Panasonic Z95A OLED TV Review: Brightness and Colors

Photo: Ryan Waniata

Thanks to excellent image processing, details are revealed from crystal clear 4K Blu-rays to 1080p and even 720p. Only the blurriest SD pictures fail to impress, sometimes a bit blocky, but that’s true of almost any 4K TV.

The only minor chinks in the armor I noticed over the course of a few days were some minor stuttering or some color banding with difficult action scenes and compressed video. Otherwise, I could just sit back and enjoy the glow.

The highlight for me is the Z95A’s phenomenal colors, which are so rich and exciting that they blow me away, even compared to all the other great flavors in Panasonic’s special sauce. Starting with a casual look at the holiday classic, I was blown away from day one Scrooged. From Bill Murray’s deep navy suits to Robert Mitchum’s crimson gold pyjamas, I found myself in awe, and it wasn’t just me.

Fantasy is one of my wife’s most watched movies, yet we were both dazzled by the craftsmanship. Sapphire blues, shimmering silvers, pastel purples and deep yellow golds all glowed beautifully. Even something as simple as a targeted fish Assassin’s Creed Valhalla attracts attention, reddens like magma. I’m gushing, but a TV this good will do that to you. There are few TVs on the market that keep pace.

Photo: Ryan Waniata

LG G4 is one, offering similar flavors (and four HDMI 2.1 inputs), but so far I’ve been unsuccessful with review samples. Sony’s A95L QD-OLED (9/10, WIRED recommends) is my favorite competitor. It’s not quite as bright, but it’s just as impressive and has slightly better image detail. Samsung S95D (8/10, WIRED Recommends) isn’t all that amazing and doesn’t pass Dolby Vision, but its matte screen offers interesting anti-glare capabilities. Finally, Sony’s ultra-bright Bravia 9 mini LED TV (9/10, WIRED Recommends) while the backlit display isn’t as stable and balanced as OLED, it’s a wild card for next-gen brightness seekers.

All of these competitors offer more model sizes than the Z95A’s single 65-inch size, which can make a difference. Still, there’s something about the Z95A that just grabs me. Apart from the Fire TV system, it is a top performer in every category and easily one of the best TVs you can buy. Welcome back, Panasonic. It’s been a very long time.