Panasonic Z85A vs Haier K85F

Direct comparison

K85F / K85FUX

Available screen sizes: 55”65”

Available screen sizes: 55”65”75”

Panel type: WRGB OLED

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Amazon FireTV

Model year: 2024

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Panel type: LCD VA

Resolution: 3840x2160

System: Google TV

Model year: 2025

Complete the survey to find out the result

Overall rating

7.7

5.4

  • Movies and series in UHD quality

    8.2

    5.2

  • Classic TV, YouTube

    8.7

    5.2

  • Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)

    8.5

    4.6

  • Gaming on console

    9.3

    6.4

  • TV as a computer monitor

    7.6

    6.0

  • Watching in bright light

    4.8

    4.1

  • Utility functions

    7.0

    5.5

  • Apps

    5.7

    9.6

  • Sound quality

    7.4

    4.8

Advantages

  • Perfect black and infinite contrast thanks to the WOLED panel

  • Great HDR quality with good coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut (98%)

  • Excellent picture quality after professional calibration

  • Full HDR package: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision

  • Low input lag: 5 ms (120 Hz) and 13 ms (60 Hz)

  • Support for ALLM, VRR, HGIG and Dolby Vision in games

  • Very good viewing angles

  • Smooth motion without blurring thanks to the 120 Hz OLED panel

  • Ability to record to USB and PiP function

  • AirPlay support

  • Pleasant sound quality with noticeable bass

  • Low input lag, great for gaming

  • Surprisingly good file player from USB

  • High contrast and decent blacks (VA panel)

  • Good text readability in PC monitor mode

  • Presence of features for gamers: ALLM and VRR

  • Access to many apps thanks to GoogleTV

Disadvantages

No like
  • SDR brightness at 300 nits – too low for brightly lit rooms

  • The Amazon Fire TV system has a limited number of apps

  • Some system functions are poorly translated into Polish

  • No support for external subtitles in USB player

  • No support for DTS:X audio on the television

  • Catastrophic image quality in HDR mode

  • Low quality of workmanship and fit of materials

  • Slow, glitchy, and poorly translated Google TV system

  • Very poor sound quality from built-in speakers

  • Problematic remote (and no batteries included)

  • Poor viewing angles

  • Low brightness and weak anti-reflective coating

  • Low colour gamut coverage

Our verdict

The Panasonic Z85A is a basic OLED model from the Japanese manufacturer that fully utilises the potential of its panel. Thanks to OLED technology, we can expect phenomenal image quality in the highest resolution – perfect blacks, excellent contrast, and great HDR effect, especially after professional calibration. Additionally, it supports a full set of HDR formats, so we can easily choose a movie in the best possible quality. Although Panasonic is usually associated with home cinema equipment, the Z85A performs just as well with sports and games. The 120 Hz panel, support for VRR, ALLM, and even functional Dolby Vision in games ensure smooth gameplay without motion blur. The sound is also commendable – although there isn't an impressive soundbar like in the model Z95A, it is still quite pleasant with noticeable bass. Downsides? Primarily the Amazon Fire TV – the operating system that still has teething problems. Many popular apps are missing, and some features are either unavailable or poorly translated (e.g., lack of support for external subtitles). Another issue is the not-so-high brightness, typical of older WOLED panels – in a brightly lit room, this can be a problem. Despite these shortcomings, the Panasonic Z85A is a great option for movie enthusiasts and gamers looking for a versatile TV with outstanding image quality and solid sound. If we can overlook certain system limitations and the less-than-optimal brightness, the Z85A still has a lot to offer. However, if full comfort of use and a richer app ecosystem are crucial for us, then it's worth considering other OLED TVs from competitors as well.

The debut of the Haier brand in the European television market with the K85F model feels quite rushed, and after thorough testing – almost unfinished. Analyzing this product leads to a fundamental conclusion: its biggest problem is not the quality of the panel used. Considering the price segment, it is simply average, with typical VA technology advantages such as high contrast and equally typical disadvantages like poor viewing angles. What truly disqualifies this model as a home entertainment centre is the glaring lack of engineering and, above all, software refinement. The list of shortcomings is long and starts with the first contact with the device. Shoddy assembly, which could have been avoided at the quality control stage, a terribly optimised and poorly translated Google TV system, or annoying issues with basic functions like pairing the remote – all contribute to an impression of a product that seems to have been launched without due diligence. Catastrophic picture quality in HDR mode, resulting not only from low brightness but also from a complete lack of smart adaptation to the signal, only adds to this disappointing picture. However, it turns out that this model has a surprising second face. Just looking at it not through the lens of a home television, but rather as a large and inexpensive display for special tasks, shifts its shortcomings to the background, bringing unexpected strengths to the forefront: a fantastically functioning media player with USB, excellent font readability from a PC, and access to a vast array of applications. In such a role – as a screen in a conference room, hotel lobby or a simple advertising player – the Haier K85F performs surprisingly well. For a typical user searching for a reliable and simply well-functioning television for the living room in 2025, however, the Haier K85F is a proposition that is extremely hard to recommend with a clear conscience. It is a product full of contradictions, which fails in too many areas in its primary, intended function as designed by the manufacturer.

