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BartelsJuice's avatar
BartelsJuice
Reel Rookie
3 days ago
Solved

Model Variants for the Ultra player

Does anyone know the different between the 4850X and the 4850R?

I do know that Roku uses some suffixes after the “R” or “X” to ID various distribution channels, such as RO or ROC, etc.

I called tech support on two different occasions and received two different answers. One person said there was no difference, and the other went off line to research it with her team leader and came back and said the “R” variant is newer.

I have two 4850s.  The web (Roku online store) description said 4850R, the PO said 4850R, the outside box said 4850R, but both devices are 4850X.

I just shake my head over the sloppy and lack of documentation.

What a way to run a railroad ! 

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  • AvsGunnar's avatar
    AvsGunnar
    3 days ago

    BartelsJuice​ 

    There is no difference X and R.  Generally the "R" just stands for 'Retail' (ie. bought in a store like Walmart, Best Buy, etc.).  While it has changed a bit through the years, each device I bought at Walmart used to be "RW" (Retail Walmart).  When I bought at Best Buy, the device could actually be R or X.  Same when purchased from Roku. (could be R or X).  There is no difference though.  No difference in specs, no different features.

    The fact that the customer reps for Roku you spoke/chatted with did not know this no longer surprises me.  Customer support no longer requires the people working for them to know the product, nor how to support it.

2 Replies

  • AvsGunnar's avatar
    AvsGunnar
    Community Streaming Expert
    3 days ago

    BartelsJuice​ 

    There is no difference X and R.  Generally the "R" just stands for 'Retail' (ie. bought in a store like Walmart, Best Buy, etc.).  While it has changed a bit through the years, each device I bought at Walmart used to be "RW" (Retail Walmart).  When I bought at Best Buy, the device could actually be R or X.  Same when purchased from Roku. (could be R or X).  There is no difference though.  No difference in specs, no different features.

    The fact that the customer reps for Roku you spoke/chatted with did not know this no longer surprises me.  Customer support no longer requires the people working for them to know the product, nor how to support it.

  • BartelsJuice's avatar
    BartelsJuice
    Reel Rookie
    3 days ago

    Hi AvsGunnar,

    Thanks. You are confirming my suspicion that the suffix is a way to track distribution channels.

    I marked your response as "Solution"  But in reality I find this a very sad state of affairs.  The company seems to live in a walled up garden with low knowledge, and no doubt low paid "support" folks reading prepared scripts.

    That is a corporate philosophy of "Trust us we know better." There is a direct line through this kind of culture to a glued together black box, to the customer being the product.  The customer's viewing habits, purchases, and god know what else being sold to advertisers and others.

    I might just put these 4850s on a walled up guest network, separate from our production network to limit any potential damage.