Compare: Panasonic Z95A vs Philips PML8709

During the Panasonic Z95A tests, we felt like we were holding a television that deserves to be called one of the best on the market. When it comes to picture quality, it is absolutely fantastic! OLED with infinite contrast, perfect blacks, and incredible brightness makes watching movies a pure pleasure. The micro-lens technology (MLA) has really made a difference. Thanks to it, the picture has gained not only brightness, achieving a spectacular 1500 nits in HDR content, but viewing angles have also improved – which are already quite good in regular WOLED panels. As a result, every scene looked so realistic that we felt as if we were part of it. We also checked how it performed in various lighting conditions – it dazzled without exception in both dark and bright rooms. We also couldn't complain about the sound. The built-in soundbar with Dolby Atmos surprised us with its spaciousness and dynamics, which is usually lacking in speakers integrated with the television. It's really solid support for cinematic experiences. The Panasonic Z95A also does not disappoint gamers. We tried out its gaming features – support for ALLM, VRR, a 144 Hz panel, and playing in Dolby Vision at 120 Hz is something every avid gamer will appreciate. Additionally, there are practical extras, such as the ability to record onto an external drive and a PiP function, which make everyday use of the television more enjoyable. Of course, we also noticed some downsides. Amazon's Fire TV operating system, while better than in older models, still has its flaws. The lack of some popular apps, such as Player.pl or TVP VOD, and poorly executed translations in the interface can sometimes be irritating, especially in a television of this price range. The Panasonic Z95A is a television with a capital "P" for premium. It impresses with its picture quality, sound, and functionality. However, its high price may deter some, especially when there are devices on the market offering similar capabilities at a much lower price. If, however, the budget is not an issue, the Z95A is a television that delivers cinematic experiences at absolutely the highest level.

Philips PML8709 is a model that stands out in the offering of the Chinese-Dutch manufacturer due to its uniqueness. Instead of the classic Philips operating system - TitanOS, we find the well-known Google TV, which provides extensive personalisation options and access to a vast library of apps. This is a television that, on one hand, entices with very good contrast, and on the other – surprises with several unusual design decisions. In terms of picture quality, the PML8709 offers excellent contrast, which combined with wide colour gamut coverage ensures great colour reproduction – especially after calibration. Despite having a 60 Hz panel, the television performs well in occasional gaming thanks to support for features such as ALLM, VRR, and a low input lag of around 13 ms. On the flip side, Philips has deprived this model of one of the biggest advantages of its TVs – the Ambilight system. This is a surprising move that may disappoint many brand fans. Another weak point is HDR performance – despite promising contrast results, the television performs averagely in this category. Average brightness and issues with detail in brighter scenes give the impression that something has clearly gone wrong in the implementation of this feature. Philips PML8709 is a television full of contrasts. On one hand, it offers solid black quality and interesting solutions for gamers, while on the other – some limitations, such as the absence of Ambilight or average brightness, mean that it is not a model without flaws. It is a good choice for those who appreciate the versatility of Google TV and are looking for a television for everyday use.

The contrast and black levels in the television Panasonic Z95A are at a level that captures the attention of even the most discerning viewers. The Z95A, as befits an OLED, delivers outstanding performance in this area. In every test scene, the contrast is practically infinite, resulting in excellent image quality under real-world conditions. During the screening of the film Oblivion, you can see how light sources, such as lamps, fall on the actor, creating an incredibly realistic effect. The Z95A Panasonic reproduces these details in black with impressive precision, ensuring that even subtle differences in brightness and lighting are clear. This gives viewers a sense of depth and naturalness in the picture, which is hard to find in LED televisions that often offer various compromises.

The model name 8709 “PML” refers to Philips' mini-LED technology, but can we truly call its backlighting that? In the 65-inch version, we counted only 96 local dimming zones. For mini-LED standards, this number seems too low, raising questions about whether we are indeed dealing with a full-fledged mini-LED here. However, if we look at the black quality, the TV performs quite well. On the first two test patterns and in less demanding scenes, the picture looks very decent – blacks are deep and the contrast is satisfactory. Problems begin with more complex scenes, such as the last three test patterns, where minor light elements appear on screen. The local dimming algorithm seems to “lose track,” unable to decide whether to brighten or darken a particular area. The result is noticeable errors – reduced black quality and unevenness in the image. An example of the operation of local dimming zones can be seen in a scene from the film Sicario 2. You can see how the dimming zones attempt to replicate details, but at the same time, this leads to a slight brightening around the helicopter lights. Nevertheless, despite these shortcomings, the black level in the Philips PML8709 turns out quite well, especially considering its price range.

