- Matching (Score)
- Our verdict
- Competing TVs
- 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
- Daytime performance
- TV features
- Apps
- Playing files from USB
- Sound
- Panel details
Panasonic W95B Review
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Panel type: LCD VA Refresh rate: 144Hz Brand: PANASONIC Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Amazon FireTV Model year: 2025
The Panasonic W95B is the latest flagship LCD from the Japanese manufacturer, intended to be a response to the increasingly strong competition from OLED and Mini-LED models from other brands. The question, however, is whether it will be able to break the barrier that has weighed down Panasonic TVs for several years. We all remember that the company was known for its natural colors and cinematic image quality, but in recent seasons, it has struggled to stand out in a world where not only image quality matters but also smart features and options for gamers. Will the W95B allow the Japanese legend to return to the game and stand out in the crowd of all these TVs? We have prepared a test to answer this question.
PANASONIC W95B - Our verdict
7.5
Overall rating
Panasonic W95B is one of those televisions that not only impresses with its specifications on paper but also delights in practice. It features a great Mini LED screen, offering excellent blacks, very high brightness, and fluid motion, which combined with refined local dimming create an image close to perfection. Most content looks simply spectacular on it, and the game mode with low latency and support for key technologies makes it a good choice for gaming as well. However, it should be noted that the W95B is aimed at a somewhat specific group of customers—those who can accept weaker user features in exchange for good picture quality. The Fire TV system in this version is not well refined: some apps are missing, some features work clumsily, and the built-in file player doesn’t even support subtitles. Despite these shortcomings, the Panasonic W95B is a solid, well-crafted visual device that proves Mini LED can be a true alternative for those who, for some reason, do not want an OLED TV. It is one of the few televisions of this type that can be recommended with a clear conscience, provided that picture quality is the priority, rather than the system and applications.
Advantages
Excellent black and contrast thanks to 504 zones of local dimming and a VA panel
Very high HDR brightness (up to 1400 nits)
Good motion smoothness. 144 Hz panel – perfect for gaming and dynamic content
Support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+
Many features for gamers including: HGiG, ALLM, FreeSync, and G-Sync
Low input lag
Well-functioning upscaling and subtle digital image processing
High brightness during the day and effective glare suppression
Pleasant sound with Dolby Atmos support
Ability to record to USB, Bluetooth, and jack connection
Disadvantages
The Fire TV system is poorly developed in Europe – many applications are missing
Clunky interface operation and software bugs, e.g., missing subtitles when playing movies from USB
Local dimming does not work in VRR mode
Narrow viewing angles – typical for VA panels
Only two HDMI 2.1 ports
Movies and series in UHD quality7.3
Classic TV, YouTube7.4
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)7.2
Gaming on console8.6
TV as a computer monitor8.4
Watching in bright light7.2
Utility functions6.8
Apps7.2
Sound quality7.9
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PANASONIC W95B - Competing TVs in this price range
PANASONIC W95B - TV appearance
HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
Build quality: BuildQuality-Good
Stand type: Central
Bezel color: Silver
Stand: Fixed
Flat design: No
Accessories: Stand
The Panasonic W95B is a well-made television that gives a good impression from the first glance. The design is neat, with narrow bezels and a single, stable stand. It's hard to find anything to criticize here – just a solid piece of equipment. One can only notice that the whole thing is quite hefty and the casing is largely made of plastic, which may not appeal to everyone.
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PANASONIC W95B - Contrast and black detail
7.5/10
Local dimming function: Yes, number of zones: 504 (18 x 28)
Result
175,300:1
Result
28,450:1
Result
19,450:1
Result
8,600:1
Result
5,400:1
Visibility of details in the lights:
We tested the 65-inch variant, equipped with as many as 504 local dimming zones. The Panasonic W95B is an LCD TV with a VA panel, but the most important feature is the use of Mini LED backlighting with precise zone control. The results we've been able to achieve are truly impressive – in simpler scenes, the contrast can reach six-digit values, making it difficult at times to distinguish this screen from an OLED. Of course, this model is not an OLED, and in more demanding sequences, certain limitations stemming from zone operation are visible; however, it must be said that Panasonic has refined its algorithms to near perfection. Local dimming is practically invisible in action – the image remains consistent, without clear defects or the effect of excessive light "spillage." Details in dark areas are preserved, and the transitions between brightness and black look exceptionally natural.
