Any other ideas are also welcome
I'd stick with the RPi4 as it probably delivers a better overall experience than an old recycled laptop.
How is that possible?
https://www.cpu-monkey.com/en/compare_cpu-raspberry_pi_4_b_broadcom_bcm2711-vs-intel_core_i5_4250u
You did not tell how old laptop is. RPI4 is likely to have better power usage. Old laptop might be on 5400rpm rotational drive and have overheating problems. You can keep RPI4 on 24/7, turn on tv with tv remote and then switch to remote connected to RPI. No CEC required.
In case of RPI5 you could run on PCI-E v3 NVME. It would have better IO performance than old laptop drive or sd card on RPI4.
Depends on how old the laptop is, new enough to run hevc 4k hdr like the Pi?
How is that possible?
Old laptops are typically larger, consume more power, generate more fan noise when used in a confined space, and either offer less or not-much-more capability. Yes the CPU is likely faster and GPU more capable, but RPi4/5 boards are a well optimised package for LE use and a good compromise of features/capabilities/stability. There's no right/wrong answer tho.