TV appearance

HDMI inputs
2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps)
4 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
Other inputs
RCA (Chinch)
Outputs
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
Network Interfaces
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality
Good
BuildQuality-Budget
Stand type
Central
Legs
Bezel color
Graphite
Black
Stand
Swivel
Fixed
Accessories
Stand
Stand

Contrast and black detail

10/10

5.6/10

Local dimming function: No

Contrast:

Review Panasonic Z85A Contrast and black detail

Result

:1

Review Panasonic Z85A Contrast and black detail

Result

:1

Review Panasonic Z85A Contrast and black detail

Result

:1

Review Panasonic Z85A Contrast and black detail

Result

:1

Review Panasonic Z85A Contrast and black detail

Result

:1

Review Haier K85F Contrast and black detail

Result

3,550:1

Review Haier K85F Contrast and black detail

Result

5,200:1

Review Haier K85F Contrast and black detail

Result

5,350:1

Review Haier K85F Contrast and black detail

Result

5,400:1

Review Haier K85F Contrast and black detail

Result

3,500:1

Halo effect and black detail visibility:

Check the visibility of bright lights on a dark background. Mini-LEDs often struggle with this. The photo does not compare black levels – that’s what the video below is for.

The video accurately shows differences in contrast and black levels between TVs, as well as potential issues: halo around bright objects or Mini-LED zone operation visible as brightness jumps.

The Panasonic Z85A uses a WOLED panel, and that means one thing – perfect blacks and infinite contrast. Each pixel lights up and turns off independently, so there’s no smudging or halo effect around bright objects on the screen. Even in the most demanding scenes, the picture looks simply exemplary. In this regard, there’s no room for compromises, which are still present even in the most expensive LCD televisions. Here, Panasonic shines, utilizing organic technology supplied by LG Displays, and does so in truly impressive style.

Alright, but let's get to the meat of it, that is, how the Haier K85F handles black and contrast. The key information is that the television uses a VA panel, which is crucial for image quality in dark scenes. Thanks to this, the contrast is really solid – our measurements indicated values around 5000:1, which is much better than popular IPS panels.

However, it is important to remember that we're discussing budget equipment. So, we shouldn't expect any advanced technologies like local dimming. The backlighting operates across the entire screen surface at all times. How did it look during viewing? We took the film "Oblivion" with its cosmic landscapes for a test, and we also checked classic black bars in other productions. The effect was quite decent. The black had good depth, but it wasn't perfectly inky – a slight blue glow could be noticed, indicating that the panel's backlighting was still active.

HDR effect quality

6.5/10

3.4/10

Supported formats
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG
HDR10
Color gamut coverage
DCI P3: 98.1%, Bt.2020: 73.0%
DCI P3: 81.8%, Bt.2020: 61.4%

Luminance measurements in HDR:

Review Panasonic Z85A Brightness measurement

Result

812 nit

Review Panasonic Z85A Brightness measurement

Result

775 nit

Review Panasonic Z85A Brightness measurement

Result

812 nit

Review Panasonic Z85A Brightness measurement

Result

808 nit

Review Panasonic Z85A Brightness measurement

Result

390 nit

Review Haier K85F Brightness measurement

Result

217 nit

Review Haier K85F Brightness measurement

Result

212 nit

Review Haier K85F Brightness measurement

Result

278 nit

Review Haier K85F Brightness measurement

Result

250 nit

Review Haier K85F Brightness measurement

Result

273 nit

Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)

Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)

The photos show two HDR10 movies. 'Pan' is one of the brightest productions ever made, while 'Billy Lynn' (soldier) has brightness typical of streaming (Netflix, Prime, HBO MAX). Notice the intensity of effects and detail in whites.

Static HDR10

The photos present the visibility of white details in various HDR formats. They do not show brightness differences between TVs (these can be compared in the previous gallery).

