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Panasonic has unveiled a new VIERA X97C series of televisions, which introduces SQD Mini LED technology to the manufacturer's lineup. The models are said to offer an exceptionally wide palette of colours, high contrast and screen sizes of up to 98 inches. Interestingly, this is Panasonic's first television intended for home use with a screen larger than 90 inches in around 18 years. The new series comprises four models with 65, 75, 85 and 98-inch diagonals, all offering 4K resolution. The key innovation is SQD Mini LED (Super Quantum Dot) technology, used in panels the manufacturer describes as the Real Color Panel.
SQD Mini LED. How does it differ from traditional backlighting?
Unlike RGB Mini LED, which uses separate red, green and blue diodes, SQD Mini LED is based on a blue backlight, the light from which is partly converted into red and green by a special layer of quantum dots.
Panasonic says this solution allows a colour gamut approaching 100% of the BT.2020 colour space. Colour precision is handled by Hexa Chroma Drive Ultra, which uses a three-dimensional colour lookup table (3D LUT). The manufacturer has also implemented Mini LED local dimming and an additional layer that improves brightness and viewing angles. However, it has not revealed the exact number of zones or the maximum HDR brightness.
Up to 98 inches. How much do the new TVs cost?
The TVs use the Fire TV system and an enhanced 360 Spatial Sound System, which is designed to provide spatial sound without additional speakers.
The VIERA X97C series will arrive in Japanese shops in mid-November 2026. Prices start at around 415,800 yen for the 65-inch model (approx. 10,000 zł), while the largest, 98-inch model costs 930,600 yen (approx. 23,000 zł).
So far Panasonic has not confirmed a European launch. The question remains whether the new SQD Mini LEDs will also reach Poland.
Sources: Panasonic, PRAD
