Ignacy Giżyński
Although Panasonic officially announced that it is considering selling its TV production division, the Japanese brand is still showing that it does not intend to withdraw from the fight for customers. Today, a full line of OLED TVs 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 is also the most advanced OLED television in Panasonic's offer this year. The manufacturer focused on improving key elements that determine picture and sound quality, without radically changing the design. The most important change is the use of a new OLED panel called Primary RGB Tandem. Thanks to the change in layer structure, it was possible to significantly increase the maximum brightness – which is particularly important when watching HDR content. To maintain stable panel operation, Panasonic redesigned the cooling system, which is intended to more effectively dissipate heat during intense use. (They were reportedly inspired by the dynamics of racing 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, as well as precise calibration thanks to collaboration with the Calman system and support for the ISFccc standard! If you are not familiar with what the calibration process is, we refer you to the article below.
Sound in Panasonic Z95B
There have been significant changes in terms of sound – a redesigned 360° speaker system with a stronger subwoofer has been implemented, and the whole system has been tuned in collaboration with Technics. The result is supposed to be better spaciousness and greater clarity, especially in movies and games. The Z95B operates in an environment based on the Fire TV system, and although this system is just beginning to roll out 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
Z90B is one of the main models in Panasonic's new OLED TV series for 2025. In terms of design and functionality, it is very similar to the top Z95B, but it uses a more traditional WOLED OLED panel type – that is, the same technology found in most OLED TVs on the market. Panasonic calls this matrix "Master OLED Pro," but in reality, it refers to the well-known WRGB panel produced by LG Display, enhanced with a slightly higher brightness level. Its competitor, the LG C5, will likely use a very similar matrix.
The image is managed by the same processor as in the flagship model – HCX Pro AI MK II – which is responsible, among other things, for digital image processing and can do this differently depending on the content being viewed. Artificial intelligence automatically recognizes whether we are watching a match, a movie, or content from a streaming platform and adjusts the settings accordingly. But how will it perform in reality? Our initial tests will show!
Z90B also supports Dolby Vision IQ, Filmmaker Mode, and Intelligent Sensing technology, which can brighten dark scenes in a well-lit room or vice versa – dim the picture when the room is in low light, using a light sensor.
Panasonic Z80B – basic OLED
Z80B is the simplest of the three new OLED models in this year's Panasonic offering. It is intended to be an entry into the world of self-emissive displays – but despite its 'starting' position in the lineup, 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 found in the cheaper models of the competition – without any additional layers to boost 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 gets a processor without automatic content analysis and intelligent adjustments. The image, however, can look very good—especially in Filmmaker Mode or with content compatible with Dolby Vision and HDR10+—but one should expect less brightness and somewhat weaker detail control compared to more expensive models. The Z80B is also equipped with a surround sound system based on Dolby Atmos and its own Surround Sound Pro chip, with a built-in subwoofer. This is, of course, not the sound level of the Z95B, but likely enough to comfortably watch a movie or play games without additional speakers.
Z80B also supports HDMI 2.1, variable refresh rate (up to 120 Hz), as well as AMD FreeSync Premium, so it will be a reasonable option for gamers with consoles but at a more affordable price than other models.
Which 2025 OLED model from Panasonic will be the best?
The new line of OLEDs from Panasonic for 2025 seems to be a thoughtful update – not a revolution, but with specific improvements where it makes 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're looking for good picture quality at a lower price? Or maybe the Z90B will turn out to be the golden mean? We encourage you to follow our service – we will test the new Panasonic models as soon as the first samples arrive in our lab. Time will tell if the new line of OLEDs will really deliver what the specifications promise!
In the meantime, it's also worth taking a look at our reviews of the Panasonic models from 2024 – they may turn out to be a more interesting choice for you, especially due to falling prices and still very good picture quality.
