Damn I didn't realise the Mi Box S is so far down in performance compared to it's peers. Are the TV boxes above similarly priced to the Mi Box S? I'm looking at capability of Netflix 4k, iQiyi 4k, Youtube 4k, TVB Anywhere+ (don't think this streaming service does 4k yet).

Since the Mi Box S (2nd Gen) is the only one officially available here (warranty), I'll probably go for that option. It's about RM200+ on Shopee/Lazada, with vouchers can probably get lower. I'm guessing running Netflix 4k, iQiyi 4k, and TVB Anywhere+ shouldn't be an issue on the Mi Box S. However, I'm also interested in ad-free Youtube and streaming live Badminton matches. You mentioned in the previous page regarding SlimBox OS? Does that work with the Mi Box S?

Just to check, this Opera VPN can be installed on Android/Google TV, and then using Youtube through it to watch live BWF matches?

Thanks, I'll try Proton VPN free, its one device only but the data is unlimited. Windscribe free can be used on many devices but sadly only has 10GB data free per month.

eauyong Thanks for the recommendations ! I got myself a Mi Box S 2nd Gen for RM160 and it has been working great so far. 4K60 with Dolby Vision works flawlessly. The streaming apps also run well, i.e. Netflix, iQiyi, WeTV, TVBAnywhere, etc. SmartTube is also sideloaded and Proton VPN allows me to watch BWF Live matches without hindrance. Here's hoping it's built to last

Well it would be out of topic in that thread if I do so haha. I didn't have the Ultrabox so my comparison might not be truly fair/balance since I had the inferior lower spec Ultibox. Astro wanted their own in-house software for security/control/lower cost?, at the very least they should have optimised it somewhat well. It's a shame, because the difference is as clear as night and day. Then again, I guess most of their budget went to the satellite capabilities of the Astro box.

The Ultrabox has better internal specs correct? If it still hangs and restarts periodically it's probably software optimisation again and/or poor design of heat dissipation. I don't know whether Astro actually mentions this upfront to current/potential customers that the Ultrabox can ONLY run 4K on Netflix as it is natively built into the software and the rest are just inferior web app versions. They are always parading it around as their premier 4K TV Box. Before I terminated Astro, it was appearing in ads in between shows almost all the time lmao. Well I suppose they atleast have the 4K sports channel, minus Dolby Vision/HDR10+ support for everything, probably worth it for sports fans?

Mi Box S 2nd Gen was RM160 after promotion/vouchers, RRP is usually RM230.
Regarding subscriptions I have it somewhat planned out;

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Netflix 4K premium is RM55 per month, the whole house uses this and it's probably the only Western streaming app we will have for now since it has the most content.

The rest of the streaming apps are for my older folks so for now that is iQiyi, WeTV, and TVBAnywhere:
I purchased iQiyi 4K premium for a year since it was on 50% discount (RM89.90), so that is RM7.50 per month.

WeTV is currently on first month trial for RM5.90.

TVBAnywhere is subscribed for one month at RM20, won't be renewing this as my parents wanted to only watch the new TVB drama that was recently released. If and when a new TVB drama is released and my parents are interested, I will start subscribing again. TVBAnywhere is actually more on the expensive side and they don't release new content often enough to warrant a continuous subscription, even at discount.

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Interestingly, the other Chinese streaming apps (e.g. iQiyi, WeTV, Youku, MangoTV, etc.) are all relatively affordable and seem to have frequent big discounts like 50% off. Without discount, it is RM11.90 per month for most of them except iQiyi 4K premium. So my plan is to subscribe individually (or more) month by month depending on new shows that my parents want to watch, e.g. this month WeTV, next month Youku, following month MangoTV, or both/more in one month, etc.

So all these Chinese streaming apps are well below the monthly RM65 paid to Astro for the Primary pack. I don't include the cost of Netflix since my family has had that for a long time even when we still had Astro.

Example: [RM11.90*3 = RM35.70 (iQiyi, WeTV, Youku)] + RM20 (TVBAnywhere) = RM55.70 per month, this is before discounts and me selectively picking which to subscribe this month. If through 50% discounts, most of them will be about RM8 per month or less if I decide to subscribe for a year, making it even lower than above.