Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Thanks to excellent picture processing, details pop, from crystalline 4K Blu-rays to 1080p and even 720p upscaling. Only the fuzziest SD images fail to impress, sometimes coming through a little blocky, but that’s true of pretty much any 4K TV.
The only minor chinks in the armor I noticed over several days were some small stutters or jerkiness with challenging motions scenes and some 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 stirring that they caught me off guard, even when compared to all the other great flavors in Panasonic’s special sauce. I was gobsmacked from day one, starting with a casual viewing of the holiday classic Scrooged. From Bill Murray’s deep navy suits to the crimson-gold of Robert Mitchum’s pajamas, I found myself mesmerized—and it wasn’t just me.
Fantasia is one of my wife’s most-viewed movies, yet 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 in Assasin’s Creed Valhalla calls attention, searing like magma. I’m gushing, but a TV this good will do that to you. There are only a few TVs on the market that keep pace.
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
LG’s G4 is one, offering similar delights (and four HDMI 2.1 inputs), but I’ve had bad luck with review samples thus far. Sony’s A95L QD-OLED (9/10, WIRED recommends) is my favorite rival. It’s not quite as bright, but it’s similarly impressive and has slightly better image detail. Samsung’s S95D (8/10, WIRED Recommends) isn’t as striking—and skips Dolby Vision—but its matte screen provides intriguing anti-glare skills. Finally, Sony’s ultrabright Bravia 9 mini LED TV (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is a wild card for those seeking next-gen brightness, though its backlit display isn’t as poised or balanced as OLED.
All these competitors offer more model sizes than the Z95A’s lone 65-inch size, which could be a difference maker. Still, there’s just something about the Z95A that has me floored. Apart from its 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.