Photo: Ryan Wanniata
Thanks to superior image processing, you’ll see every detail from crisp 4K Blu-ray to 1080p and even 720p upscaling. Only the blurriest SD images can be unimpressive and a bit blocky, but this is true of almost all 4K TVs.
The only small cracks in the armor I noticed over the course of a few days were small stutters and jerkiness in challenging motion scenes and color banding in compressed video. Otherwise, you could just sit back and enjoy the glow.
The highlight for me is the Z95A’s incredible color. It was so rich and pungent that it caught me off guard, even compared to the other great flavors of Panasonic’s special sauce. It started with a casual viewing of the holiday classic, and I was surprised from the first day. It’s disgusting. From Bill Murray’s deep navy suit to Robert Mitchum’s crimson-gold pajamas, I was completely mesmerized. It wasn’t just me.
fantasia is one of my wife’s most watched movies, and we were both dazzled by its artistry. Sapphire blue, flash silver, pastel purple, and deep yellow gold all flared beautifully. Even something as simple as the fish you are targeting. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla It calls for attention with a searing voice like magma. I’m gushing, but a TV this good would do just that. Only a few TVs on the market can keep up with this pace.
Photo: Ryan Waniata
LG’s G4 offers similar pleasure (and four HDMI 2.1 inputs), but we’ve had no luck with review samples so far. Sony’s A95L QD-OLED (9/10, WIRED Recommended) is my favorite competitor. It’s not as bright, but just as impressive, with slightly better image detail. Samsung’s S95D (8/10, WIRED Recommends) isn’t as spectacular, skipping Dolby Vision, but its matte screen does offer some interesting anti-glare technology. Finally, Sony’s ultra-bright Bravia 9 Mini LED TV (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is a wildcard for those looking for next-gen brightness, but its backlit display isn’t as stable or balanced as OLED. I haven’t gotten it yet.
All of these competitors offer more model sizes than the Z95A’s only 65-inch size, which could make a difference. Still, there’s something about the Z95A that fascinates me. With the exception of the Fire TV system, it’s a top performer in every category and is definitely one of the best TVs you can buy. Welcome back, Panasonic. Too much time has passed.
