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Photo: Ryan Waniata
Thanks to excellent photo processing, details pop, from crystal 4K Blu-ray to 1080p and even upscaling to 720p. Only the fuzziest SD images fail to impress, sometimes coming across as a little blocky, but that’s true of almost any 4K TV.
The only minor chinks in the armor I noticed over the course of the day were some minor stuttering or jerkiness with challenging action scenes and some color banding with compressed video. Otherwise, I could just sit and enjoy the light.
The highlight for me was the Z95A’s incredible colors, which were so rich and stirring that they caught me off guard, even compared to all the other rich flavors of Panasonic’s special sauce. I was hooked from day one, starting with a casual look at the holiday classic Shaking. From Bill Murray’s deep navy suit to the crimson-gold of Robert Mitchum’s pajamas, I was in awe—and I wasn’t the only one.
Fantasy is one of my wife’s most watched movies, but we are both drawn to the art. Sapphire blues, shimmering silvers, pastel purples, and deep yellow golds all burn beautifully. Even something as simple as a pointed fish Assassin’s Creed Valhalla calling attention, burning like magma. I drool, but a TV this good will do that to you. There are only a few TVs on the market that go on.
Photo: Ryan Waniata
LG G4 is one, which offers similar pleasures (and four HDMI 2.1 inputs), but I have bad luck with review samples so far. Sony’s A95L QD-OLED (9/10, recommended by WIRED) is my favorite rival. It’s not as bright, but it’s just as impressive and has slightly better image detail. Samsung S95D (8/10, Recommended by WIRED) isn’t as spectacular—and skips Dolby Vision—but its matte screen provides impressive anti-glare capabilities. Finally, Sony’s ultrabright Bravia 9 mini LED TV (9/10, Recommended by WIRED) is a wild card for those looking for next-generation brightness, even if its backlit display isn’t as ready or balanced as OLED.
All of these competitors offer more model sizes than the Z95A’s lone 65-inch size, which could be a difference maker. However, there is something about the Z95A that annoys me. Aside from the Fire TV system, it’s a top performer in every category and easily one of the best TVs you can buy. Welcome back, Panasonic. It’s been too long.