PANASONIC W95B - HDR effect quality
5.7/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 93.0%, Bt.2020: 71.0%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
1145 nit
Result
229 nit
Result
636 nit
Result
198 nit
Result
740 nit
The Panasonic W95B is truly a bright screen, capable of achieving peak luminance levels of around 1400 nits. In brighter, well-lit movie scenes, this value translates into spectacular HDR effects that can leave a big impression. However, knowing our test setup, you probably see that in very demanding shots – such as the distant moon or helicopter lights in a scene from Sicario 2 – the TV does not impress. In such situations, brightness drops to around 200 nits, making the HDR effect much less visible. This happens because Panasonic prioritizes maintaining deep black levels without lighting up the background – for many users, this shouldn't be a cause for concern. However, it's important to remember that in these moments, the image starts to resemble SDR content. The coverage of the color palette also deserves praise, as it reaches about 93% of the DCI-P3 color space thanks to the use of the PFS filter (also known from QLED technology). As a result, most movies look very good in terms of saturation and colors, maintaining a cinematic quality of the image.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
As you know (or maybe not 😉), it's not just the numbers that create the picture, but how the television can adapt to the HDR signal on its own. Here, we must give huge credit to Panasonic – the W95B model showcases engineering prowess that translates into very mature performance with real film materials. Although the W95B doesn't impress with its specifications on paper, thanks to the dynamic tone mapping feature, it can render most scenes with nearly perfect brightness and contrast balance. Movies mastered even up to 4000 nits, like "Pan," or more popular streaming content, such as the scene from "Billy Lynn," look exemplary here. The visibility of details in bright areas of the image, especially where high levels of luminance occur, is at an excellent level. Hats off to Panasonic!
HDR luminance chart:
HDR luminance
Thanks to the dynamic tone mapping feature, even with a static HDR10 signal, the image on the Panasonic W95B looks really convincing. However, this is just a teaser of what the television can do when playing content with dynamic metadata, such as Dolby Vision. The Panasonic W95B supports both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, which is a huge advantage – especially in a world where some manufacturers choose selective support for these formats. As seen in the comparison photo below, thanks to dynamic metadata, the television can present significantly more details, better controlling contrast and brightness in individual parts of the image, even though it already performs very well with HDR10.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: Dolby Vision
Factory color reproduction
5.1/10
In Filmmaker mode, the Panasonic W95B offers an image with quite accurate color reproduction, although it is not without minor imperfections. The white balance slightly leans towards red, which can cause a subtle warming of the image, and the gamma curve is slightly elevated, making the screen appear somewhat brightened. It’s good that the manufacturer has included this mode – even in its factory configuration, it provides a fairly natural look for movies. However, knowing how susceptible Panasonic televisions are to calibration, we decided to check how much the image could improve after professional tuning.
Color reproduction after calibration
9.1/10
After professional calibration, the Panasonic W95B shows what it is really capable of. Color errors have mostly dropped below 2–3, making them practically invisible to the human eye. The excess red in the white balance has also been corrected, which has eliminated the slight pink tint, and details in dark areas no longer get lost due to overly strong dimming in the gamma. Improvements are also noticeable in HDR content – color saturation is now more stable and does not veer towards blue as clearly as before. It is truly a great television for watching movies and series in the highest possible quality. Although we know that Mini LED screens are not always perfectly suited for this, the W95B is an excellent example that with proper refinement, an OLED-like effect can be achieved.
PANASONIC W95B - Smoothness of tonal transitions
9.5/10
In terms of the smoothness of tonal transitions, the Panasonic W95B performs excellently. In the vast majority of scenes, the gradation is practically unnoticeable, making the image look exceptionally smooth and natural. Minimal issues arise only in extreme shades of gray, which occur very rarely and are difficult to catch with the naked eye. This level will satisfy even the most demanding users.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
7.8/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
In terms of image processing, the Panasonic W95B performs excellently. The proprietary processor responsible for digital image processing effectively upscales lower-resolution content to 4K, preserving a great amount of detail and a natural appearance of contours. The final effect is impressive – the upscaling is at a truly high level, and Full HD content can look surprisingly good. The way the television smooths tonal transitions in low-quality materials is also worth noting. The algorithm does not operate as aggressively as in some competing models, but as a result, it does not cause loss of detail or blurring of film grain.