HDR luminance chart:

Haier K85F

Panasonic Z85A

Luminance of RGB colors

The Panasonic Z85A is an OLED television, so you can immediately expect excellent effects in films. And indeed – our tests showed that the WOLED panel can achieve around 800 nits of peak brightness in optimal conditions. This is a solid result, performing well in most demanding HDR scenes, allowing viewers to enjoy a dynamic and detailed picture. However, like every OLED, the Z85A also has its limits. In very bright scenes that fill the entire screen – like the final sequence from the movie The Meg – the television reduces brightness to around 400 nits. This is standard behaviour for this technology, so if someone plans to watch films in a heavily sunlit living room, it is worth keeping this in mind. The coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut at 98% also deserves high praise. This allows the television to reproduce a wide range of colours that stand out with vibrancy and depth, while details in HDR scenes are sharp and precise. In short – the Panasonic Z85A delivers a solid HDR effect that will satisfy any film enthusiast.

Let’s now move on to one of the hottest topics in the world of televisions, which is the quality of HDR performance. In the case of the Haier K85F model, we unfortunately have to make it clear: if you’re looking for equipment to watch content in a wide dynamic range, you should steer clear of this model. The main issue is its very low peak brightness, which during our tests barely reached 250 nits. To give you a better idea of what that means – this level is fine for watching standard SDR content, but it’s absolutely insufficient to show any real benefits of HDR. The image simply doesn’t have the "power" to generate bright, striking highlights. All of our measurements and tests on specialised test patterns confirmed this. As if that wasn’t enough, the television also struggles with colour reproduction. In this budget build, there are no technologies that broaden the colour gamut, such as quantum dot layers (marketed as "QLED"). As a result, the coverage of the DCI-P3 colour space, which is crucial for HDR content, is only around 80%. In practice, this means that the image will not only be dark but also devoid of the vibrant, saturated colours that the director wanted to show us.

Factory color reproduction

8.4/10

3.8/10

This gallery shows how colors change after professional TV calibration. If you notice the difference, we recommend ordering this service at SkalibrujTV.com.

Factory Mode

After calibration

This gallery shows how colors change after professional TV calibration. If you notice the difference, we recommend ordering this service at SkalibrujTV.com.

Factory Mode

After calibration

The Panasonic Z85A offers many picture modes, but the Filmmaker mode definitely stands out from the rest. It's rare for a TV straight out of the box to be so well calibrated, and the unit we had the opportunity to test truly impressed us.

However, there were some minor shortcomings. In the SDR signal, we noticed a slight deficit of red and blue, which made the picture appear cooler than it should have been. This is particularly evident in the comparison image. In contrast, with 4K HDR material, the situation was the opposite – the surplus of red made the image seem warmer than intended by the creators. In terms of brightness characteristics (gamma) and maintaining an appropriate EOTF curve, it's hard to find faults. There are slight deviations, but they are so minimal that the average viewer is unlikely to notice them.

It's also worth highlighting that our observations relate to a specific unit of the TV. Two identical models may differ from each other due to natural production variances. Nevertheless, the piece we had in hand looks really solid and deserves praise. Now it's time for our calibration – we'll see if we can squeeze even more out of this screen!

Alright, how does the television handle colours straight out of the box, without any intervention from our side? The Haier K85F offers a whole range of picture modes, such as Dynamic or Eco, but for anyone wanting to watch films according to the creators' intentions, there's essentially only one that matters: Film mode. This is where we focused our tests, and unfortunately, its name has little to do with reality. The picture on factory settings is very far from what we could call cinematic fidelity and requires many adjustments. Let's start with the white balance, which has a clear deficiency of red colour. In practice, this means the entire image has a cool, bluish tint. Even worse is the issue of brightness management, that is, the gamma curves (for SDR) and EOTF (for HDR). Their graph resembles a true rollercoaster, which terribly impacts the viewing experience. This results in unnatural dimming of SDR content, causing details in the shadows to be lost, and in the case of HDR – an excessive brightening that further exacerbates the problem of clipping. Such a combination, which consists of too cool white combined with chaotic brightness and too much blue colour saturation, leads to enormous errors in colour reproduction. Our measurements on a specialist ColourChecker chart showed errors (Delta E) regularly reaching and exceeding values of 8-9. To put it simply: errors above the threshold of 3 are easily noticeable to the naked eye, so such a result means that the colours on the screen are simply heavily distorted.

Color reproduction after calibration

9.4/10

6.2/10

The photos show how movies look on the TV. Pay attention to black detail visibility, colors, and shadow tint.

The photos show how movies look on the TV. Pay attention to black detail visibility, colors, and shadow tint.

