Roku Investigates Widespread HDR Color Issues

Roku is diving into a serious concern raised by users experiencing washed-out colors while streaming HDR content, particularly from Disney Plus. A recent thread on Roku’s issue tracking board reveals that this problem isn’t isolated, with reports suggesting it's impacting nearly every app on Roku TVs.

Community Feedback Fuels Investigation

A community moderator known as RokuEmmanuel-D confirmed the company's commitment to addressing these complaints. They encouraged users to provide specifics on affected content, the TV model they're using, and their current software version, making it clear that solutions are underway.

From Disney Plus to YouTube: The Color Dilemma Spreads

Initial reports pointed fingers solely at Disney Plus on TCL TVs, where users found that while HDR images turned dull, non-HDR content displayed properly. However, as feedback multiplied, similar complaints surfaced for YouTube TV, Netflix, Apple TV Plus, and Amazon Prime Video. One user even noted the issue on a Hisense Roku TV, while HDR streamed flawlessly from their PS5, suggesting a solution may lie within the Roku ecosystem itself.

The Graying of HDR: An Alarming Trend

Washed-out colors are not entirely unheard of with HDR on less capable TVs, but users claim this situation is markedly different, likening the output to desaturated black-and-white images when HDR is activated. Recent discussions on Reddit seem to echo these concerns, pointing to a growing trend of disappointing HDR experiences.

Awaiting Roku's Official Response

Despite numerous complaints, Roku has yet to officially comment on the situation. As users await a solution, the HDR streaming landscape on Roku remains clouded, leaving many wondering if their beloved content will ever look the way it's meant to.