is because both are running diff OS. so experience of cos will be diff.
Android TV OS( limited, design for TV) vs Android OS ( full OS like phone)

still ok because of the price just rm1 monthly.
and i think they do charge them just to make sure the billing system also ok and able to keep track of their beta tester.

if i were u, i would test local network speed 1st. both LAN and wifi.
try transfering files between ur NAS and box. see if the speed is match based on the spec. normally low spec box can support 100mbps for LAN.
last time my old minix box can support up to 60mbps only even tho in spec is 100mbps.

then, check ur video codec. is able to support natively( hardware encode) without software encoding or not.

based on the review, its should be come with play store since its running android TV.
its like MI TV stick but hardware size more powerful since its able to handle 4k with HDR.

i hv nvidia shield and able to play some with with the gamestream ( require GTX card on ur PC to stream the games, i able to stream games on my steam as well) but still. i dont like how it handle the latency on the video. still hv few ms lag but not always. still playable.
the concept i think should be same as steam link, but the optimization im not sure. since it require GTX card, so i guess it might use the GTX powerful card to do some enhancement on the streaming video.

on the new chromecast with google tv on the other hand, its low spec device than nvidia shield but it able to support stadia. google own game streaming service. this 1 im not sure on that device but u need stable server to play it.
same when i play nvidia shield with GeforceNow. we dont hv asia server, it always lagging. around 100-600ms. for me its not playable.

with ur requirement on the netflix 4k. not much device able to support this except only running on normal SD since netflix 4k certification quite hard to get.
and with that budget, i think latest google chromecast with google tv is good option.
another would be mi box s. but its not support dolby vision

it does hv chromecast. if ur budget permit, shield pro is the best android tv box u would get.

i owned nvidia shield past few years. and all i do is mostly streaming movie, utube etc.
hardly gaming as most of the game quite boring. its not like PS
gamestream, i tested only just for testing sake, prefer to play at my PC.
geforce now - all high latency since most of their server at US/Europe. not playable.

so, i would say its the best media player box out there. but for gaming, better buy PS

just for experience and legal sake, just stick with astro box if ur parent still want to watch the astro channel. or NJOI / freeview box if watch normal channel.

u compare paid channel vs free channel. its not fair comparison.
freeview is for those people that want to watch normal tv, but dont want to pay. we no longer use analog signal so of course government want to provide alternative.
and when u downsizing, u will relieve lots of expense burden. so whats wrong with it ?
thats what i said, its depend on ur needs. if u just want normal channel, why need to pay astro when u can just watch freeview( or njoi if freeview signal is bad ar ur area)

i would say no such thing.

https://shopee.com.my/Google-Chromecast-wit...9777.5155262679

Google Chromecast with Google TV

i think this would best for kids usage. because u require Netflix( this can support 4k netflix) and the android os tv would be the best since its kid friendly ui.