The Panasonic Z85A offers truly wide-ranging capabilities when it comes to picture settings, so we eagerly set about calibrating it. Although we mainly focused on adjusting the white balance, the final effect exceeded our expectations. Both HD and 4K HDR content now showcases nearly perfect colour reproduction, with minimal errors that are hard to catch with the naked eye. Well-calibrated TVs are a rarity, and we must admit – it’s truly satisfying. While the gamma and EOTF curve didn't require drastic adjustments, we managed to further stabilise their characteristics across the entire brightness scale. After calibration, the Panasonic Z85A is a true gem for home cinema enthusiasts. The picture is precise, the colours are natural, and every scene looks exactly as the director intended.

No good, but can anything be done about this picture? Is professional calibration able to save the situation? The answer is both yes and no. It needs to be said clearly that there are certain things we cannot overcome. The limitations of the construction itself, namely a poor panel and its narrow colour coverage, mean that you can forget about a sensible HDR effect – we won't be pulling the wool over your eyes on that. The biggest beneficiary of our adjustments is undoubtedly the SDR mode, and it is for watching such content, after calibration, that this television starts to make sense. We managed to tame the white balance in our own way. Although the television only offers basic, 2-point adjustment (rather than precise, 20-point), it's not perfect, but we successfully eliminated that unpleasant, cold "chill" in the picture. Above all, though, we noted a huge improvement in brightness management. The gamma curve, which previously resembled a rollercoaster, looks like an almost perfectly straight line after calibration. This is a sign that the television can finally display an image without artificially dimming or brightening it. The conclusion is simple: even with such a cheap television, professional setting correction can achieve a great deal and extract the maximum potential from it.

Smoothness of tonal transitions

7.5/10

7.6/10

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

These are selected scenes that show smooth tonal transitions from one color to another. If you see distinct banding, it’s the TV panel’s fault.

The Panasonic Z85A handles tonal transition fluidity really well. Colours blend naturally together without noticeable disruptions or visible bands. However, in brighter scenes, such as the opening sequence in the film Kingsman, slight imperfections can be seen. This is typical for WOLED panels, which have their limitations compared to Samsung Display's QD-OLED designs due to the use of white sub-pixels. The differences aren’t colossal, but a discerning eye will catch them, especially in more demanding scenes with subtle colour gradients. Despite these minor reservations, the Z85A presents a level that will satisfy the overwhelming majority of users. Tonal transitions are smooth, and the image maintains consistency even in complex scenes. This is a solid result that will rarely cause issues in everyday viewing of movies or series.

It's time to address an issue that is often overlooked by many but can be quite irritating to the discerning (and not just discerning) eye. We're talking about the smoothness of tonal transitions, or how seamlessly the screen displays transitions between very similar shades of one colour – for instance, on a clear blue sky. We have to admit that in this category, the Haier K85F, considering its price, performs quite decently. In bright scenes, such as the aforementioned sky or expansive landscapes in the film "The Martian," there are no stark, contrasting bands. Yes, if we scrutinise closely, we can spot minimal imperfections, but generally, the effect is more than satisfactory. However, the situation changes when darker scenes make an appearance on the screen, such as gloomy corridors in games or nighttime landscapes. Here, banding, or the effect of posterization, becomes much more evident. Transitions in shadows and greys are no longer as smooth and can become quite bothersome to a more sensitive eye. It's not a level that would completely disqualify the television, but it is clear that this is an area where costs were saved.

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

7.4/10

4/10

Image without overscan on the SD signal
OK
OK
Smooth transition function
OK
No

Smooth transition function

The match photo shows how the TV smooths weak tonal transitions in low-quality video.

Image scaling SD (576i)

The model photo shows how it handles upscaling of SD material.

Now that we know how the Panasonic Z85A handles tonal transitions in 4K material, it’s time to take a look at its "Gradation Smoothing" function. It works, but unfortunately not entirely effectively. Regardless of the chosen value – whether it’s low, medium, or high level – we couldn’t achieve perfectly smooth tonal transitions in our test sequence. We recommend setting this function to an intermediate level. While this may slightly blur fine details, at least it avoids the problem of losing film grain, which can be crucial for many viewers when watching classic productions.

When it comes to image scaling, the TV performs quite well. It’s noticeable that the image is slightly sharpened, and thin lines can sometimes appear a bit jagged. However, this is standard for most TVs, and fortunately, it can be adjusted using the sharpness slider. This gives us full control – we can achieve a more vivid, blurred image or a clearer one, although it may appear more "harsh" and artificially sharp. It all depends on the user's preferences and the type of content we’re watching. Overall, the scaling is at a solid level and should satisfy most users who are using lower resolution material.

