Paweł Koper
In 2026, Panasonic's offering will look different than usual. The Z85C and its derivative version Z86C are the only new models in OLED technology that this manufacturer will introduce to the market. This is important news for anyone who has been waiting for this year's premieres. What exactly are these televisions, and when can we expect to see them in stores? What technical specifications should we expect from these panels? In this text, we will take a closer look at what Panasonic has prepared for those who are looking for great picture quality but do not want to spend too much money on a new television.
New OLED SE panel in Z85C
The heart of the Z85C model is the latest, yet simultaneously the lowest positioned panel in the hierarchy of WOLEDs from LG Display. As noted by the editorial team at FlatpanelsHD during Panasonic's official presentation in Germany, this model features a new panel marked as OLED SE. What can the new panel do? According to LG Display's announcements, the new panel is expected to generate brightness of up to 1000 nits. This would represent a noticeable increase of around 10-20% compared to last year's generation of the cheapest OLED panels. This is great news for fans of HDR effects; however, the higher brightness while keeping a low price necessitated a certain construction compromise.
To maintain an attractive price for the panel, the classic WOLED panel has removed the traditional polariser, replacing it with a special film. What are the implications of this? The television will perform worse with reflections and light glare during the day than more expensive models or previous generations of WOLED panels. For this reason, the Panasonic Z85C is ideal primarily for evening gaming, watching series or films. As a "daily" television, placed in a very sunlit living room for watching breakfast television, it may require substantial room darkening.
Google TV in Z85C – finally!
The biggest change in the Z85C model isn’t actually the screen itself, but the software. This is the first Panasonic OLED in history equipped with the Google TV system. This is great news for anyone who has had enough of the limited number of apps in the producer's old system or Fire TV. Google TV is now one of the most intuitive and best-equipped systems on the market. It provides access to thousands of apps – from Netflix and Disney+, to niche streaming platforms, all integrated in one clear interface.
It is worth noting some confusion in the naming and regions. Although the matrices are identical, the Z86C model (intended for the UK market) will come with Fire TV. This is exactly the same system from Amazon that we saw in last year's Z85A model. The Z86C is technically the same model as the Z85C.
Extras in Z85C: HDR, Features for Gamers
When it comes to supported formats, Panasonic maintains its tried and tested policy. While Filmmaker Mode is already an "obvious obviousness" in these TVs, it's worth noting that the manufacturer does not shy away from extensive HDR support. Unlike Samsung or LG, the Z85C supports ALL HDR standards: from HDR10, through HDR10+ to Dolby Vision and HLG. Gamers have not been overlooked either. The standard here is a refresh rate of 120 Hz and full support for HDMI 2.1. This means smooth gameplay using VRR and ALLM systems, which can provide truly great gaming experiences with an OLED panel.
Design (Appearance) Panasonic Z85C
When it comes to its appearance, the Panasonic Z85C closely resembles last year's Z85A series. We have a classic OLED television shape here: at the front, we are greeted by an extremely thin panel, while at the back is the characteristic "bum" housing all the electronics and connections.
The most interesting element, however, is the base. Looking at the provided photos, besides the fact that it appears to be made of solid metal in the shape of a semicircle, its construction suggests the presence of a rotating mechanism (similar to the Z85A series). This is a fantastic solution that allows for easy adjustment of the screen direction towards the viewer, and it is currently virtually unheard of in mid-range televisions.
When is the premiere and how much will the Z85C cost?
Although Panasonic officially presented these models in February 2026, they will hit the store shelves a bit later. Looking at previous Panasonic TV launches, we can expect the Z85C pre-orders in Poland around late May and early June 2026.
As for the price, Panasonic is targeting what's known as the "entry-level OLED," which is for those who don't want to spend 10,000 złoty on a TV. It's estimated that the starting price for the 55-inch model should be very competitive, allowing these models to compete with popular series B from LG, 700 from Philips, or S85 from Samsung.
Sizes Z85C – why so modest?
According to official announcements, Panasonic has opted for a rather unusual move regarding the availability of screen sizes. The Z85C model and its derivative version Z86C will only be offered in two of the most popular sizes: 55 and 65 inches. We have already seen a similar situation with the Z85A model, which is its direct predecessor from 2024, this year's series. Panasonic consistently sticks to these two variants in its "entry-level" OLED line. What accounts for such a narrow size offering? It's difficult to answer this question definitively, as the competition in similar price brackets has a wider assortment.
As you can see, the Panasonic Z85C has nearly everything to become an extremely attractive option in the affordable OLED TV segment. The new, brighter OLED SE panel, a refreshed approach to the operating system with the implementation of Google TV, a bunch of features for gamers, and full support for HDR formats make it almost a complete product. The Z85C seems to be a contender for the title of the best "budget" OLED of 2026, although of course we will hold off on final verdicts until the test unit is in our hands. Let's hope that Panasonic (collaborating with Skyworth) prices this new model wisely. If the starting price is similar to competing models like the LG B6 2026 or Samsung S85H 2026, Panasonic could snag a substantial piece of the market pie and effectively grab your attention.
It's worth noting that currently there is a lack of affordable OLED TVs with Google TV on the market. This happened after Philips discontinued this software in its series 7 two years ago in favour of TitanOS. Will Panasonic manage to perfectly hit the market trends by filling this gap? In our opinion, yes, as long as the final price isn't too high.
And what do you think about the new Panasonic Z85C? Are you considering it when planning to buy a new TV in 2026? Let us know in the comments!
