| Firmware Version / Download Link | General Notes | Flashing Process | Known Bug Tracker | Root Availability | DRM Key Status When Rooted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55U8K_55U8N_55E85GUA_N0918.zip | This appears to be the first released firmware I can find, possibly shipped with the U8K at it's launch. It is bugfree, but very old security wise. | MStar Flash Process | None Reported! |
Yes |
Working! |
| 55U8K_55U8N_55E85GUA_O0223.zip | This appears to be the second released firmware I can find. It's just a security update for GoogleTV as best I can tell, still pretty outdated though (GoogleTV security patch of late 2023), still really bug free in functionality. If you want one to run offline or heavily firewalled for streaming with little to no bugs, this is your build. | MStar Flash Process | None Reported! | Yes | Working! |
| 55U8K_55U8N_55E85GUA_O0730.zip | This build introduces a major UI overhaul (more sound options, picture pane improvements to visibility, a new support menu including TV details, etc), greater peak brightness to the panel (manageable by the peak brightness setting, seems to top out somewhere between 1600-2000 Nits depending on model), and some nice EDID fixes for freesync premium in particular. While that is kind of cool, this build unfortunately also comes with a few bugs. | MStar Flash Process | HISENSE_BUG1 HISENSE_BUG2 |
Yes | Wipes Widevine and ATSC3 keys, breaking most DRM 4K content, as well as the service menu. |
| 55U8K_55U8N_55E85GUA_O1030.zip | This build appears to be a bugfix / maybe a security update to O0730? Whatever it is, it isn't worth running for most users as it has all the bugs of the above, plus some fun new guys. | MStar Flash Process | HISENSE_BUG1 HISENSE_BUG2 HISENSE_BUG3 HISENSE_BUG4 |
Yes | Wipes Widevine and ATSC3 keys, breaking most DRM 4K content, as well as the service menu. |
| 55U8K_55U8N_55E85GUA_P0414.zip | This version has all the bugs of O1030, but is newer and probably has security improvements. Also, it is packaged in a new (for Hisense) Google designed OTA package format. This format notably does not wipe your TV on flash. | Google Full OTA Flash | HISENSE_BUG1 HISENSE_BUG2 HISENSE_BUG3 HISENSE_BUG4 |
Yes | Wipes Widevine and ATSC3 keys, breaking most DRM 4K content, as well as the service menu. |
| 55U8K_55U8N_55E85GUA_P0828.zip | This version has seemingly fixed all reported bugs and is quite secure patch wise (May 2025). More research is needed, but seems solid! At the moment this is my personal advised build. The only user-facing change I've noticed so far is a new rather cool looking input "signal lost" animation. Otherwise just much needed bugfixes! Oh, and one mostly minor new bug. Do note that Hisense has pulled this build from it's servers for unknown reasons, possibly legal because the new license popup does not let you opt out of the EULA as before. It's also possible they are just incompetent. | Google Full OTA Flash | HISENSE_BUG5 | Yes | Wipes Widevine and ATSC3 keys, breaking most 4K content, as well as the service menu. |
| 55U8K_55U8N_55E85GUA_P1022.zip | Newest version. Preliminary analysis suggests this is just a relaunch of P0828 in MStar flash format... maybe to make rooting it harder? Unknown rationale and seemingly no real changes from P0828... | MStar Flash Process | HISENSE_BUG5 | No (working on it!), likely that the P0828 root image works for it. | (Most likely) Wipes Widevine and ATSC3 keys, breaking most 4K content, as well as the service menu. |