Let’s move on to digital processing and image scaling, specifically how the Haier K85F handles lower resolution signals, such as from regular television. Right off the bat, we encounter an incredibly annoying and completely incomprehensible issue – the overscan is enabled by default. This means the television artificially enlarges the image, cutting off its edges on every source, even 1080p. To see the full frame, you have to dig into the screen settings each time and manually switch the format to "stretch to 16:9." It's a minor detail, but devilishly frustrating. The scaling of content to 4K resolution can be described in one word: acceptable. And that's about it. The image processor doesn't strip detail from the image, nor does it generate jagged edges or other artifacts. It simply does its job, without any bells and whistles. It’s alright, but nothing more. The most significant and noticeable shortcoming in the digital processing section is, however, the absence of a tone transition smoothing feature. This is an algorithm that could significantly reduce the annoying banding effect we mentioned earlier. Unfortunately, the manufacturer did not foresee such a solution, condemning us to watch the imperfections of the panel and low-quality material in all their glory.

Blur and motion smoothness

8.5/10

4.5/10

Maximum refresh rate of the panel
120Hz
60Hz
Film motion smoothing option
OK
OK
Blur reduction option
OK
No
BFI function 60Hz
Yes, 60Hz (image flickers)
-
BFI function 120Hz
No
-
Brightness drop with BFI
37%
-%

Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):

The Panasonic Z85A features a 120 Hz panel, which will surely please both gamers and sports fans. Sure, it’s not 144 Hz like some gaming TVs, but in practice, the difference is really hard to notice. In games, the picture is stable and sharp, and during fast action, there’s no sign of any blurring. The same goes for sports – a player’s quick run or a car’s dynamic maneuver looks smooth and natural. The TV also has an “Intelligent Frame Creation” feature, which is a motion smoother. There are two sliders here – one controls motion blur reduction, while the other adjusts motion smoothness. With these, you can tailor the picture to your own preferences – whether you prefer a more cinematic effect with gentle transitions between frames or a maximally smooth image ideal for watching sport.

The panel in the K85F model operates at a native refresh rate of 60 Hz, which sets certain expectations for image smoothness right from the start. However, we must admit that we were very positively surprised when we found two separate motion control sliders in the settings menu: one labelled "Motion Blur Reduction" and the other "De-Judder." Such generosity in this price segment is an absolute rarity, as manufacturers usually offer at most one shared option. Unfortunately, our enthusiasm faded as quickly as it appeared. It soon became clear why Haier was so "generous" – the slider responsible for reducing motion blur is simply a decoy. Sliding it makes absolutely no visible difference on the screen, so only one of the two options works.

Console compatibility and gaming features

10/10

4/10

  • ALLM
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR
    Yes
    Yes
  • VRR range
    40 - 120Hz
    48 - 60Hz
  • Dolby Vision Game Mode
    Yes
    No
  • Correct implementation of HGIG
    Yes
    No
  • 1080p@120Hz
    Yes
    No
  • 1440p@120Hz
    Yes
    No
  • 4K@120Hz
    Yes
    No
  • Game bar
    Yes
    No

Panasonic is mainly associated with home cinema televisions, but the Z85A shows that it can also step into the gaming world with a truly strong punch. It's a device that can easily be called a gaming beast – it has everything needed for comfortable gameplay.

Even though it has only two HDMI 2.1 ports, both operate at full bandwidth, so we can easily connect both a next-gen console and a gaming PC. All the key features are supported: ALLM automatically switches the television into game mode, VRR provides smooth visuals without stuttering and tearing, and with properly implemented HGIG and Dolby Vision, HDR games look really good – colours are vivid, details are sharp, and dark scenes are clear. We also find a Game Bar in the form of a transparent, circular menu. It may not look as impressive as the competition's, but it's intuitive and includes all the most important settings we’d want at hand during gameplay.

In summary – the Panasonic Z85A is a device that truly surprises with its gaming capabilities. It's a television where both console gamers and PC gamers will feel at home. It's smooth, dynamic, and just good.

Let’s move on to the features for gamers, although we must point out straight away that this is more of a proposal for the "occasional" ones. The manufacturer does boast in the specifications about having HDMI 2.1 ports, which looks impressive on paper, but in reality, it’s largely a marketing ploy. What good is a modern port when the heart of the television is a panel with a refresh rate of 60 Hz? It physically cannot display a signal at 120 frames per second, even at lower resolutions, which takes away HDMI 2.1’s key advantage. What a shame. (That’s why in our tests we note this as HDMI 2.0 ports). Another odd issue is the TV's response to an attempt to calibrate HDR from the console. Changes to brightness settings result in very unnatural image behaviour, which could suggest incorrect implementation of the HGiG standard. To be honest, one shouldn’t worry too much about this, as we have repeatedly mentioned, we simply do not recommend using any HDR content on this screen. However, to counterbalance the negatives, the Haier K85F does have two big and unexpected advantages. The first is the presence of ALLM, or automatic game mode, which switches the TV to low latency mode as soon as it detects a connected console. The second, even bigger surprise, is support for VRR, or variable refresh rate. While it operates within a very modest range of 48-60 Hz, its mere presence is commendable. Thanks to this, the image in games can “tear” less, which realistically improves the gaming experience.

