Compare: Panasonic Z95A vs Philips PUS8209

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.

The Philips PUS8209 is a model that stands out primarily due to its unique Ambilight system. The three-sided backlighting behind the television dynamically adjusts to the image, adding an exceptional atmosphere while watching movies or gaming. This solution, for which Philips is renowned, makes a difference and could be a great choice for those looking for something more unique for everyday use. In terms of picture quality, the television performs quite well, especially in this price range. The VA panel provides solid contrast and decent black levels, which is particularly effective in the evenings in dimly lit rooms. Watching movies in such conditions is truly enjoyable, although the screen brightness (280 nits) leaves much to be desired – in bright rooms, the picture can look washed out, and HDR content does not impress. When it comes to gaming, the PUS8209 also has a few advantages. Support for VRR, ALLM, and a low input lag of 13 ms makes gameplay smooth and responsive. Of course, this is not hardware for advanced gamers, but for those who occasionally pick up a controller, it should suffice. The biggest downside is the operating system, Titan OS. Many popular apps are missing, and the interface doesn't always run as smoothly as one would like. The remote control, which requires pointing at the television, can be frustrating, especially in situations where quick access is expected. In summary: the Philips PUS8209 is a television that works well for basic applications. Ambilight adds uniqueness and enhances the atmosphere while watching. In everyday use or occasional gaming, it does the job, but its limitations – particularly in screen brightness and operating system – may be problematic for more demanding users. If we are looking for straightforward equipment with an unusual visual addition, this model is worth considering.

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.

Philips PUS8209 positively surprised us in terms of contrast, which is quite solid for its price class. Thanks to the use of a VA panel, it managed to achieve a contrast ratio of 8000:1, which is considered a very good result in this price category. In tests using scenes from the film Oblivion, the television performed well, offering visible light separation. Three independent light sources in the test scene were reproduced without major issues. Similarly, in the case of the film Sicario 2, the black levels, while not perfect, present reasonably well, allowing for the distinction of details in the darker areas of the image. The lack of local dimming technology is noticeable, however, the manufacturer has implemented a "global dimming" feature. This mechanism allows the television to automatically darken or brighten the entire screen depending on the content, which somewhat improves the perception of contrast. Philips PUS8209 offers solid contrast and decent results in tests. Although it lacks the precision of local dimming, its capabilities at this price point are satisfactory and will please most users.

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.

Unfortunately, this is where the problems start. A maximum brightness of 280 nits is definitely too low to experience the true effect of HDR. In practice, the image resembles standard SDR more, so it's hard to talk about deeper visual experiences. On the plus side, the colour gamut coverage is 91.4% DCI-P3, which will be sufficient for most films. It's also worth noting that the image is stable and there are no issues with sudden brightness or colour changes. Overall, HDR on this television is more of a formality than an actual added value. If we're looking for genuine HDR emotions, this model may not meet expectations.

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.

Philips PUS8209 offers many picture modes, but the best of them, without a doubt, is the Filmmaker mode. Despite its proud name, it has its distinct problems. For HD content, the white balance is characterised by a strong dominance of red, causing the image to be significantly warmer than it should be in reality. The brightness characteristic (gamma), although correct in mid-tones, has serious issues at the beginning and end of the graph. Drops in shadows result in a loss of detail in dark areas, and spikes in bright areas make some elements look unnatural.

For high-quality content in 4K HDR, the situation reverses. In this case, blue dominates, leading to an artificial image boost effect, reminiscent of unnatural retail settings. Such an image looks unappealing and does not align with the creators' intentions. An additional problem is the EOTF curve, responsible for brightness in HDR materials. It deviates significantly from the reference graph, causing the image to appear too dark, stripping depth and detail from HDR content.

Against this backdrop, the errors in the Color Checker test and deviations in colour palette reproduction are exceptionally large, which further negatively affects the overall image quality. The Filmmaker mode, while the best among those available, requires substantial corrections to truly convey the full vision of the director.

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.

After calibration, the white balance for HD and 4K content has significantly improved. While we haven't achieved a perfectly flat characteristic, the result is definitely better than before. The image on the television no longer appears either artificially warm or overly cold, which significantly enhances the naturalness of the displayed content. The brightness characteristic (gamma) has also been adjusted – the most significant issues at the beginning and end of the graph have been mitigated. The EOTF curve, which is responsible for brightness in 4K HDR materials, has been stabilised, eliminating problems with excessive dimming of the image. In the colour palette test, some imperfections can still be seen due to the average coverage of the wide colour gamut, which is a limitation of the hardware itself. Nevertheless, the final result is clearly better than pre-calibration – the image looks more natural and approaches the expectations for Filmmaker mode.

