- 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
- TV efficiency during daytime
- TV features
- Apps
- Playing files from USB
- Sound
- Details about the matrix
Panasonic Z95B Review
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Panel type: WRGB OLED Refresh rate: 144Hz Brand: PANASONIC Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Amazon FireTV Model year: 2025
“The Return of the King,” “The Legend Returns” – this is how the premiere of the Panasonic Z95B was described in foreign reviews. It's not surprising, as the Japanese manufacturer has long been considered a legend in the world of televisions. The new flagship model utilizes the latest tandem OLED panel from LG Display, the same one found in the LG G5, Philips OLED910, or the 83-inch Samsung S95F. The question is whether Panasonic can squeeze even more out of it and prove that it still creates the best screens in the world. Equally interesting is how its smart features will perform, as this has been the area where the brand had the most to catch up on. We checked this for you as always in our review. Enjoy the read!
PANASONIC Z95B - Our verdict
8.5
Overall rating
The Panasonic Z95B is a device that makes it hard not to raise your eyebrows in admiration. From the very first moments, it is clear that we are dealing with an absolutely exceptional screen, capable of bringing out everything that is best in movies and games. The black levels are perfect, HDR brightness is stunning, and the colors – whether in movie mode or in games – show that Panasonic's factory calibration has reached a level that other manufacturers can only learn from. Add to this the fantastic sound from the built-in soundbar and excellent viewing angles, and we get a television picture that seems complete in terms of image quality and audiovisual immersion. However, the longer we used it, the more the impression grew that we were dealing with a device that was torn in two. On one hand, it is like a reference monitor, perfect for assessing video materials and enjoying movies or series, and even for gaming; on the other hand, it is a television that can disappoint in its everyday functionality. The FireTV in its current version can be frustrating, there are significantly fewer apps than with competitors, some fail to install at all, and the system can experience hiccups. Additionally, there are odd system issues such as the lack of support for basic subtitles in movies from USB – seemingly minor details, but they contribute to the overall picture of a device that is far from perfect in everyday use. And this is where the biggest paradox of the Z95B emerges. It is a television that likely offers one of the best images currently available in the living room, and at the same time, it is one that is hard to recommend as a typical "television" without reservations. The competition, while often slightly weaker visually, tends to be simply more user-friendly and costs significantly less. Therefore, the Z95B is a proposition for image purists, for those looking for a reference screen and who are willing to accept all the compromises related to the other non-functioning features. For them, it will be the dream device. For the rest – a demonstration of Panasonic's power and rather a form of curiosity.
Advantages
Exceptional black
Amazing brightness - over 2000 nits in HDR
Factory colors are almost reference quality
Support for multiple HDR formats including Dolby Vision and HDR10+
Phenomenal motion smoothness - OLED panel, 144Hz
Excellent choice for gamers, HDMI 2.1, VRR, ALLM, Dolby Vision Gaming, and HGiG
Good compatibility with PC - 144 Hz, G-Sync, and FreeSync
Very good sound from the built-in soundbar
Decent viewing angles
Disadvantages
Fire TV – no app, strange errors, untranslated menu
No DTS:X support
No option to enable external subtitles from USB memory
Only two HDMI 2.1 ports, which is definitely too few in this class
Price clearly higher than competitors, which often lack such system issues
Movies and series in UHD quality9.0
Classic TV, YouTube8.8
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)8.5
Gaming on console9.6
TV as a computer monitor8.6
Watching in bright light7.4
Utility functions6.8
Apps7.2
Sound quality8.9
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PANASONIC Z95B - Competing TVs in this price range
PANASONIC Z95B - 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: Super Premium
Stand type: Central
Bezel colour: Graphite
Stand: Swivel
Flat design: Yes
Accessories: Stand
The Panasonic Z95B clearly communicates at first glance that we are dealing with a flagship product, although it doesn't attempt to masquerade as an ultra-thin device like many competitors. This television is bulkier, which is particularly evident from the side, but this design is not accidental – Panasonic engineers consciously decided on a thicker casing to accommodate the matrix cooling system. This solution is crucial for maintaining stable brightness, as according to the manufacturer, the panel can operate at full power for a longer time than in competing models. Another characteristic feature of the appearance is the built-in soundbar, which extends not only along the bottom of the casing but also on its sides. Finished with a material reminiscent of denim, it gives the device an unusual yet elegant character and makes the television look solid and modern. The effect is enhanced by the fact that the speakers are distributed along the entire length of the panel, which gives hope for a fuller sound than in standard constructions. The single, swivel stand is also worth noting. Although OLEDs are known for very good viewing angles, Panasonic deemed that the ability to easily adjust the screen's position still makes sense. It's a minor detail, but in everyday use, it proves to be practical. The Z95B is a top-tier device that does not compete on slimness but rather on striking and functional design. It's hard to pass by such a television unnoticed.