PANASONIC W95B - Blur and motion smoothness
7.8/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 144Hz
Film motion smoothing option: Yes
Blur reduction option: Yes
BFI function 60Hz: No
BFI function 120Hz: No
The 144 Hz panel used in the Panasonic W95B offers excellent smoothness, although in practice, considering how television content looks or the values to which next-generation consoles are limited, it's worth looking at its behavior when refreshing at 120 Hz. In this mode, the TV performs wonderfully – despite it being a VA panel, which is not known for the fastest pixel response times, motion blur here is minimal and difficult to detect with the naked eye.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Blur (BFI function enabled):
Smużenie (4K@144Hz):
A huge advantage is the proprietary Intelligent Frame Creation system, which is a motion smoother that allows you to adjust the fluidity to your own preferences – both in movies and in sports.
The Motion Blur Reduction slider is responsible for fluidity in sports broadcasts – we recommend setting it to the maximum value to make the image as clear and readable as possible during fast movements.
On the other hand, the Movie Smoothness adjusts the presentation of low frame rate materials, such as series and films – it can be set according to your preferences: lower values give a cinematic feel, while higher ones create a super-smooth, theatrical effect.
PANASONIC W95B - Console compatibility and gaming features
9.8/10
- ALLM:
Yes
- VRR:
Yes
- VRR range:
48 - 144Hz
- Dolby Vision Game Mode:
Yes
- Correct implementation of HGIG:
Yes
- 1080p@120Hz:
Yes
- 1440p@120Hz:
Yes
- 4K@120Hz:
Yes
- Game bar:
Yes
Aside from the previously mentioned drawback related to the VRR mode, in which local dimming does not work, the Panasonic W95B is a true gaming monster. The television offers practically everything gamers can expect – except for four HDMI 2.1 ports, as there are only two available. On board, we find an auto low latency mode (ALLM), properly implemented HDR modes for gamers, including HGiG, as well as support for Dolby Vision in games. This is complemented by an interestingly designed Game Bar, presented in the form of circles. While it may not be the most visually appealing, it serves its purpose – allowing a quick glance at key game parameters and adjusting settings without entering the system menu.
PANASONIC W95B - Input lag
9.8/10
The Panasonic W95B offers very low input lag – about 11 ms at 120 Hz content and 20 ms at 60 Hz. Although these aren’t record-breaking results on paper that could impress the most demanding esports players, in practice the difference is virtually imperceptible. During tests, even in dynamic, fast-paced titles, we did not notice any lag in response. The TV reacts instantly, and gameplay remains smooth and comfortable. This level is sufficient for both console gaming and more demanding online productions.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 20 ms | 2160p60: 1 ms | 2160p60 DV: 18 ms |
| 1080p120: 11 ms | 2160p120: 10 ms | 2160p120 DV: 9 ms |
| 2160p60: 20 ms | ||
| 2160p120: 11 ms |
PANASONIC W95B - Compatibility with PC
8.4/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes
Font clarity: Good
Readability of dark text and shapes: Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 10ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: BGR
Max refresh rate: 144Hz
G-Sync: Yes
The Panasonic W95B performs very well when used with a computer. Thanks to the gaming panel with a 144 Hz refresh rate and support for G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, the screen provides smooth images without tearing, which will be appreciated not only by gamers but also by those using the television as a large monitor. On a daily basis, it can also be comfortably used for work – fonts are readable, and the image is sharp. Although they are not as clear as with IPS panel screens, for most users, the quality of text display will be fully satisfactory.
PANASONIC W95B - Viewing angles
2.9/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 80%
Unfortunately, this is the Achilles' heel of the Panasonic W95B model – as is the case with most televisions equipped with a VA panel without additional coatings to widen viewing angles. Colors start to fade even with a slight tilt from the screen axis, and the contrast noticeably drops. For this reason, when watching, it's best to sit as directly in front of the television as possible to fully utilize the potential of the image.