Panasonic Z95A shows class when it comes to HDR performance. In luminance tests, it achieves a level of 1800 nits, which has a real impact on movie watching. Scenes from Life of Pi or Gemini Man look fantastic – the television effortlessly reproduces details and the intensity of bright spots, making a strong impression with its power. In more demanding moments, like the final scene from The Meg, you can see how bright light floods the screen. In such moments, brightness drops, which is typical for organic panels. Nevertheless, a result around 1000 nits can still be considered excellent, still providing very good picture quality. Additionally, the television offers great coverage of wide colour gamuts – up to 98.6% for DCI-P3 and 74.5% for BT.2020. This means that colours are not only vibrant but also deeply saturated, allowing full appreciation of the richness of details, especially in HDR scenes. Such coverage makes colours look more realistic, and the HDR effect gains intensity and accuracy. All this impressive HDR effect is thanks to MLA technology, which enables such high luminance and excellent image detail. With it, the Panasonic Z95A offers HDR at a level that truly makes a difference.

Looking at the contrast results, we expected that the algorithms responsible for the zones in the Philips PML8709 would be at least decent. However, what we encountered during testing is difficult to explain. The average brightness we managed to achieve was just 350 nits, which is definitely too low to fully enjoy HDR effects. In practice, the TV barely stands out compared to an average SDR. The situation becomes even more surprising in test scenes, such as the second one from the movie Life of Pi or Sicario 2. Small light elements achieve just 120 nits there, making them practically imperceptible. Such a level of brightness is completely below modern HDR standards and significantly diminishes the experience of watching high-quality content. The only bright spot in this category is the very good coverage of wide color gamuts – DCI-P3 at 97% and BT.2020 at 83%. This ensures that colors are saturated and well-reproduced, which can somewhat improve the overall experience of watching HDR materials. However, the lack of adequate brightness means that even this cannot save the Philips PML8709 in this category.

The best picture mode on the Panasonic Z95A is undoubtedly the Filmmaker mode. This mode offers quite good image reproduction, but it is not without certain flaws that need addressing. Primarily, the white balance, for both 4K and HD content, tends to be dominated by red and blue hues. This leads to a slight pink tint in the image, particularly noticeable in bright, white scenes. Such discrepancies can be seen in the comparative image below, which illustrates the issue well. The Colour Checker test also confirms these inaccuracies, showing slight shifts of dots towards the mentioned shades.

In terms of gamma brightness characteristics, it performs very well, with only minor issues when brightening small details. A greater challenge arises with the EOTF curve, which is responsible for controlling brightness in 4K HDR content. Here, there is a slight boost in brightness above the reference value, which sometimes makes the image overly bright, especially in more demanding scenes. While the Filmmaker mode is definitely the best choice on the Z95A, these aspects require refinement to fully harness the television's potential.

Though theoretically the Filmmaker mode in the Philips PML8709 should provide natural colour reproduction, in reality it resembles a store mode more. In the white balance, both for HD and 4K content, there is a clear dominance of blue. This causes the image to appear washed out and cold, which is particularly noticeable in the comparative image below.

The brightness characteristics also leave much to be desired. Both gamma and the EOTF curve exhibit excessive screen brightness. As a result, there is a loss of detail in both the brighter and darker areas of the image, further diminishing its credibility and naturalness. Bright elements appear unnaturally flat and little varied.

These significant issues with white balance and brightness characteristics lead to noticeable errors in colour reproduction, which can easily be seen in films as well as the Colour Checker test. The colours are inaccurate, affecting the overall image quality and visual experience. The factory settings require significant improvement in order to fully enjoy the potential of this television.

After calibration, Panasonic Z95A showcases its full potential, delivering an almost perfect image. The television offers extensive adjustment capabilities, which we have fully utilised. The white balance post-calibration is absolutely flawless, and the errors in SDR content at 0.5 are at an exceptionally reference standard. The same goes for 4K HDR content – the screen tint has been completely eliminated, and the white balance is now exemplary.

The colour palette and Colour Checker test confirm the excellence of the calibration. Errors below 2 are a result that will satisfy both professional calibrators and cinema-quality image enthusiasts. Significant changes have also occurred in the brightness characteristics – the EOTF curve has been aligned, eliminating previous issues with excessive brightness. Additionally, a small error in gamma has been reduced.

Before calibration, the image was acceptable, but now it's in a completely different league. It's a true feast for the eyes, and the quality is hard to compare to anything else. Once fine-tuned, the Panasonic Z95A becomes a true master of colour reproduction.