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PANASONIC Z95B - Contrast and black detail
10/10
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Result
∞:1
Visibility of details in the lights:
The black and contrast on the Panasonic Z95B can be summed up in one word – perfection. As with any OLED television, the panel controlling individual pixels allows for complete dimming of parts of the image, resulting in absolute black. This gives the Z95B ideal separation between bright and dark elements of the scene, and no glare, lightening, or halo effects are visible on the screen. Even in the most demanding sequences, where other LCD televisions reveal their limitations, the picture here remains clear and readable. In practice, it is hard to imagine that OLEDs could improve any further in this category, as the technology of self-dimming pixels simply has no weak points in terms of contrast. The Panasonic Z95B does not deviate from this pattern and demonstrates that there is no room for significant improvements in terms of black – it sets a reference level that is difficult to surpass.
PANASONIC Z95B - HDR effect quality
8.7/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 99.8%, Bt.2020: 81.3%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
Result
2069 nit
Result
2118 nit
Result
2131 nit
Result
2114 nit
Result
1442 nit
The quality of HDR in the Panasonic Z95B belongs to the absolute elite. Thanks to the latest generation panel, named by the manufacturer Primary RGB Tandem OLED, the television can achieve over 2000 nits of brightness in movie scenes. The effect is impressive and can amaze with the intensity of light, giving a sense of contact with the screen that goes beyond previous experiences. Similar sensations accompanied us only during tests of the LG G5, Samsung S95F, or Philips OLED910. Of course, there are moments when the device's algorithms decide to limit luminance – this especially applies to full-screen bright sequences, such as the closing credits in the movie The Meg. Even then, the Z95B maintains a level of around 1500 nits, which is still a result that makes a huge impression. One can say that HDR in this model has been brought to a masterful form. A significant step forward is also visible in the reproduction of the color palette. The new tandem OLED panel does not yet match the best QD-OLED screens in terms of full gamut coverage, but the gap between these solutions has significantly narrowed. When watching movies, the differences are subtle enough that it's hard to notice them under normal conditions, and the colors remain vivid and saturated.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
Measurements are measurements, but how the Z95B looks in a real viewing scenario makes a much bigger impression than just the numbers. Compared to other screens we tested, this TV displays images of absolutely the highest quality. We can confidently say that it's one of the best, if not the best image we've seen so far. HDR effects are rendered with incredible precision, details in whites are not blown out at all, and no details are lost in the blacks.
A huge part of the credit goes not only to the tandem OLED panel but also to how Panasonic controls its capabilities. The dynamic tone mapping feature (HDR Tone Mapping) in "dynamic" mode does a great job, as it enhances only the highlights, which are the brightest points of the image. The effect is such that it feels like the screen is shooting beams of light at the viewer. Kudos to Panasonic, as in terms of image quality we are dealing with a screen that truly sets standards in 2025.
