various reasons.

Personally, I’d just install the default Raspbian OS (maybe even just DietPi), making sure that their Firefox or Chromium supports drm websites, and then I’d connect the Pi to the TV, and then I’d use a keyboard + touchpad, like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Keyboard-Touchpad-PC-connected/dp/B014EUQOGK/ This allows you to use the machine exactly the way you need it to, without bad surprises and incompatibilities. Not the way you want it to, but more like the way you need it to.

Also, please note that if you’re having a Pi with only 1 GB of RAM, it won’t be enough for what you’re having in mind. I have a 3B+ with 1 GB of RAM, and my Emby server (music only!) constantly needs more than 1 GB of RAM, resulting in the Pi to swap, which means that it wears out the microSD a lot.

Finally, if all else fails get an AppleTV, or a Chromecast with AndroidTV, or a Roku if you’re in the US, but I think the desktop/browser solution can be workable. Not pretty, but most workable for DRM streaming services.

https://dietpi.com can be configured for Kodi. Youll be limited to 1080p H264 for streaming, as long as your Plex server can transcode to that format you should be OK.

It’ll probs support any xinput-compatible pad, too.

Not sure about moonlight support on Pi/Linux but again you’ll be limited by the decode.

• Assuming you have a Pi4B, by the way.

I recently set up LineageOS on my rpi4 for this. With that setup, I think you’d be able to use the Android version of Moonlight. I haven’t used Moonlight before though, so not sure how good of an experience that is on Android. Since the official images didn’t support Android TV, I ended up using this version. Performance is a little slow in the menus (and very slow in the Twitch app, but that’s also true on the fire stick). I’ll probably give rpi5 a shot at some point in the near future to see if that offers better performance.

Bluetooth game controller works quite well (a little too well, the box notifies me when controllers are trying to sync), and works with apps like RetroArch and Jellyfin. I think it’s supposed to support AirPlay or whatever the Android equivalent is too, but I haven’t tried that. I also had to install gapps to sign into YouTube, but most other streaming apps I tried worked without it. Some of them require specific Android TV devices though, so a 3rd party app store or side loading may be needed for some of them.

I originally wanted to use Plasma Bigscreen with Waydroid, but I ran into the same problem of not being able to find an Android TV image. I did try building it myself, but that was taking too long so I eventually gave up.

I have Raspberry Pi 4B set up as TV box and for my own media like Kodi or Jellyfin, barely handles 4K but works. And I like how I can sync files or remote control seamlessly because it’s standard Linux not Android.

For mainstream streaming I really discourage form even trying, it’s a mess. If you plan to run any type of DRM media you already are on the lost position and might as well buy cheap Android TV stick for ~30$, because there would be no freedom gain with RPi, just big annoyence.

TLDR:
Linux for own media.
Android for renting.
Raspberry Pi for Linux.
Cheap TV stick/box for Android.

Honestly, you might be looking at a ShieldTV.

Dont. They are notoriously bad at such things. Lack of Hardware acceleration mainly. These old Chips and problems with single-board-complications are just not worth it at such high prices.
An Intel N100 MiniPC will have much more compute with less complications.

• No SBC that I know of can handle 4k 120Hz HDR output, so getting the most of moonlight is not possible.
• Low latency decode requires some work to get running
• AV1 encode/decode has even more latency, do you will be running higher bitrate h264, which in turn means wired network connection is recommended.
• Streaming services limit 4k and/or HDR access on a lot of content to locked devices. E.g. Netflix only guarantees 720p sdr when watching in a browser - how much more you get depends on the deal with the copyright holder.

Tl;dr; a long, active fiber HDMI cable + USB over IP might be cheaper, better and easier. That’s what I ended up buying despite the cable length being 60m (200ft).

I’m about to start my adventure with Raspberry Pi powered TV box. I will try Plasma big screen - https://plasma-bigscreen.org/ It seems like a good place to start.