Roku and TCL are facing a new class action lawsuit accusing both companies of bricking consumers’ smart TVs through faulty software updates. The complaint (PDF), filed in the Central District of California as Else v. Roku, Inc. et al., is against Roku and TTE Technology, which sells TCL‑branded Roku TVs in North America.
The complaint claims that Roku’s TV OS and its automatic updates cause Roku and TCL Roku televisions to freeze, display black screens, get stuck in boot loops, or fail to turn on, making them unusable early in their product lifespans. It covers Roku Select and Plus series TVs, as well as TCL’s 3‑, 4‑, 5‑, and 6‑Series models that run Roku’s platform.
Plaintiff Terri Else, a resident of Los Angeles, says that issues began with her Roku TV following mandatory software updates. Other Roku TV owners whose online complaints are quoted in the lawsuit say these problems appeared just a year or two after they purchased the product. Standard troubleshooting has not, according to these consumers.
In seeking a class action lawsuit, Else’s lawyers argue that Roku and TCL marketing materials promise reliable performance and ongoing improvements through regular software updates. Instead, those updates often degrade or destroy core TV functions.
The lawsuit seeks class certification for US and California buyers, damages, restitution, and court orders that could require Roku and TCL to change how they handle software updates and disclosures.
Given the complaint was filed in late April, the case is in its early days, and Roku and TCL have not yet provided detailed public responses to the allegations.
