Panasonic Z95A review: an impeccable TV for cinema fanatics

If, like me, you've been invested in the best TVs over the years then you'll likely remember Panasonic's world-leading plasma TVs, which the brand called time on a decade ago now. And, if you don't, then all you really need to know is that Panasonic was at the top of its game – something the Japanese giant is looking to rekindle with its latest and best OLED TV release, the Z95A.

I've been reviewing Panasonic TVs for years now, with the Z95A updating the impressive MZ2000 from last year. Except, if you're a US-based reader, you won't likely know about the latter model – as Panasonic pulled itself out of the USA coinciding with the end of its plasma TV reign all those years ago. But now it's back – and with a bang.

It's as if the stars have aligned, because the Z95A has a full roster of leading propositions. One, its MLA (Micro Lens Array) panel type means it's the brightest traditional OLED going; two, its Technics-tuned integrated soundsystem means you needn't bother adding the best soundbar as an extra; and three, its integrated Amazon Fire TV setup looks to best its Samsung S95D and LG OLED G4 key rivals.

Panasonic Z95A: Price & Availability

The Panasonic Z95A is available in 55-inch (the one I have on review) and 65-inch sizes, the latter being the only size for the US market. There are no bigger panel sizes available, so if you're after one of the best 75-inch TVs or greater then your best bet is the 77-inch Philips OLED 909 (unless you're in the US, where that isn't available).

Price-wise, the 55-inch Z95A retails for £2999, but is already discounted to £2199 as I pen this review. The 65-inch Z95A, meanwhile, has a lofty £3899 / $3200 price tag – but has already dropped to £3299 / $2999 at the time of writing, and could continue to descend given the not-inconsiderable competition in this market.

While I'd be tempted to call the Z95A 'expensive', I always think it's better to consider 'value'. This Panasonic TV has a lot going for it, although with the aforementioned Philips model in equivalent sizes being slightly cheaper (and with the excellent addition of Ambilight), and even the Sony A95L costing a mite less, it's the prevalence of Samsung's S95D and LG's OLED G4 that will attract with even lower pricing – noting, of course, that neither of those have an integrated soundsystem like the Panasonic.

Panasonic Z95A review: Features & What's New?

It feels like an age ago when I first got to see the Panasonic Z95A, following its reveal at CES 2024, and thereafter having attended a special event at Amazon Studios to get a deep-dive into its picture and Amazon Fire TV details. It's still a very fresh proposition all these months later, of course, with some eye-catching high-end features.

The MZ2000 had a fantastic integrated soundsystem and the Z95A is no different. I mean that quite literally: the Z95A's '360 Soundscape Pro' speaker arrangement is identical to that of its predecessor, delivering a 5.1.2-channel array that's capable of handling three-dimensional audio, a la Dolby Atmos, direct from the set. The big difference in the Z95A is that Technics tuning knowhow.

In terms of the screen, the Z95A's 'Master OLED Ultimate' panel is an MLA type, powered by the company's new HCX Pro AI Processor Mk II. It's a second-gen panel, so produces even greater peak brightness than its predecessor, meaning this is best-of-the-best in the market right now. While the panel is LG-sourced, as all OLED is, the Z95A's upgraded heatsink means the set can push that MLA panel for longer periods without overheating – so it's brighter than the equivalent LG OLED G4, from which the base panel is derived.

Software is also a massive part of the Z95A proposition, with fully integrated Amazon Fire TV being a major upsell for this set. Unlike many competitors' weaker Google TV offerings, which often feel like a half-integrated afterthought, this Amazon Fire TV setup is fully integrated, includes all the needed catch-up services, plus Amazon Alexa voice control. Oh, and top-banner ads too, ugh.

Panasonic Z95A review: Design & Setup

It's been a while since I've set up a 55-inch TV, as the best 65-inch TVs are my usual go-tos for the T3 test bench. That made the Z95A feel kind of lighter – no surprise when my last TV review was the 65-inch Philips OLED 909, though – but that's all in my head. As, realistically, the Z95A is thicker than your average – 69mm, but 350mm if considering the stand's footprint – owed to that integrated soundsystem. That may be less ideal if you're determined to wall-mount it, but the central swivel stand-mount, as you can see in my pictures, works well on top of an AV cabinet – and makes access to the rear ports nice and easy.

Those ports do pose some minor limitations, though, as is typical for many TVs these days: there are four HDMI sockets, but only two are of the HDMI 2.1 standard, and one of those is used for eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel). You might not need to use eARC for a separates system, given the Z95A's integrated soundsystem proposition, but if you are then that's one of your 4K resolution at 120Hz options out of two used up. Or, indeed, 144Hz – as the Z95A is future-proofed for gaming rigs able to hit such speedy refresh rates too.

Included in the box is an elongated remote control, which has access to all the necessary catch-up apps, Alexa control, and is straightforward enough to use. I found handling the wand during setup was easy enough, but Fire TV often prompts phone-based control for ease of typing to expedite everything.

Getting those services setup on Amazon's platform is super-easy, I like the way layout can be customised, and for me this feels like one of the better operating system options out there – something that Panasonic hasn't quite pulled off for some time. The only downside, as mentioned, are the irksome ads – I want to see only promos of new shows from my apps, not washing liquid commercials!

