Panasonic returns to the US with OLED and mini-LED sets featuring built-in Fire TV

[Shawn Knight]

In a nutshell: When Panasonic ended production of its vaunted plasma televisions in 2013 and pulled out of the US market a few years later, some assumed we'd never see Panasonic-branded TVs in the states again. But you know what they say about making assumptions…

Panasonic has announced its return to the US TV market after nearly a decade away, and they're bringing some heavy hitters.

Leading the charge is the Z95A, a 4K flagship OLED TV with a 65-inch, 144Hz panel and a $3,199 price tag. It's powered by an HCX Pro AI Processor MK II and packs several noteworthy features including a 360-degree Soundscape Pro integrated audio system tuned by Technics and a micro lens array with multi-layer heat management for "unprecedented brightness."

The Z85A OLED TV, meanwhile, is offered in 55-inch and 65-inch variants and is essentially a lesser version of the Z95A that excludes some bells and whistles to reduce costs. The Z85 doesn't come with the flagship's fancy integrated speaker system with Technics tuning, nor does it have the micro lens array to elevate brightness. Furthermore, the set's refresh rate only goes up to 120Hz instead of 144Hz. The omissions are reflected in the price as the 55-incher retails for $1,599 while the 65-inch model will set you back $1,799 – a full $1,400 less than the same-size flagship.

Panasonic has also brought its W95A mini-LED series to the US. Available in four sizes ranging from 55 inches up to 85 inches, the W95A series affords a refresh rate up to 144Hz, multiple HDR picture modes, and Local Dimming Ultra tech to boost the set's contrast ratio. Panasonic has also baked in a Quantum Dot Sheet to further enhance color reproduction, we're told.

Pricing starts at $1,299 for the 55-inch W95 and scales up to $2,999 if you want the 85-inch variant. All of Panasonic's sets in the US also come with Amazon's Fire TV platform baked in, complete with an Alexa-enabled voice remote. They're available now directly from Panasonic or through Amazon.

Permalink to story:

Panasonic returns to the US with OLED and mini-LED sets featuring built-in Fire TV

 

[yRaz]

Smart TVs need to die and so does the idea of putting AI in everything

 

[front243]

I live in Denmark where it have always been available. I can say that these are test winners. Especially the largest model which got an OLED panel that beats even LG.

 

[Burty117]

I really don’t want my TV running Amazon FireStick software by default and I’ve never used Alexa.

Smart TV’s suck balls, I hate it.

 

[toooooot]

I live in Denmark where it have always been available. I can say that these are test winners. Especially the largest model which got an OLED panel that beats even LG.

Whose panels though? It is probably LG or Samsung anyway.

 

[kiwigraeme]

Who the screens though? It is probably LG or Samsung anyway.

Panasonic uses LG Display - their 55" and 65" use MLA.
These also have the best inbuilt speakers, so great for someone in an apartment etc
You buy a Panasonic not for the wow, but for the best natural PQ . If can do the dark scenes and the bright scenes in SDR and HDR the best of all TVs. It keeps it upscaling to more natural, so doesn't sharpen edges which is now normallised and gives the perceive look of being better. Many say Sony's processing is the best, it is very good, but they sharpen edges and process more. Get a panasonic it those sizes are for you and you want the most filmic look and you have an extensive library of old movies. If mainy watch latest and want best Rec2020 get a Samsung S95D as better bang for bucks than a Sony or the cheaper S90D ( make sure it's a QD-OLED the 83" model is a WOLED at that size get a C4, G4 or Sony B8 . The LG G4 also a great option as they use a colour boost algorithm. Want big screen immersion get a 98" TCL Q8 or what ever it's called - best quality for that price range at that size - though options from TCL maybe hisense for 50% of price

What a bright room option get a Sony B9 85" - pay the Sony tax at the door

Hopefully coming to USA means panasonic do a 77" MLA model next year

 

[Mr Majestyk]

I hope the cowards return to the Australian market. LG and Scamsung are a no go, Sony has decided it's ultra-premium with moronically high prices, leaving TCL to carry the flag. Panasonic were always the best TV's IMO. However, baking in Fire TV sucks, so I would need to get an Apple TV or Google TV to provide the smarts.

 

[Squid Surprise]

The flaw with ANY built-in smart tv option is that they become obsolete (aka: painfully slow) after a year or 2… I expect my TV to last 10+ years - so if I need it to be smart, I’m fine buying an Apple TV, fire stick, etc which I can replace far cheaper when it “gets slow”.

 

[ZedRM]

Lose the FireTV and all other "smart" functions and I'd be interested. Keep that crap out of my TV.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Having used fire TVs before.....NO THANK YOU. Even if you dont use the "smart" functions, the Fire UI and controls are painfully laggy, giving sony a run for their money.

 

[Burty117]

Having used fire TVs before.....NO THANK YOU. Even if you dont use the "smart" functions, the Fire UI and controls are painfully laggy, giving sony a run for their money.

I had a cheaper LCD Sony running Android before I got my current Samsung S95B QD-OLED, Sony's might stutter every-so-often but it generally always worked. Samsung's is horrendous, needs reboots frequently to make it even work, then when it does work, it outright ignores button presses far to regularly, settings get randomly reset, it's just garbage.