Panasonic Z95A OLED TV review: Searing brightness and colors
Photo: Ryan Waniata
Excellent image processing means details stand out, from crystal clear 4K Blu-rays to 1080p and even 720p upscaling. Only the blurriest SD images fail to impress and sometimes appear a bit blocky, but that’s true for pretty much every 4K TV.
The only small chinks in the armor I noticed over several days were a few small stutters or stutters during difficult motion scenes and some color banding during compressed videos. Otherwise, I could just sit back and enjoy the splendor.
The highlight for me is the Z95A’s phenomenal colors, which are so rich and immersive that they surprised me, even compared to all the other great flavors in Panasonic’s special sauce. I was amazed from day one, starting with a casual viewing of the Christmas classic Lubricated. From Bill Murray’s dark blue suits to the crimson gold of Robert Mitchum’s pajamas, I was mesmerized – and it wasn’t just me.
fantasy is one of my wife’s most watched films, but we were both impressed by the artistry. Sapphire blue, flashing silver, pastel purple and deep yellow gold burned beautifully. Even something as simple as targeted fishing Assassin’s Creed Valhalla attracts attention and burns like magma. I’m gushing, but a TV this good will do that to you. There are few TVs on the market that can compete.
Photo: Ryan Waniata
LG’s G4 is one that offers similar joys (and four HDMI 2.1 inputs), but I’ve had bad luck with test units so far. Sony’s A95L QD-OLED (9/10, WIRED recommends) is my favorite rival. It’s not quite as bright, but it’s similarly impressive and has slightly better image details. Samsung’s S95D (8/10, WIRED recommends) isn’t as flashy – and skips Dolby Vision – but its matte display offers intriguing anti-glare capabilities. Finally, Sony’s ultra-bright mini LED TV Bravia 9 (9/10, WIRED recommends) is a wild card for those looking for next-generation brightness, although the backlit display isn’t as balanced and balanced as the OLED.
All of these competitors offer more model sizes than the Z95A’s single 65-inch size, which could make a difference. Still, there’s something about the Z95A that baffles me. Aside from its Fire TV system, it’s a top performer in every category and is easily one of the best TVs you can buy. Welcome back, Panasonic. It’s been too long.