Panasonic Z95A review: Picture Quality

The real reason you're going to want the Panasonic Z95A in your home, however, is owed to its expert handling of picture quality. Just as Panasonic was the master with plasma panels, its 'Hollywood tuned' approach with this latest OLED gives it clear strength. If you're a big cinema fan then you certainly need to pay attention to Panasonic's latest – because high-quality movies look stunning.

Not that it's limited to movies: I've been obsessing over HBO's latest masterclass, The Penguin, which in typical gothic Gotham style leans towards the darker tones – both figuratively and literally. But that's no fuss for the Z95A, a panel which can take an almost limitless approach to black tones in a way that few others can manage – it outsmarts, say, the LG C4 OLED in this regard. Various shots of Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobb (purists might say Cobblepot, but it's changed for the show) against the shadows reveal all the light and shade of the image and, indeed, his character.

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That's an echo of the Z95A's picture quality overall: it has character, thanks to great detail and depth-of-field that gives images depth, yet it always appears authentic. Colour doesn't stray from the path, in a way that gives the inimitable Sony A95L a run for its money. And if you have a preference to warmer or cooler viewing palettes then anything can be adjusted – whichever mode you're in, whether Filmmaker, True Cinema, or one of the more conventional selections.

It would be remiss to not discuss the Z95A's considerable brightness, too, which at a could-be 3000 nits peak can really pop. You won't be seeing that in most masters, of course, but there's just enough additional punch from this upgraded heatsink panel to cut through those otherwise dark and shadowy contrasts. And you can always view content to its best, as Panasonic is in rare company in offering the Dolby Vision (IQ), HDR10 and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats – whereas most others typically lack the Samsung-supported 'plus' version.

If there are any complaints it's that colour banding isn't completely banished from some scenes and that default motion control needs to be downgraded from 'Max' to stop everything looking over-smoothed.

Loading up a much brighter scene in Dune on 4K Blu-ray, the sky showed some banding separation – it's slight, but when you're fishing through near-perfect image quality for any downsides, this is one of the minor ones to point out.

Pumping things up a notch in Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse, however, and my seared retinas were dazzled by a colour palette so impactful that I think scenes remained imprinted on my optic nerve when I went to bed afterwards – in the best of ways.

Panasonic Z95A review: Sound Quality

Sound is a massive sell for the Panasonic Z95A, so it's almost ironic that I've also been testing some of the best soundbars during this TV's temporary tenure in my home. Having removed said soundbar, however, I must say that the Panasonic does sound exceptional in the context of 'a TV' – but it's not got quite the same slap-bang-wallop of a full separates system. Still, it'll see away most of its paper-thin competition with ease.

The speakers are arranged across the front bar, including side-firing outputs behind the panel (those are the '5' of the '5.1.2' equation), alongside up-firing speakers (the '.2' part) and an embedded woofer (that's the '.1' piece of the puzzle). Front-on, however, you can't see those speakers, per se, so it makes for a neat-looking arrangement – and that in itself will be reason enough to consider this TV as an option for many.

Setting up the TV gives a variety of options to run through, including sound tuning to get things reflecting perfectly based on the room in which the Z95A is setup. This works really well, delivering an impressive soundstage that feels frontally immersive and tall – and while the overhead channels are great for height, true psychoacoustic 'surround sound' doesn't quite give the impression of being behind the listener. It's still great for gaming, though, with three-dimensional audio capabilities really able to utilise the full strength of those speaker positions.

Bass levels are strong, which is great, with my weekly BBC Sounds Pete Tong sessions having the necessary low-end for those thumping kicks. It's not going to beat a subwoofer, mind, but there is a separate output if you want to add one into the mix. As it is, though, the balance of low-end to high-end sounds super to my ears – and it's adjustable if you want to tweak things on a basic bass/treble slider, or even expand/truncate the listening field to your preference.

Panasonic Z95A review: Verdict

After a hiatus in the US, Panasonic is back into the TV world with a bang – the Z95A delivers rip-roaring picture quality that plasma-lovers of times yore will love, just as any modern viewer will. It's an impeccable sound and vision package for cinema-lovers.

The integration of a Technics-tuned soundsystem is a great touch, meaning you won't need an additional soundbar, for a neat one-stop-shop setup that not only looks but sounds great too. It can't quite unseat a better soundbar setup for true three-dimensional audio, but it still does a grand job compared to many typical TVs.

Sure, Panasonic's asking price is towards the higher end, but with picture quality this good – it's so very adept with brightness and black-level nuance – and one of the better-integrated software systems in Amazon's Fire TV, the Z95A is worth every penny (or, indeed, cent).

Also consider

With price being such a critical factor, there's a lot to be said of the Philips OLED 909 – which adds Ambilight, has a superb integrated Bowers & Wilkins soundsystem, but happens to cost even less. That'd be the most apt 55- or 65-inch rival to consider.

Or, if you don't care for the Z95A's integrated soundsystem, and are willing to pay out for a separate soundbar, then the LG OLED G4 is the obvious traditional OLED competitor – with a much lower price tag now (unless you blow the difference on the best soundbar for LG TVs anyway).

Somewhere in the middle, with impressive sound even without a soundbar, is the Sony A95L. It's a T3 Awards 2024 winner and very worthy alternative contemplation – so long as your AV cabinet is wide enough to accommodate its edge-positioned feet anyway!