Ignacy Giżyński
Although Panasonic has officially announced that it is considering selling its television production division, the Japanese brand continues to demonstrate that it is not planning to withdraw from the competition for customers. Today, a complete line of OLED televisions for 2025 was presented, led by the flagship model Z95B. The new series will offer higher brightness, improved sound quality, a redesigned appearance, and full integration with the Fire TV platform!
Panasonic Z95B – Is this a good continuation of last year's Z95A?
The Z95B model is the direct successor to the Z95A and also the most advanced OLED television in this year's Panasonic offering. The manufacturer focused on improving the key elements that determine image and sound quality, without radically changing the design. The most significant change is the use of a new OLED panel called Primary RGB Tandem. Thanks to the change in the layer structure, the maximum brightness has been clearly increased – which is particularly important when watching HDR content. To maintain stable operation of the panel, Panasonic redesigned the cooling system, which is intended to more effectively dissipate heat during intensive use. (They allegedly drew inspiration from the dynamics of race cars 😉).
Accessories in Z95B
The image processing is handled by the new version of the HCX Pro AI II processor. The television also supports features such as Dolby Vision IQ and Prime Video Calibrated Mode, and allows for precise calibration thanks to cooperation with the Calman system and support for the ISFccc standard! If you are unsure what the calibration process is, we refer you to the article below.
Sound in Panasonic Z95B
Considerable changes have been made in terms of sound – a redesigned 360° speaker arrangement has been implemented with a stronger subwoofer, and the whole system has been tuned in collaboration with Technics. The result is expected to be improved spatiality and greater clarity, particularly in films and games. The Z95B operates in an environment based on the Fire TV system, and although this system is still in its infancy in Europe, it is a kind of improvement compared to Panasonic's older system in televisions from years past.
Panasonic Z90B – flagship technologies in a more accessible edition
The Z90B is one of the main models in Panasonic's new series of OLED televisions for 2025. In terms of design and functionality, it is very similar to the top-end Z95B, but it uses a more classic WOLED OLED panel – that is, the same technology found in most OLED televisions on the market. Panasonic calls this matrix "Master OLED Pro", but in reality, it is the well-known WRGB panel produced by LG Display, enhanced with a slightly higher level of brightness. Its competitor, the LG C5, will likely use a very similar panel.
The image is managed by the same processor as in the flagship model – HCX Pro AI MK II – which is responsible for digital image processing and, depending on the content being viewed, can do this differently. Artificial intelligence automatically recognises whether we are watching a match, a film, or content from a streaming platform and adjusts the settings accordingly. But what will it be like in reality? Our first tests will show!
Z90B also supports Dolby Vision IQ, Filmmaker Mode, and Intelligent Sensing technology, which can brighten dark scenes in a bright room using a light sensor or, conversely, dim the image when the room is dimly lit.
Panasonic Z80B – basic OLED
Z80B is the simplest of the three new OLED models in this year's Panasonic offering. It is meant to be an entry into the world of self-emissive display televisions – but despite its "starting" position in the range, it still offers many features in common with the more expensive variants. Like the Z90B, it uses a classic WOLED panel. This is the same construction that we find in the cheaper models of the competition – without additional layers boosting brightness. Panasonic does not use any names like "Master OLED" here, which may indicate the use of a more basic version of the panel, but we are still talking about a true OLED – with deep blacks and high contrast.
The image processing is handled by a simpler processor HCX (without the "Pro AI" suffix), which means that the user receives a processor without automatic content analysis and intelligent adjustments. However, the image can look very good – especially in Filmmaker Mode or with materials compliant with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ – but one must reckon with lower brightness and slightly weaker detail control than in more expensive models. The Z80B is also equipped with a spatial sound system based on Dolby Atmos and its own Surround Sound Pro system, with a built-in subwoofer. This is, of course, not the sound level of the Z95B, but probably sufficient for comfortably watching a film or gaming without additional speakers.
Z80B also supports HDMI 2.1, variable refresh rate (up to 120 Hz), as well as AMD FreeSync Premium, making it a sensible option for gamers with consoles but at a more affordable price than the other models.
Which OLED model 2025 from Panasonic will be the best?
The new line of OLEDs from Panasonic for 2025 seems to be a well-thought-out update – without revolution, but with specific improvements where it made sense. The flagship Z95B targets the most demanding viewers, the Z90B combines good picture quality with full functionality in a more accessible form, and the Z80B is a solid entry into the world of OLEDs without unnecessary extras. Each of these models has its place – and it's worth considering which one actually meets your needs. Perhaps the Z80B will be the most sensible choice if you are looking for good picture quality at a lower price? Or maybe the Z90B will prove to be the golden mean? We encourage you to follow our service – we will be testing the new Panasonic models as soon as the first units arrive in our laboratory. Time will tell if the new line of OLEDs really delivers what the specifications promise!
In the meantime, it's also worth taking a look at our reviews of Panasonic models from 2024 – perhaps they will turn out to be a more interesting choice for you, especially due to falling prices and still very good picture quality.
