Compare: Samsung QN900D Neo QLED 8K vs Panasonic Z95A

Samsung QN900D is undoubtedly the top model for 2024. This television is equipped with Mini LED technology, which offers excellent picture quality – deep blacks and high brightness make films and high-resolution content look fantastic. When watching dynamic scenes in movies, the colours and details were exceptionally good – especially after calibration. HDR also delivers – bright elements have great detail levels, and colours are vibrant and natural. One of the strongest points of QN900D is the smooth motion. Supporting a refresh rate of 240 Hz at 4K resolution is rare in the market. Dynamic scenes in sports or games look incredibly smooth, with no trace of blurring. However, it’s worth adding that the full capabilities of this feature will mainly be utilised by advanced PC users. An input lag of 9 ms additionally ensures very responsive gameplay, which will surely please gamers. Tizen runs smoothly and offers access to all popular applications, such as Netflix, YouTube, or Disney+. Moreover, SmartThings features and support for AirPlay make it easy to connect the television with other devices in the home. This is a great solution if you value convenient control of your smart home. An additional feature is Ambient Mode – the television can blend into the living room decor by displaying decorative graphics. QN900D not only performs well but also looks great. Slim bezels, a central stand, and the One Connect module that allows cables to be hidden make the television present elegantly. If aesthetics are important to us, it will be hard to find something better. As a flagship model, QN900D is simply expensive. Unfortunately, the lack of agreement between Samsung and Dolby Vision may still be a significant downside. Especially when watching content on platforms that utilise this format. In the most demanding HDR scenes, it also happens that the contrast is not as perfect as one might expect. And what about 8K resolution? For now, it’s hard to find content that fully utilises it, unless we are technology enthusiasts of the future. Samsung QN900D is certainly a television for those seeking a top-tier device and are willing to pay for it. However, if we are looking for similar quality at a significantly lower price, it’s worth mentioning the equally good QN95D – it offers a similar picture quality, without the 8K resolution, which is still more of a curiosity than a standard.

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.

As befits the flagship model in the series, the Samsung QN900D television is equipped with a VA panel, which in the 65-inch version offers an impressive number of zones – as many as 1344. It’s worth noting that larger sizes of this television have even more zones, which naturally translates to better contrast. During tests in scenes from the film "Oblivion," the QN900D performs excellently. Contrast values approaching infinity are truly stunning, allowing this television to be confidently compared with OLEDs. Unfortunately, like all LCD televisions, this model also has its limitations. In the case of very small elements, certain irregularities are visible, such as halo effects (e.g., in the film "Sicario 2") and at times significant screen dimming (e.g., in scenes from the film "Gravity"). Despite these imperfections, the QN900D Samsung is undoubtedly one of the best LED televisions available on the market, capable of generating very high contrast.

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 Samsung QN900D easily showcases its high capabilities in light production during synthetic tests – 1400 nits is truly an impressive result. It also demonstrated these capabilities in the first scene of the movie "Life of Pi," where we see a brilliant burst of the rising sun. However, due to issues with the dimming algorithm, some problems can be observed here. In the test scenes from "Sicario 2" and the second scene from "Life of Pi," these values are not as high, averaging around 500-600 nits. While this may not be the worst result among Mini LED TVs, more could be expected given the price of the television. Nevertheless, the television deserves praise for covering a wide colour gamut of DCP P3 at 96%. Although there are technologies offering higher values, this result is still satisfactory.

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.

The QN900D television offers a Filmmaker mode that is designed to watch movies in the most natural way possible; however, this mode is not without its flaws. For HD content, the white balance shows a dominance of red and blue, which causes the image to shift towards pink hues. In contrast, for 4K HDR content, the situation is reversed – the reduction of blue and red levels results in warmer scenes and a shift towards yellow tones. This is confirmed by Color Checker tests, which clearly show that the colour samples veer in that direction.

When it comes to brightness and the associated contrast, the gamma is significantly distorted. The biggest issue is a noticeable jump at the beginning of the curve, indicating that dark details are overly brightened, causing the image to lose depth in the darkest areas - this is due to local dimming. For 4K HDR materials, the EOTF curve looks quite good, but it remains below the reference level, impacting the overall dynamics of the image.

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.

After calibration, the Filmmaker mode can truly be called worthy of its name. The white balance for both HD and 4K HDR content has significantly improved, resulting in colours that are more natural and consistent. The image has gained in realism, with pink hues in HD content effectively eliminated, as well as the yellow haze in 4K HDR content. Thanks to the calibration, the television now offers much better colour reproduction, positively impacting the viewing experience.

When it comes to brightness, the situation with gamma is now the opposite – a clear drop is visible at the beginning of the graph, making the darkest details harder to discern. The EOTF curve for 4K HDR content has remained largely unchanged and is still below the reference level, indicating that the television still struggles to maintain adequate brightness. This is related to the aggressive dimming algorithm that affects the overall brightness of the image. You can see how the television fights to maintain high brightness or perfect black.

Despite the limitations associated with local dimming, the Samsung QN900D has improved in colour reproduction quality, as confirmed by the Color Checker test results – the colour samples are now much closer to the references, making the image more natural and pleasant to the eye.

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.

The Samsung QN900D TV handles tonal transitions smoothly, deserving a rating of 8/10. The colour gradation is generally good, although not perfect – in darker scenes, some imperfections may be noticeable to more demanding users. Despite these minor flaws, the effect should satisfy most viewers, offering natural transitions.

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 lower-quality materials looks fantastic – the Noise Reduction feature very effectively smooths out tonal transitions while getting rid of film grain. Although the removal of grain isn't always desirable, the overall final effect is very aesthetically pleasing, especially for those who prefer a cleaner image.

