Roku is investigating consumer experiences of washed-out colours when streaming HDR content material from Disney Plus, in line with a thread on the Roku issue tracking board. Nonetheless, the problem appears to transcend that, affecting nearly any app for Roku TVs, recommend consumer feedback on the thread during the last week. The issue seems to be tied to a latest 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 latest 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 user shows within the above photographs of Disney Plus present Andor taken from two totally different TVs, normally-vibrant colors 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, fairly than a TCL mannequin. The identical particular person reported HDR working fantastic over HDMI from their PS5, whereas one other stated the sign from their 4K Blu-Ray player regarded good, implying the problem is proscribed to Roku streaming, fairly than any deeper TV firmware points. Individuals within the thread stated their TVs — Hisense and TCL — had been on Roku software version 14.5.
Washed-out or flat colours can already be a difficulty when watching HDR content material on a TV that’s not vivid sufficient to supply HDR picture — that was the rationale I turned the characteristic off the previous, low-cost TCL Roku TV I as soon as owned. However these experiences describe one thing past that, with Roku producing desaturated, nearly black-and-white photographs when HDR is on. It’s unclear how widespread the issue is, however there are latest Reddit threads that appear to suit the invoice, mentioning grayish or black-and-white picture that doesn’t have an effect on streaming app menus.
Roku didn’t instantly reply to The Verge’s request for remark.