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Panasonic has unveiled a new VIERA X97C TV series that brings SQD Mini LED technology to the manufacturer's lineup. The sets are said to offer an exceptionally wide colour gamut, high contrast and screen sizes reaching up to 98 inches. Interestingly, this is Panasonic’s first home TV with a screen larger than 90 inches in roughly 18 years. The new series includes four models with 65, 75, 85 and 98 inch diagonals, all in 4K resolution. The most important innovation is SQD Mini LED (Super Quantum Dot) technology, applied in panels the company calls Real Color Panel.
SQD Mini LED. How does it differ from traditional backlighting?
Unlike RGB Mini LED, which uses separate red, green and blue LEDs, SQD Mini LED is based on a blue backlight, the light from which is partially converted into red and green by a specialised quantum dot layer.
Panasonic says the solution can achieve a colour gamut covering close to 100% of the BT.2020 space. Colour accuracy is handled by Hexa Chroma Drive Ultra, which uses a three-dimensional 3D LUT colour table. The manufacturer has also implemented Mini LED local dimming and an additional layer that improves brightness and viewing angles. However, the exact number of zones and the maximum HDR brightness have not been disclosed.
Up to 98 inches. How much do the new TVs cost?
The TVs run the Fire TV system and feature an expanded 360 Spatial Sound System, designed to deliver spatial audio without extra speakers.
The VIERA X97C series will hit Japanese stores in mid-November 2026. Prices start at around 415,800 yen for 65 inches (approx. 10,000 zł), while the largest, 98-inch model costs 930,600 yen (approx. 23,000 zł).
So far Panasonic has not confirmed a European launch. The question remains whether the new SQD Mini LEDs will also make it to Poland.
Sources: Panasonic, PRAD