When it comes to upscaling, or image scaling, QN900D shows the tremendous capabilities of the new processor with AI technology. Photos and materials in lower resolution are scaled while retaining many details – for example, a photo with a model looks amazing, free of unnecessary jagged edges, and the branches in the background are not overly serrated.

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.

Samsung QN900D is currently the fastest television in the world – literally. A refresh rate of 240 Hz in 4K resolution is an amazing value that PC gamers will surely appreciate. As for movie fans, they won't be disappointed either – Samsung offers a 10-level scale in the picture clarity settings, allowing users to adjust the image. We can choose whether the television should provide a smoother, theatrical effect at the highest settings, or a more cinematic one, with a visible frame, at the lowest settings.

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.

Samsung QN900D is a television that offers excellent compatibility with consoles and a range of features that gamers will appreciate. It has 4 HDMI 2.1 ports, although unfortunately without the full bandwidth of 48 Gb/s. Nonetheless, for the average user, this is more than sufficient. Additionally, the television supports Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), which means smoother images and no screen tearing during dynamic gameplay. The G-Sync and FreeSync technologies are also noteworthy, providing optimal compatibility with consoles and computers equipped with the appropriate graphics cards, minimising stuttering effects and ensuring a smooth picture.

One of the unique features available only in Samsung televisions is the Xbox Game Pass app, which allows for game streaming without the need for a console. This is a very convenient solution that lets you enjoy your favourite games without having to purchase additional hardware. Furthermore, the QN900D has Game Bar – a special panel that enables quick access to gaming-related settings, making game mode setup quick and intuitive.

Another interesting feature is the Auto Motion Plus Game function, which is a special motion smoothing mode that can increase the frame rate (works up to a maximum of 4K@60Hz). Importantly, this does not cause a significant increase in input lag, allowing players to enjoy both greater image fluidity. All these features make the Samsung QN900D an excellent choice for those looking for a gaming television with the highest possible parameters.

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.

When it comes to signal delay (input lag), Samsung QN900D achieves impressive results. Values below 15 ms are truly excellent, making the TV an ideal choice for gamers expecting minimal delays during gameplay. The input lag at 8K resolution is also noteworthy, clocking in at just 17 ms – this is also a very good result that allows for enjoying dynamic games in the highest possible resolution without noticeable delays.

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!

Samsung QN900D offers excellent compatibility with computers, making it a great choice for users looking for a large screen for work and entertainment. It supports full Chroma 4:4:4 colour reproduction, which translates to better image quality when using text and office applications. Font readability is quite decent, especially considering the 8K resolution, which offers an immense level of detail.

Unfortunately, despite the very high resolution, the television does have some issues with bright fonts on a dark background – one can notice slight shadows created by subpixels. It may not be a critical issue, but for more demanding users, it could impact comfort, especially when working in text applications. Nevertheless, the overall image quality and compatibility with computers are of a high standard. It's also worth praising the television for supporting 240Hz at lower resolutions such as 4K. This allows high-end PCs to showcase their prowess in 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.

The viewing angles on the QN900D television are very good, despite the use of a VA panel. Thanks to a special coating that widens the viewing angles, the image remains flawless even when viewed from an angle. This is particularly important when there are more people in the room – every viewer, regardless of their seat, can enjoy excellent image quality without distortion or loss of colour. This makes the Samsung QN900D a great choice for watching movies and sports broadcasts with a larger group.

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.

When it comes to the performance of the Samsung QN900D TV in daytime conditions, it generally presents itself as average. The television has a special anti-reflective coating that helps reduce glare, however, due to the VA panel and the angle-enhancing coating, light reflections are strongly dispersed horizontally - resembling the colours of a rainbow. This results in a loss of image richness, especially in bright rooms where intense light sources can negatively affect the quality of the displayed image.

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 Tizen system that powers the Samsung QN900D offers excellent integration with other devices, allowing for convenient use of numerous applications, including AirPlay. Users can also control other equipment using the SmartThings app. The television also works with lighting systems such as Philips Hue, which helps create an atmospheric setting during movie screenings.

In everyday use, the QN900D performs brilliantly. The solar remote can control other devices, such as set-top boxes, making the lack of a recording function less of an issue. Additionally, the television offers a Picture-in-Picture (PiP) feature, and with its 8K resolution, it even allows the screen to be split into four sections, making it exceptionally functional and useful for watching multiple programs at once as well as for effective work with various image sources.

The Samsung QN900D also stands out with its modern design. Its slim profile makes it the thinnest Mini LED television on the market, and the use of the One Connect module enables tidy cable management, giving the area around the TV a neat and elegant appearance. The central stand adds lightness and creates the impression that the television is floating in the air, which imparts a unique character. Additionally, the Ambient Mode feature allows for decorative graphics to be displayed or the image to be adjusted to suit the interior, making the television an integral part of the room, even when it is turned off.

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.

QN900D Samsung plays most popular video and audio formats without any issues. The resolution of photos is also not a challenge for it; however, the television has difficulty opening less common photo formats, including the HEIC format from Apple.

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.

Television Samsung QN900D, equipped with an audio system with a power of 90 W in a 6.2.4 channel configuration. Despite its slim design, the sound is clear and immersive, further supported by Dolby Atmos technology, which provides an engaging audio experience. Unfortunately, like many other Samsung televisions, the QN900D does not support DTS audio tracks, which may be significant for home theatre users.

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.

Samsung QN900D Neo QLED 8K vs Panasonic Z95A

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