Early Verdict
Pros
- +
Incredible audio system
- +
Deep, gorgeous blacks
- +
144Hz panel
- +
Second-gen MLA panel
Cons
- -
Wonky startup issues
- -
Only two HDMI 2.1 ports
- -
Single 65-inch size
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It's been almost eight years since Panasonic TVs left the US market, but it's set to make a big return and it all starts with its flagship Panasonic Z95A OLED TV. Although it was officially announced and unveiled in January, Panasonic's now launching it in the US and it could well be one of the best TVs of the year.
That's because the Z95A packs within it some of the most advanced features in the market. It's built on LG Display's second-gen MLA panel, which ensures it vast and vibrant brightness potential. It also comes equipped with a 144Hz refresh rate and a slew of gaming features that will provide gamers ample performance coverage.
But it's not a perfect system. The Panasonic Z95A is only available in a 65-inch configuration, which goes against the current trajectory of TVs getting ever-bigger. Add to that the fact that it comes in at $3,199 and it's not exactly a budget build, especially in the face of one of its biggest competitors in the LG G4 OLED TV.
There's a lot to enjoy and Panasonic's big comeback to the US proves an exciting underlying story of its launch. Read on for my initial thoughts on the Panasonic Z95A OLED TV and stick to Tom's Guide for a full review later this month.
Panasonic Z95A OLED TV: Price and availability
The Panasonic Z95A OLED TV is only available in a 65-inch model, which comes in at $3,199. It's unclear if more sizes will be made available, but Tom's Guide has reached out to Panasonic for further clarification and will update this page accordingly. The Z95A is tipped for official release on September 4th, 2024 and can be purchased across a wide range of merchants, main among them being Amazon and Best Buy.
The Z95A first launched in Europe and other territories, but is now making its way into the US as Panasonic shifts its focus back to the West. It takes up after the Panasonic MZ2000, which debuted last year, but utilizes some awesome upgrades to make it stand out in the market, namely that second-gen MLA panel.
Its $3,199 starting price is quite the premium and comes in a bit above the LG G4 OLED TV, which sports a sticker price of $2,799 for its 65-inch model. It also sits just under the same pricing as both the Samsung S95D OLED TV and Sony A95L OLED TV, which come in at $3,400 and $3,500, respectively.
One thing I did notice on startup was the Z95A would more often than not show a prompt that it lost connection to my home Wi-Fi. It's not a major deal breaker and could very well be my router or internet service provider, but it did lead to about a minute or so of a wait before I could use the TV.
Still, despite this miniscule setback and dependent upon your needs, the Panasonic Z95A could prove a proper foil to LG, Samsung, and Sony OLED TVs.
Panasonic Z95A OLED TV: Design
Built on the second-gen MLA OLED panel via LG Display, the Panasonic Z95A OLED TV brings to the table serious performance in terms of brightness and contrasts. It's also a bit bulkier and heavier than other sets in the space, which might be due to its incredible speaker system that boasts 160W total power — meaning you won't have to shell out extra money for one of the best soundbars for good sound.
It leverages Fire TV as its main OS, which has its pros and cons. This does give it access to hands-free voice controls via Alexa, which several competing sets also have, plus a Samsung The Frame-like backgrounds feature that lets you create art using your own imagination in tandem with machine learning.
On the gaming side of things, the Z95A OLED TV doesn't disappoint. It has support for a both screen tearing technologies, including Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium, plus VRR and ALLM. While it might only sport two HDMI 2.1 ports, it does have a 144Hz refresh rate making it ideal for those using the best gaming PCs.
One of the really neat things about the Z95A is its stand. Panasonic uses this ingenious swivel stand that makes it super easy to plug HDMI and assorted devices into the back, something that other companies should copy. It's also incredibly easy to set up, which made my testing all the easier.
Panasonic Z95A OLED TV: Performance
There's a lot to love about the Z95A OLED TV — but its performance is the real selling point. It sports some stellar blacks and has ample brightness, though we won't know specific numbers until we spend time with it in our testing labs. It's apparent, however, that second gen MLA panel is working overtime, delivering a certain pop and realness.
It's hard to say how far of a jump the Z95A is in comparison to the MZ2000, but it's definitely a quality boost. Everything I watched on it from streaming services looked great and the Z95A did handled games with aplomb.
Gaming with the PS5 on the Z95A was quite the treat. It's interesting, because where most other TVs tend to have poor PS5 HDR performance, the Z95A handled it with ease and it looked truly stunning. A major highlight for me was the space-based combat presented in Star Wars: Outlaws, which looked silky smooth and pitch black.
Where most TVs tend to skimp on their sound, the Panasonic Z95A brings it where it counts with a 160W speaker — one of the highest we've seen. And to make it even more appealing, the Z95A also has a few extra sound features that make it appealing for a wide number of use cases.
For instance, you can use the so-called 'Pinpoint' feature to accurately direct sound to specific cones on a handy interface, making it easier for, say, an elderly family member to hear over others, or maybe you want to direct the sound to the best seat in the house. There's a ton of uses for this feature and the prospect of having full control over your TV audio is quite the welcome addition.
Panasonic Z95A OLED TV: Outlook
Panasonic is reentering the fold at one of the most interesting times. It faces steep competition from the likes of Samsung, LG, and Sony in terms of its flagship and mid-tier offerings, but from my testing the Z95A already appears like it could be among the best OLED TVs.
With its utilization of the second gen MLA panel and its incredible performance, the Panasonic Z95A OLED is a true stunner. It's a welcome return for a TV manufacturer that hasn't been in the states since 2016, and the Z95A will certainly bring ample competition to the space — which will only breed better TVs long-term.
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