Input lag

10/10

10/10

SDR

1080p60
13 ms
13 ms
1080p120
5 ms
2160p60
13 ms
13 ms
2160p120
5 ms

HDR

2160p60
13 ms
13 ms
2160p120
5 ms
4320p60

Dolby Vision

2160p60 DV
13 ms
13 ms
2160p120 DV
5 ms

Since the Panasonic Z85A has also been designed with gamers in mind, the input lag had to be refined. And indeed – the results are really excellent. At 120 Hz, the lag is just 5 ms, and at 60 Hz it's 13 ms. These are values that will satisfy even the most demanding gamers, whether we're talking about fast-paced shooters or precise fighting games. The responses to our movements on the controller are practically instantaneous, and the gameplay is smooth and responsive. Importantly, the Dolby Vision mode also works perfectly here. Just a few years ago, using Dolby Vision in games often came with high input lag, but in the Z85A, this problem has been effectively eliminated.

We must give credit where it's due – there is one parameter where this television absolutely shines and puts to shame many more expensive models. We're talking about input lag, or signal delay. Our measurements showed a remarkably low result of just 13 ms. This is a huge plus that makes gaming control lightning-fast and incredibly responsive. In this regard, the K85F performs excellently.

Compatibility with PC

7.6/10

6/10

Chroma 444 (max. resolution and refresh rate)
Yes
Yes
Font clarity
Very Good
Very Good
Readability of dark text and shapes
Very Good
Very Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, max. refresh rate)
5ms
13ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement
RWBG
BGR
Max refresh rate
120Hz
60Hz
G-Sync
Yes
No

The photo shows the legibility of small fonts. Ideally, lines should be the same thickness on both light and dark text, with minimal pixel gaps.

Using the Panasonic Z85A as a computer monitor performs really well. The text is readable and clear, making web browsing or working with documents not a major issue. However, one must keep in mind certain limitations of the WOLED panel – the characteristic way of displaying fonts may be bothersome for more demanding users, especially those who spend long hours working with text. In terms of gaming on PC, the television performs just as well as it does with consoles. Low input lag, 120 Hz refresh rate, and proper implementation of G-Sync and FreeSync ensure a smooth and responsive image without annoying stutters or tearing.

And what if we tried using this Haier as a computer monitor? Here, what was a big surprise for us was that the television performs exceptionally well. For office work, it’s perfect. All thanks to the fact that it correctly handles the so-called 4:4:4 chroma sampling. To put it simply: every little letter on the screen is sharp, without annoying coloured edges or blurriness. Sure, let’s be frank – this is not equipment for PC gamers. 60 Hz is too low for them. But if you just need a big screen for text work, browsing the internet, coding or displaying presentations, the K85F excels in this role. This is one of its strongest and, let’s face it, most unexpected applications.

Viewing angles

7.4/10

2.8/10

Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees
28%
67%

The viewing angles on the Panasonic Z85A are really good – after all, it’s OLED. Whether we’re looking at the screen straight on or at a steep angle, the colours remain vibrant, and the contrast hardly loses quality. Of course, the Z85A falls slightly behind TVs with MLA micro-lenses or Samsung's QD-OLED panels, which currently set the highest standard in this respect. However, the differences are subtle enough that most users won’t notice them during regular viewing.

At nearly the very end of the evaluation of the panel itself, we left out the viewing angles, which unfortunately are one of its biggest weaknesses. It must be honestly admitted that this is not surprising – it is simply a natural and commonly known feature of VA-type panels. In the unit we tested, interestingly, the brightness of the image did not drop drastically when we moved away from the centre of the screen. However, the real problem lies with the colours, which instantly begin to fade. A slight change in position on the couch is enough for the hues to lose their saturation and become washed out. In this regard, the Haier K85F presents a very average, typical level for this technology.