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.

Philips PUS8209 presents a decent gradation in bright scenes, where the tonal transitions are smooth enough not to be jarring. Unfortunately, in darker scenes, such as red water, the TV struggles noticeably. Issues with blending shades and a lack of precision in reproducing subtle colour differences are very apparent here.

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 television offers a “Distortion Reduction” feature that effectively improves the gradation of tonal transitions, particularly when set to the minimum level. Unfortunately, this comes at a cost – the feature also smooths out details like material textures. On the plus side, it’s worth noting that the operation of this option does not negatively affect the film grain, which remains intact.

As for image scaling (upscaling), the television generates a plastic, soft image that generally looks pleasant. However, in the background, issues with aliasing of certain elements, such as branches or small details, can sometimes be noticed, which may decrease the quality of the reception. Despite these minor imperfections, the overall experience of scaling is satisfactory.

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.

The 60 Hz panel in the Philips PUS8209 is mainly suited for watching movies, but here you can also feel a certain shortcoming. The television does not offer any motion smoothing that would allow you to adjust the fluidity of the picture to individual preferences, which for some users may be disappointing.

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 PUS8209 offers basic features useful for gamers, such as variable refresh rate (VRR), automatic low latency mode (ALLM), and Game Bar, which makes managing settings easier.

Unfortunately, due to the 60 Hz panel, the TV will not meet the expectations of more demanding gamers who are looking for higher fluidity and precision of image. Additionally, this model does not support any HDR mode dedicated to gaming, such as HGiG or Dolby Vision, which further limits its capabilities in this regard.

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!

Input lag in the Philips PUS8209 is one of its strongest points. With a value of around 13 ms, the TV provides a very quick response time, which should satisfy most gamers, both casual and more advanced. Such a result allows for comfortable gameplay even in dynamic games.

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.

On paper, collaboration with a PC seems promising, particularly due to support for 4:4:4 chroma, which should ensure good font readability and detail reproduction. In practice, however, the television has significant issues with displaying text, especially on dark backgrounds, where the so-called pixelation is clearly visible, negatively impacting work comfort.

Additionally, the lack of support for technologies like G-Sync means that gaming smoothness when connected to a PC leaves much to be desired, making this model less attractive for users looking for a television for gaming on a computer.

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.

The viewing angles on the Philips PUS8209 are poor, which is typical for a VA panel. When watched at an angle, the brightness of the image drops significantly, and the colours lose their depth, which can greatly affect viewing comfort, especially in larger groups or in an unusual setup of the television in relation to the viewer.

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 PUS8209 features a satin screen coating that only moderately suppresses reflections, which may be inadequate in bright room lighting. However, the biggest issue is the low brightness at just 280 nits. In practice, this means that watching content during the day, especially in strong sunlight, can be a challenge as the picture appears too dark to provide comfortable viewing.

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 PUS8209 uses the Titan OS operating system, which, while simple to use, remains limited in terms of functionality. The available number of applications is small compared to more developed ecosystems like Google TV, which may be disappointing for users accustomed to broader capabilities. Additionally, the lack of support for AirPlay restricts compatibility with Apple devices, reducing the flexibility of the television in streaming content. The remote, though interesting, requires aiming at the screen, which may not appeal to everyone.

The absence of more advanced features such as PiP (Picture-in-Picture) or program recording further limits the device's capabilities in everyday use.

Philips PUS8209 is a television that catches attention with its interesting feature of a three-sided Ambilight system, which is a dynamic backlighting of the wall behind the television that adjusts its colours and intensity to the content displayed on the screen. This effect creates the impression of greater image depth and enhances immersion, especially in darkened rooms. Unfortunately, its potential is limited by the Titan OS operating system, which leaves much to be desired. The limited number of applications and the lack of support for popular features such as AirPlay can be a significant drawback for more demanding users. While Ambilight distinguishes this model from the competition, shortcomings in the operating system significantly affect the overall functionality of the television.

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.

The built-in media player in the Philips PUS8209 performs well in everyday use. It smoothly handles Polish characters in subtitles and allows for adjustments to the colour and size of the font, which significantly enhances the comfort of using this feature. More demanding users may notice some limitations in the supported file formats, however, for most applications in everyday use, this player should be fully sufficient.

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 on the Philips PUS8209 can be described as average, typical for televisions in this price range. The 2x10 W speakers do not offer exceptional quality or depth; however, they are sufficient for everyday TV watching. On the plus side, it should be noted that there is a wide range of supported audio codecs, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS, which can significantly enhance audio quality when paired with external sound systems, like soundbars or home theatre setups.

Panasonic Z95A vs Philips PUS8209

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