Philips offers advanced image calibration tools in its televisions, which we decided to fully utilise. The results? Although we managed to improve many aspects, it wasn't without difficulties. White balance was one of the biggest challenges – despite our efforts, it could be called fighting against windmills. We were able to significantly correct it, so the picture now looks much better than in the factory settings, but it is still far from perfect. Especially in some scenes, a subtle dominance of blue is visible, although not as intense as before. We achieved a significant improvement in brightness characteristics – gamma now appears much more stable. The EOTF curve looks correct at first glance, however, when analysing movie content, it is evident that the television has trouble maintaining the proper characteristics. The algorithms are "struggling", trying to adjust brightness, which may be due to the limited number of dimming zones that do not always handle more complex scenes well. Overall, the picture after calibration looks much more pleasing to the eye – colors are more natural, and colour reproduction errors have been minimised. Although it is still not perfect, the Philips PML8709 now presents itself much better than in the factory settings.

The tonal transitions in Panasonic Z95A are not terrible, but in this class of devices, you can expect more. The television struggles with smoothly blending colours, both in dark and light shades. In more demanding scenes, minor imperfections are noticeable, which can affect the visual experience, especially for more discerning users. While this is not a disqualifying factor, it is an aspect that requires improvement, especially considering the price and aspirations of this model.

The fluidity of tonal transitions in the Philips PML8709 is at a very high level. The colour gradation is incredibly smooth, and the transitions between shades look natural and detailed. Even in more demanding scenes, the television performs excellently. Minor issues may arise with bright elements, where the gradation can be slightly less precise. However, these are such subtle differences that only the most demanding purists will notice them. For most users, the effects will be fully satisfying, and the image will maintain its impressive quality.

In the case of lower quality materials, the "Gradation Smoothing" function is responsible for smoothing tonal transitions. The best results are achieved with an intermediate setting – while they are not spectacular, the function works correctly and does not introduce unwanted effects into the image. It can be evaluated as average, but sufficient for improving the quality of tonal transitions.

As for digital processing, or upscaling, the picture looks surprisingly good. It is flexible and pleasant to the eye, which makes lower quality content, such as standard television or YouTube, look quite decent. However, minor issues can be observed, such as "aliasing" on edges, e.g. branches in the background. Nevertheless, this does not significantly affect the overall viewing experience, and the television handles these materials in an acceptable manner.

The distortion reduction feature in the Philips PML8709 smooths tonal transitions, but its effectiveness leaves much to be desired. We recommend setting this option to "Medium" - at this level, the effect is noticeable but not excessive. Unfortunately, compared to other Philips models, the smoothing effect is less effective, meaning that certain tonal transitions may still appear somewhat uneven. An additional drawback is that this feature also smooths other details, such as the textures of materials like shirts, which can affect image sharpness.

As for image scaling, the television performs very well. The image appears smooth and free of noticeable "jaggies". This effect may appeal to many users, although some might prefer a more vivid look. Fortunately, the television allows for adjustment of the sharpness parameter, enabling us to tailor the image to individual preferences.

Panasonic Z95A, with a 144 Hz panel, offers excellent image smoothness. For movies, there is an "Intelligent Frame Creation" feature that allows for improved smoothness and reduction of blurring. Users have two sliders at their disposal: "Motion Blur Reduction" – responsible for clearer and sharper details in fast-moving scenes. "Film Smoothness" – adds smoothness by creating additional frames between the originals, making motion appear more fluid and natural with the effect of "soap opera"

As a result, viewers can adjust the settings to their own preferences. Movies and less dynamic content look smooth and natural, which should satisfy most users.

Philips PML8709 is one of the few models with mini-LED technology on the market, offering a refresh rate of 60 Hz. While it’s not a panel for the most demanding gamers, it should satisfy those who mainly watch movies. The TV is equipped with a “Motion Style” feature, which is a motion smoother that allows you to adjust the fluidity of motion according to your preferences – from a more “plastic” look to a cinematic aesthetic with clearly visible frames.

Panasonic Z95A this year shows that the manufacturer has made a huge leap forward in support for gamers. The television offers practically everything you can expect from a device in this range. Support for ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) ensures smoothness and no tearing in dynamic games. The 144 Hz panel allows for incredible fluidity, and the additional support for resolutions other than 4K provides greater flexibility, which is a big plus for gamers using various configurations.

Also noteworthy is the unique and rather specific "Game Bar." Its bubble interface stands out from the competition and allows quick adjustment of key settings such as VRR, brightness level, or picture mode, without the need to interrupt gameplay.