Daytime performance

4.8/10

4.1/10

Panel finish
Satin
Satin
Reflection suppression
Average
Average
Black levels during daytime
Very Good
Good

Panel brightness

Haier K85F: 276 cd/m2

Panasonic Z85A: 286 cd/m2

The Panasonic Z85A leaves a bit to be desired during the day. The panel, although satin finish, mediocrely suppresses reflections, which can be noticeable in bright rooms. The reflections are not excessively visible, but there is one catch – they take on a bluish hue. In some situations, especially in strong daylight, this can be slightly annoying and distract from the content on the screen. On top of that, the maximum brightness is just under 280 cd/m². That’s simply not enough to comfortably watch TV in a heavily sunlit room. If you plan to watch in the middle of a sunny day, you’ll need to close the windows to ensure the picture looks good.

And how does the television perform in confrontation with daylight, for example in a brightly lit living room? Unfortunately, we don't have good news here. As we have established, it is a television with relatively low brightness, which becomes a serious drawback when faced with sunlight. The situation is further worsened by the screen coating used. Instead of effectively suppressing reflections, its satin structure tends to unfavourably scatter them. In practice, this means that the reflection of a window or lamp turns into a large, blurred, milky haze that degrades contrast and effectively hinders viewing. The conclusion is therefore clear: if the television is to be placed in a bright room, the K85F model will not be a good choice.

Panel details

Backlight Type
White LED
Software version during testing
FIRE OS 8.1.1.2
UKN2.241219.053
Image processor
mt5896

Subpixel Structure:

Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:

Review Panasonic Z85A TV Panel details
Review Haier K85F TV Panel details

TV features

7/10

5.5/10

  • HDMI inputs
    2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
    4 x HDMI 2.0, 0 x HDMI 2.1
  • Other inputs
    RCA (Chinch)
  • Outputs
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
    Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
  • Network Interfaces
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
    Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
  • TV reception
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
    DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C

Classic features:

  • Recording to USB (terrestrial TV)
    Yes
    No
  • Recording programming
    Yes
    No
  • Picture in Picture (PiP)
    Yes
    No
  • RF remote control (no need to aim)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Backlit remote control
    No
    No
  • Teletext
    Yes
    Yes
  • Audio only mode
    Yes
    Yes
  • Bluetooth headphones support
    Yes
    Yes
  • Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio
    No
    No

Smart features:

  • AirPlay
    Yes
    No
  • Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Voice search
    Yes
    Yes
  • Voice search in native language
    No
    Yes
  • Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse
    Yes
    Yes
Review Panasonic Z85A TV features
Review Panasonic Z85A TV features
Review Haier K85F TV features
Review Haier K85F TV features
Review Haier K85F TV features

The operating system in the Panasonic Z85A is Amazon Fire TV, which is still a relatively new solution in the Australian market. Until now, we mainly associated it with portable smart devices, and now it is also arriving on televisions – similar to the flagship model Z95A.

On the plus side, the system operates smoothly and responsively. It is also quite intuitive, so navigation poses no major problems. Unfortunately, when it comes to the availability of applications, it's somewhat lacking. While the Amazon store does have icons for popular services like SkyShowtime, Rakuten, or Viaplay, they cannot be downloaded. This is a significant disadvantage for those who use these platforms regularly. Additionally, some functions are poorly translated, meaning that in certain areas, you have to guess what they are referring to. However, we believe that these are just growing pains and that over time they will be improved – both in terms of translations and application availability.

As for user features, things are much better. The television supports USB recording and the PiP (picture-in-picture) function. There is also support for AirPlay, which will certainly please users of Apple devices. It also has Bluetooth, but unfortunately, you cannot connect headphones to it – it only works with a keyboard or other controlling devices. Fortunately, you can connect headphones or a home theatre system via wired connection, which resolves this issue.

In summary – the Panasonic Z85A offers a solid set of user features that will perform well in everyday use. The Amazon Fire TV system is a step in the right direction, especially when compared to Panasonic's old system. However, at this time, it is difficult to praise it unequivocally. There is potential, but the manufacturer still has a lot of work ahead to ensure everything functions as it should.

GoogleTV on Haier K85F

The heart of the television is the Google TV system, which in theory should be a huge advantage. Access to thousands of apps and a wealth of features are promises we are familiar with. Unfortunately, in Haier's execution, this is one of the worst implementations of this software we have encountered. The system operates painfully slowly, and the interface notoriously freezes. However, the real nightmare is the incorrect and often downright comical translations of some menu options, making it difficult to figure out what is being referred to at times. To make matters worse, during our testing, we couldn't get the AirPlay feature to work at all.