PANASONIC W95B - Daytime performance
7.2/10
Panel finish: Satin
Reflection suppression: Good
Black levels during daytime: Good
The satin finish of the matrix used in the Panasonic W95B effectively suppresses light reflections, ensuring that the screen remains readable even in brightly lit rooms. However, the greatest advantage of this model is its high brightness – when watching everyday content, it reaches about 700 nits, which is more than enough even in very demanding daytime conditions. Therefore, the television works great in living rooms with large windows or when watching on sunny days, maintaining the appropriate contrast and color saturation without compromising visual comfort.
Panel brightness
Average luminance SDR
Panasonic W95B: 673 cd/m2
PANASONIC W95B - TV features
6.8/10
System: Amazon FireTV
System performance: Average
- HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 48Gbps
- Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones)
- Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
- TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
Classic features:
- Recording to USB (terrestrial TV): Yes
Recording programming: No - Picture in Picture (PiP): No
- RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen): RF
- Backlit remote control: No
- Teletext: Yes
- Audio only mode: Yes
- Bluetooth headphones support: Yes
- Simultaneous Bluetooth headphones & TV audio: Yes
Smart features:
- AirPlay: Yes
- Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast): Yes
- Voice search: Yes
- Voice search in native language: No
- Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse: Yes
SmartTV Features W95B
Unfortunately, this is yet another Achilles' heel of the Panasonic W95B model. The Fire TV operating system used here in its European edition is poorly refined – it lacks many key applications, and the interface is clunky and sluggish in some parts. While we can find basic features like AirPlay and Screen Mirroring, it's a poor consolation compared to how smoothly the platforms of other manufacturers operate. As a result, despite the excellent picture quality, the television falls short of expectations in terms of software.
User Features W95B
In terms of user features, the Panasonic W95B presents itself much better. The television offers Bluetooth, a classic well-equipped remote control, and the ability to record programs onto USB from built-in terrestrial TV tuners – a rarity that is missing in many competing models. An additional advantage is the presence of a headphone jack, which will certainly please users of older home theater systems or traditional wired headphones. In terms of hardware features, the W95B is therefore a solid and complete television.
Sound connection options
HDMI audio:
Other audio outputs:
- Toslink: Yes
- Stereo (Mini-Jack): Yes
Wireless audio:
- Bluetooth: Yes
Obsługiwane formaty audio:
- Dolby Digital Plus 7.1: Yes
- Dolby True HD 7.1: No
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC): Yes
- Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD: No
- DTS:X in DTS-HD MA: No
- DTS-HD Master Audio: No
Ułatwienia dla seniorów
- Numeric keyboard on TV: Yes
- Font size adjustment: No
- Audio description: Yes
PANASONIC W95B - Apps
7.2/10
PANASONIC W95B - Playing files from USB
3.1/10
| Maximum photo resolution: | Supported photo formats: |
|---|---|
| 4 Mpix | JPEG |
| 6 Mpix | HEIC |
| 8 Mpix | PNG |
| 10 Mpix | GIF |
| 12 Mpix | WebP |
| 16 Mpix | TIFF |
| 20 Mpix | BMP |
| 24 Mpix | SVG |
| 28 Mpix | |
| 32 Mpix |
This is another ailment of the Fire TV system used in the Panasonic W95B. If someone has their own library of movies and plans to play them directly from a USB drive or external hard drive, they may be disappointed. The television handles displaying photos, such as from vacations, quite well, while video playback is significantly limited. The biggest issue is the lack of subtitle display during movie playback from USB. Therefore, if you care about watching files from your own collection, it is definitely better to use an external media player.
PANASONIC W95B - Sound
7.9/10
82dB
Maximum volume
Supported codecs
(TV speakers)
Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Dolby True HD 7.1
Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
DTS-HD Master Audio
The Panasonic W95B performs surprisingly well for a television. The sound is clear, spacious, and thanks to the subwoofer located at the back, you can even hear a slightly perceptible bass, which is not common in televisions of this class. The overall sound quality is very high, allowing for comfortable viewing of movies and shows without the need to connect an external audio system. Of course, as is well known, if someone wants to watch something in really high quality, it's worth connecting a soundbar – especially since the Panasonic W95B supports Dolby Atmos format, allowing it to easily transmit spatial sound. The only thing missing is support for the currently less popular DTS:X format, which simply isn’t found in this model.
Acoustic Measurements
82dBC (Max)
75dBC
PANASONIC W95B - Panel details
Software version during testing: RS8141/3009
Subpixel Structure:
Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:
Backlight Type: PFS LED
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