Panasonic Z95A OLED TV Review: Brightness and Colors

Thanks for the excellent image processing, pop details, from crystalline 4K Blu-rays to 1080p and even up to 720p. Only the very faintest SD images fail to impress, sometimes appearing a bit blurry, but that’s true of any 4K TV.

The only minor chinks in the armor that I noticed over the course of a few days were minor blurring or stuttering with challenging motion scenes and color mixing with compressed video. Other than that, I was able to just sit back and enjoy the light.

The highlight for me is the Z95A’s amazing colors, so rich and vibrant that they caught me off guard, even when compared to all the other great flavors in Panasonic’s special sauce. I was amazed from day one, starting with a classic holiday look Scrooged. From Bill Murray’s deep navy suits to the crimson-gold of Robert Mitchum’s pajamas, I found myself in awe—and I wasn’t the only one.

Fantasia it’s one of my wife’s most watched movies, yet we were both blown away by the art. Sapphire greens, shimmering silvers, pastel purples, and deep yellow golds all burn beautifully. Even something as simple as a target fish Assassin’s Creed Valhalla it calls for attention, it’s hot like magma. I’m sorry, but good TV will do that to you. There are only a few TVs on the market that match the speed.

Photo: Ryan Waniata

LG’s G4 alone, which offers similar excitement (and four HDMI 2.1 inputs), but I’ve been unlucky with review samples so far. Sony’s A95L QD-OLED (9/10, WIRED recommends) is my favorite contender. It’s not as bright, but it’s just as impressive and has slightly better image detail. Samsung’s S95D (8/10, WIRED Recommends) isn’t stunning—and skips Dolby Vision—but its matte screen offers impressive anti-glare capabilities. Finally, Sony’s ultrabright Bravia 9 mini LED TV (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is a wild card for those looking for next-generation brightness, even though its rear display isn’t as sharp or symmetrical as OLED.

All of these competitors offer models in more sizes than the Z95A’s single 65-inch size, which can be the difference. Still, there’s just something about the Z95A that blew me away. Aside from its Fire TV lineup, it’s a top performer in every category and one of the best TVs you can buy. Welcome back, Panasonic. It’s been too long.