Classic Features on Haier K85F

Let's move on to the classic functions and ports, because the story here is even more interesting. A plus is definitely the rich array of ports, including four HDMI connections and the increasingly rare mini-jack headphone output. Unfortunately, the television does not offer either USB recording or Picture-in-Picture mode. However, the real ordeal begins with the remote. Our initial attempts to pair it via Bluetooth to activate radio (RF) control and voice functions ended in total failure. After dozens of attempts, we were convinced it was simply a manufacturing defect. And then the surprise: after a long struggle, we discovered that the remote can be paired, but it must be done from the native Google TV settings, completely bypassing Haier's dysfunctional system overlay. This is a perfect example of how terrible software can ruin basic functionality. Oh, and one more thing. In the box... there weren't even batteries for the remote.

Apps

5.7/10

9.6/10

OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
No
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
No
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
No
SkyShowtime
No
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
No
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
No
HBO_MAX
No
Kodi
No
Apple_music
No
Eleven_sports
No
Xbox Game Pass
No
GeForce Now!
OK
Amazon Luna
No
Boosteroid
No
Steam Link
OK
Disney_Plus
OK
Amazon_Prime_Video
OK
Player_TVN
OK
Polsat_Box_Go
OK
Canal_Plus_Online
OK
TVP_VOD
OK
Apple_TV_Plus
OK
SkyShowtime
OK
Rakuten
OK
CDA_Premium_Browser
OK
Spotify
OK
Tidal
OK
Netflix
OK
YouTube
OK
HBO_MAX
OK
Kodi
No
Apple_music
OK
Eleven_sports
No
Xbox Game Pass
OK
GeForce Now!
No
Amazon Luna
OK
Boosteroid
OK
Steam Link

Playing files from USB

3.1/10

9.4/10

Supported photo formats:

JPEG
Yes
Yes
HEIC
No
Yes
PNG
Yes
Yes
GIF
Yes
Yes
WebP
No
Yes
TIFF
No
No
BMP
Yes
Yes
SVG
No
No

Maximum photo resolution:

4 Mpix
Yes
Yes
6 Mpix
Yes
Yes
8 Mpix
Yes
Yes
10 Mpix
Yes
Yes
12 Mpix
Yes
Yes
16 Mpix
Yes
Yes
20 Mpix
Yes
Yes
24 Mpix
Yes
Yes
28 Mpix
Yes
Yes
32 Mpix
Yes
Yes

In terms of playback of files from USB, the Panasonic Z85A performs rather mediocrely. The built-in media player does handle most popular video formats, but it has one significant drawback – it does not support external subtitles. So, if we have older films on our drive or USB stick with separate subtitle files, we have to reckon with the fact that the television simply won't display them. This is quite a downside, especially for those who rely on their own media library rather than streaming services. Of course, this issue can be circumvented by using an external media player (e.g. via a console or Smart TV box), but it's an extra step that could be avoided if the built-in application were better developed.

After all our complaints about the unfinished software, the moment came when we were absolutely shocked. It turns out that within this buggy and slow-running system, there is a function that works almost perfectly and puts industry veterans to shame. We are talking about the built-in media player for USB drives. It is a true multimedia powerhouse that played practically every video format we threw at it without the slightest hiccup – from the most popular to the completely niche. Haier, a newcomer to the TV market, has achieved something that many manufacturers with decades of experience have struggled with for years. Who knows, perhaps it was originally intended as a reliable player for conference rooms? Regardless of its origins, the result is outstanding!

Sound

7.4/10

4.8/10

  • Maximum volume
    -
    83dB
  • Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby True HD 7.1
    No
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
    Yes
    Yes
  • Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
    No
    No
  • DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
    No
    No
  • DTS-HD Master Audio
    No
    No

In terms of sound, the Panasonic Z85A is pleasantly surprising. The television delivers enjoyable and clear audio, and can generate noticeable bass that adds depth to both movies and music. The surround effect is also quite well reproduced, making watching films or playing games more immersive. Unfortunately, there is one “but”. The television does not support the DTS:X format, which is quite popular among more advanced home theatre systems. So, if we plan to use this audio standard, it will be necessary to connect the audio equipment first to the amplifier or soundbar, and only then to the television.

When it comes to sound, the review will unfortunately be very short. The biggest advantage of the built-in speakers of the K85F is that they simply exist and produce sound. Other than that, the sound is completely flat, lacking any bass and just anemic. Yes, on the TV's box we will find the Dolby Atmos logo, but against the physical capabilities of these drivers, it is a feature that exists only on paper. Therefore, the verdict can only be one: when planning to purchase this TV, a soundbar should immediately be added to the budget.

Sound Quality Test

No sound test video

Acoustic Measurements

No acoustic data

83dBC (Max)

75dBC