HDR luminance chart:
HDR luminance
Luminance of RGB colors
HDR10 on the Panasonic Z95B looks really great. Thanks to the very high brightness of the panel and well-functioning dynamic tone mapping, there's no need to worry that watching a movie in this static standard will result in something worse. The image is detailed, the contrast remains at an excellent level, and there’s no feeling that something gets lost in the whites or blacks. Of course, like with any television, you can see a bit more detail in Dolby Vision or HDR10+, especially in more challenging super-bright scenes. However, there isn't such a gap as in other models, and it's safe to say that even regular HDR10 on the Z95B delivers a very attractive effect. Fortunately, Panasonic doesn’t engage in any format wars and supports everything – we have both Dolby Vision and HDR10+. This is important because regardless of which streaming platform you use, you can be sure that the television will display the content in the best possible quality.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: Dolby Vision
Factory color reproduction
9.5/10
The factory color reproduction in Filmmaker mode, my friends, is a true phenomenon in the case of the Panasonic Z95B. I'm talking about our test unit, but the result was so good that it's hard to believe. The only detail to nitpick is a slight lack of blue in the white balance, but other than that, the television, right out of the box, displayed an image like we've never seen in factory mode. Color palette tests, Color Checker – everything pointed to values below Delta 2. This is a much lower result than the threshold of human eye perception, which means, quite frankly, that the viewer stands no chance of noticing serious deviations. It looks as if Panasonic really calibrated this model at the factory stage. Of course, we cannot rule out that we got an exceptionally well-set unit, but the result is still impressive. We are very strict in our assessments of factory calibration, and here our jaws simply dropped.
Color reproduction after calibration
9.8/10
The color reproduction after calibration in the Z95B is a topic that is difficult to elaborate on for long because there simply wasn't much to be done here. A slight adjustment of the white balance was enough to eliminate the lack of blue, and at that moment the picture jumped to an almost reference level. I must admit that we haven't had such a small scope of work in a long time. If any of you are particularly observant, you might notice minimal deviations in the EOTF curve, but this is more related to the operation of the dynamic tone mapping function that we mentioned earlier. Really, this is not a flaw, but rather a feature of this solution, which intentionally changes the brightness characteristic depending on the scene. In summary, we are extremely impressed. The Panasonic Z95B is a television that already looks great right out of the box, and after calibration, it reaches a level where it is really hard for us to find anything to improve.
PANASONIC Z95B - Smoothness of tonal transitions
7.8/10
Posterization, or color banding, was the Achilles' heel of Panasonic's flagship Z95A last year. In the new Z95B, it is clear that the manufacturer has made a significant effort to improve the gradation issue, and the problem has largely been addressed. In most scenes, color banding is no longer visible, and tonal transitions are smooth and appear natural. However, this does not mean that the problem has completely disappeared. In extremely difficult sections, especially in very dark scenes like those in the film Green Knight, some imperfections can still be observed. Nevertheless, it is encouraging that Panasonic has taken this issue seriously and made substantial progress, as the difference from the previous model is truly noticeable.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
6/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
Let's start with what works well. The upscaling in the Z95B is at a very high level – the picture in lower resolutions is clear and sharp, with only minor drawbacks being slight aliasing in some areas of the image. It's also important that the television does not crop the material in any way and maintains its aspect ratio, which is not always an obvious fact even in 2025.
The situation is worse when it comes to digital processing. Features such as "gradation smoothing" or "block noise reduction" practically do not work – the tested material looked identical regardless of the settings. We might as well point out that this function simply doesn't exist. This is somewhat disappointing, especially since Panasonic strongly promotes its HCX Pro AI II processor, boasting of the presence of artificial intelligence that improves picture quality. Meanwhile, in such a basic matter, the television does not deliver a real effect and looks worse than one might expect from top-of-the-line equipment.