However, in this class of devices, there has been a slight disappointment – Panasonic Z95A only offers two HDMI 2.1 ports instead of four. This is definitely too few for a premium television, especially in times when many people have more than one device requiring full HDMI 2.1 support, such as a next-gen console or a high-end computer. In this category, it's hard to accept, especially given the high aspirations of this model. Despite this, the television is an excellent choice for gamers, offering versatility and functionality at the highest level.

Philips PML8709 is a television aimed more at casual gamers, mainly due to the 60 Hz panel, which won’t meet the expectations of the most demanding users. However, for those who appreciate gaming at a more moderate pace, this model may prove sufficient.

The television offers several gamer-friendly features, such as ALLM (automatic switching to game mode) and VRR (variable refresh rate), which help in providing smoother image display without annoying stutters. Furthermore, in terms of HDR, we find the implementation of HGiG, which adjusts the HDR effect to the specifics of games, ensuring a more natural image in appropriately optimised titles. Unfortunately, there is no support for Dolby Vision mode, which may be noticeable in games that utilise this format.

A nice addition is the presence of a basic "Game Bar," which allows for quick previewing and modification of the most important settings related to gaming. It’s a simple but useful touch, especially for those who frequently change their configuration between different types of gameplay. Despite some limitations, the Philips PML8709 offers a solid set of features for less demanding gamers.

Panasonic Z95A impresses with an outstanding level of input lag, making it one of the best choices for gamers in its class. Regardless of the mode, the television achieves results of around 13 ms at 60 Hz and just 5 ms at 120 Hz, ensuring an incredibly smooth and responsive gaming experience. Moreover, Panasonic allows gaming in Dolby Vision mode without significant delays. Well done!

The Philips PML8709 performs very well in terms of input lag. With supported resolutions, results around 13 ms are more than sufficient to ensure a comfortable gaming experience. Such a reaction time means that even more dynamic games do not cause annoying delays. As a result, gamers can enjoy smooth gameplay without unnecessary stress.

Panasonic Z95A works brilliantly with computers, offering full support for chroma 4:4:4, which translates to very good font readability. However, it’s important to keep in mind the characteristic display method of WOLED panels with a white subpixel, which can be noticeable during prolonged work with documents or while browsing websites. This is something to consider if the television is to be used as a monitor for work.

Additionally, the support for G-Sync technology is a great bonus for gamers using NVIDIA graphics cards. As a result, the Z95A provides smooth gameplay without tearing and delays, making it a versatile device for both work and play.

Philips PML8709 offers a dedicated mode for PC, however, its capabilities are significantly limited. The TV does not support chroma 4:4:4, which greatly affects the readability of fonts – text appears blurry and is difficult to read, which disqualifies this model for those planning to use it as a monitor for work or document viewing. Additionally, even though in G-Sync tests the TV showed compatibility, the picture when using this feature is very unstable, with frequent stutters. Such unpredictability eliminates the benefits that should come with support for adaptive sync.

The only positive aspect in the context of PC collaboration is the low input lag, which may be an advantage for those using the TV mainly for gaming. Nevertheless, the limitations in chroma support and issues with G-Sync mean that PML8709 is not the best choice for PC users.

The viewing angles on the Panasonic Z95A are outstanding, thanks to the use of an OLED panel with MLA technology. This means the image remains sharp, full of detail, and free from visible colour shifts even at steep angles. In practice, this means that regardless of where we are watching the TV from, the picture quality stays at the highest level.

In this regard, the Z95A ranks among the very best, competing for the title of leader with TVs based on QD-OLED panels (Samsung and Sony). It's hard to find anything better on the market, making this model an ideal choice for larger rooms or movie nights with family and friends, where everyone can enjoy a perfect picture.

Philips PML8709, equipped with a VA panel, offers average viewing angles typical of this type of panel. The image deteriorates in quality when viewed from a greater angle – colours wash out and contrast noticeably decreases. This is a characteristic feature of VA panels and is worth keeping in mind, especially if we plan to watch the TV from different spots in the room. For viewers sitting directly in front, however, the image remains clear and well-reproduced.

Panasonic Z95A is equipped with a glossy panel that does quite well at reducing reflections. However, due to the use of micro lens array (MLA) technology, black levels in bright environments can take on a slightly cherry hue, which is particularly noticeable in heavily lit rooms. In terms of brightness, the average SDR value is around 500 cd/m², which comfortably allows for enjoyable TV viewing in most living rooms. It should be noted, however, that in very sunlit conditions or under intense artificial lighting, this brightness may prove inadequate to completely eliminate reflections and maintain ideal contrast. Nevertheless, in typical home conditions, the Z95A performs very well.

