Roku is investigating consumer reviews of washed-out colours when streaming HDR content material from Disney Plus, in response to a thread on the Roku challenge monitoring board. Nevertheless, the problem appears to transcend that, affecting virtually any app for Roku TVs, counsel consumer feedback on the thread during the last week. The issue seems to be tied to a current Roku software program replace.
A group moderator referred to as RokuEmmanuel-D writes in an replace from Thursday that the corporate is “investigating the Disney Plus HDR content material that was washed out after the current replace,” and asks for group members to share examples and particulars about what content material is being affected, which mannequin of TV they’ve, and what software program model they’re on.
The primary a number of feedback solely report the issue in Disney Plus, and solely on TCL TVs, with customers saying that app menus and that colours are okay in non-HDR content material. However as one consumer reveals within the above photos of Disney Plus present Andor taken from two totally different TVs, normally-vibrant colours have as an alternative taken on a gray-ish pall.
Later feedback report the identical issues with YouTube TV, Netflix, Apple TV Plus, Amazon Prime Video, and others. One stated they noticed the problem with their Hisense-branded Roku TV, quite than a TCL mannequin. The identical individual reported HDR working effective over HDMI from their PS5, whereas one other stated the sign from their 4K Blu-Ray participant appeared good, implying the problem is restricted to Roku streaming, quite than any deeper TV firmware points. Individuals within the thread stated their TVs — Hisense and TCL — had been on Roku software program model 14.5.
Washed-out or flat colours can already be a difficulty when watching HDR content material on a TV that’s not vibrant sufficient to provide an excellent HDR picture — that was the rationale I turned the function off the previous, low cost TCL Roku TV I as soon as owned. However these reviews describe one thing past that, with Roku producing desaturated, virtually black-and-white photos when HDR is on. It’s unclear how widespread the issue is, however there are current Reddit threads that appear to suit the invoice, mentioning grayish or black-and-white image that doesn’t have an effect on streaming app menus.
Roku didn’t instantly reply to The Verge’s request for remark.
