Photography: Ryan Waniata
Thanks to excellent image processing, details pop, from crystal clear 4K Blu-rays to 1080p and even 720p upscaling. Only the blurriest SD images fail to impress, sometimes a bit blocky, but that’s the case with almost all 4K TVs.
The only minor chinks in the armor I noticed over the course of several days were small stutters or stutters with difficult motion scenes and color banding with compressed video. Otherwise, I was able to just sit back and enjoy the glow.
The highlight for me is the Z95A’s phenomenal colors, which are so rich and soulful that they took me by surprise, even when 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 holiday classic. Scrooged. From Bill Murray’s dark navy suits to the crimson gold of Robert Mitchum’s pajamas, I found myself mesmerized – and it wasn’t just me.
Fantasy is one of my wife’s most watched films, but we were both dazzled by the artistry. Sapphire blues, flashing silvers, pastel purples, and deep yellow golds all burned beautifully. Even something as simple as a targeted fish Assassin’s Creed Valhalla attracts attention, burning like magma. I’m thrilled, but a TV this good will do that to you. There are only a few TVs on the market that keep up.
Photography: Ryan Waniata
LG’s G4 is one, offering similar pleasures (and four HDMI 2.1 inputs), but I’ve had no luck with the test samples so far. Sony’s A95L QD-OLED (9/10, WIRED recommends) is my favorite rival. It’s not as bright, but it’s just as impressive and offers slightly better image detail. Samsung’s S95D (8/10, WIRED recommends) isn’t as striking (and ignores Dolby Vision), but its matte screen offers intriguing anti-glare capabilities. Finally, Sony’s ultra-bright Bravia 9 mini LED TV (9/10, WIRED recommends) is a wild card for those looking for next-gen brightness, although its backlit display isn’t as balanced or balanced as OLED.
All of these competitors offer more model sizes than just the Z95A’s 65-inch size, which could make a difference. Still, there’s just something about the Z95A that stunned me. Besides its Fire TV system, it’s a great performer in every category and easily one of the best TVs you can buy. Welcome back, Panasonic. It’s been too long.