The Philips PML8709 is equipped with a satin matrix, which average handles glare reduction. In moderately lit rooms, reflections won't be too bothersome, however, in strongly sunlit conditions, the situation may become problematic. An additional challenge is the relatively low screen brightness, at around 330 cd/m². This level may prove insufficient for comfortable viewing in bright rooms, where the image may appear too dark and unclear. The television will perform better in controlled lighting conditions, but for those looking for a model that handles daytime viewing well, this could be a significant limitation.

Panasonic Z95A introduces a new operating system, which we think is a very good move compared to last year's MZ2000 model. The system is called Fire TV and was created by Amazon. It is a novelty in the Australian market, standing out for its fluidity and responsiveness, providing comfortable navigation and quick performance in everyday use.

Despite numerous advantages, the system still has a few shortcomings. Some popular applications, such as SkyShowtime, as well as Australian streaming services like Player.pl or TVP VOD, are not available. Another drawback is the quality of the interface translation – many functions have been translated in a rather imprecise way, giving the impression that the translation was done "on the fly." Some names are unclear, especially for those who have not previously interacted with other televisions, which may hinder the use of the device.

In terms of user functionality, the Z95A performs very well. It includes options such as USB recording, support for PiP (picture in picture), AirPlay, and Miracast. Because of this, the television offers versatility and meets most demands of modern users, although the Fire TV system still requires refinement to fully compete with more established solutions on the market.

Philips PML8709 runs on the Google TV operating system. This is quite a surprising choice, considering it isn’t the flagship model of the brand. Fortunately, it has avoided the implementation of the less popular TitanOS, which can be seen as a plus. Google TV offers a well-known, clear interface and wide capabilities in terms of app installation, making the television more versatile.

In terms of user features, the television performs solidly. Daily use of the device is enjoyable thanks to support for voice search in Polish. The ability to connect peripheral devices such as keyboards, mice, or headphones via Bluetooth enhances its functionality. Unfortunately, the PML8709 does not offer more advanced options, such as USB recording or the PiP (picture-in-picture) feature, which may disappoint more demanding users.

An interesting fact, and quite a surprise, is the absence of the Ambilight system, for which Philips is commonly known. The decision to omit this technology in the PML8709 model seems puzzling, especially since Ambilight is often cited as one of the greatest strengths of televisions from this brand.

As we mentioned earlier, the Fire TV system in the Panasonic Z95A has some issues with supporting the Polish language, which unfortunately is also noticeable when playing files from a USB memory. The built-in media player does not allow for the correct display of Polish characters, such as "ź", "ć" or "ł", which can be burdensome for users relying on local subtitles for movies. If correct display of Polish characters is important to the user, it may be necessary to use an external application available in the Amazon store or to stream content through other devices.

Philips PML8709 handles playing multimedia files from USB well. The television shouldn't have issues supporting most popular video, audio, and photo formats, making it a versatile tool for home entertainment. Files are read smoothly, and the interface of the built-in player is simple and intuitive.

However, a significant downside is the lack of support for Polish diacritics in subtitles, due to the incomplete implementation of the UTF-8 standard. Subtitles with Polish characters are displayed incorrectly, which can be frustrating for those watching films in their native language. This shortcoming means that users seeking full compatibility with subtitles may have to resort to using external media players.

The sound in Panasonic Z95A is one of its strong points, mainly due to the built-in soundbar that provides impressive audio experiences. Support for Dolby Atmos makes the sound spacious and full of depth, perfectly fitting into the cinematic experiences. Both dialogues and sound effects sound clear and dynamic, which will satisfy even the most demanding users. Unfortunately, there is a lack of support for the DTS format, which may be disappointing for those using movies or content that require it. Nevertheless, the overall sound quality in Z95A is at a very high level and successfully replaces external audio systems (at a reasonable price) in most home applications.

The sound quality in the Philips PML8709 is average and standard for a television equipped with speakers rated at 2 x 10 W. The audio is sufficient for everyday viewing, but it's hard to expect deep bass or clear details in more demanding scenes. On the positive side, it does support Dolby Atmos and DTS.

Panasonic Z95A vs Philips PML8709

Advantages

Disadvantages

Our verdict

TV appearance

Where to buy

Contrast and black detail

HDR effect quality

Factory color reproduction

Color reproduction after calibration

Smoothness of tonal transitions

Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions

Blur and motion smoothness

Console compatibility and gaming features

Input lag

Compatibility with PC

Viewing angles

TV efficiency during daytime

Details about the matrix

TV features

Playing files from USB

Apps

Sound