PANASONIC Z95B - Blur and motion smoothness
8.5/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 144Hz
Film motion smoothing option: Yes
Blur reduction option: Yes
BFI function 60Hz: Yes, 60Hz (image flickers)
BFI function 120Hz: No
Brightness drop with BFI: 37%
The OLED matrix with a very high refresh rate already provides an extremely sharp image even in dynamic sports scenes, such as soccer or basketball matches, and the Z95B is no exception. It's also very important that the television is equipped with the proprietary image smoothing system "Intelligent Frame Creation." Among the available sliders, the most important one turns out to be the one named "film smoothness," because it allows adjusting the motion to personal preferences when watching 24-frame material, that is, movies – from a more "frame-like" appearance to a smooth, almost theatrical effect. It's a bit of a shame that Panasonic did not choose to push the latest OLED matrix to 165 Hz, as Samsung did with the S95F or LG with the G5, because we know the panel is technically capable of it. On the other hand, this is mainly an advantage for PC gamers, so for everyday viewing this is not a significant drawback as we are limited to 120Hz.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
Blur (BFI function enabled):
Image flickers in this mode
Smużenie (4K@144Hz):
When it comes to trailing, there's no need to elaborate – thanks to the OLED matrix, the pixel response time is extremely low. There is no talk of any blur or streaks, and the displayed image remains sharp even during the fastest camera movements. This is one of the reasons why the Z95B is so enjoyable to watch regardless of the type of content.
PANASONIC Z95B - Console compatibility and gaming features
10/10
- ALLM:
Yes
- VRR:
Yes
- VRR range:
40 - 144Hz
- Dolby Vision Game Mode:
Yes
- Correct implementation of HGIG:
Yes
- 1080p@120Hz:
Yes
- 1440p@120Hz:
Yes
- 4K@120Hz:
Yes
- Game bar:
Yes
The Panasonic Z95B is completely equipped for gaming. Two HDMI 2.1 ports with full bandwidth of 48 Gb/s guarantee support for everything you can expect from a modern screen. There is VRR frame synchronization, an automatic game mode (ALLM), and full compatibility with HDR formats used in games. The TV supports both Dolby Vision for Xbox and the popular HGiG, which has been implemented correctly in this case, so it actually works as it should.
Although the brand is mainly associated with home cinema and equipment for filmmakers, there is also a place here for conveniences for gamers. It comes with Game Bar (or rather Game Circles) – visually it looks a bit unusual, but it does its job and allows you to quickly check the most important image parameters. What it really lacks for complete happiness is actually just four HDMI 2.1 ports instead of two. It's a minor issue, but one would expect a full set in a TV of this class.
PANASONIC Z95B - Input lag
10/10
Regardless of the content being viewed, the input lag on the Z95B is extremely low – even in Dolby Vision, the TV operates at 120 Hz with a delay of less than 5 ms. This is a result that places it at the very top of screens for gaming. If we could, we would easily give it a rating of 11/10. 😉
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 13 ms | 2160p60: 13 ms | 2160p60 DV: 13 ms |
| 1080p120: 5 ms | 2160p120: 5 ms | 2160p120 DV: 5 ms |
| 2160p60: 13 ms | ||
| 2160p120: 5 ms |
PANASONIC Z95B - Compatibility with PC
8.6/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes
Font clarity: Good
Readability of dark text and shapes: Very Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 5ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: BWRG
Max refresh rate: 144Hz
G-Sync: Yes
The Z95B can easily be connected to a computer and used as a large monitor. Indeed, due to the WOLED pixel arrangement, the fonts do not appear as perfectly sharp as on typical monitors, such as those with IPS panels, and this can be noticeable during office work, but it's hard to consider it a serious issue. Rather, few people buy such a TV for Excel. 😉 When it comes to gaming on PC, there’s nothing to complain about. The 144 Hz mode works great, and we also have full support for G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, so frame synchronization works flawlessly with every graphics card. Despite minor issues with font display, it's hard for the Z95B not to perform well in this role – it just works phenomenally as a gaming screen.
PANASONIC Z95B - Viewing angles
8/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 11%
In this regard, the Z95B performs very well. The decrease in brightness at an angle is only 11 percent, which is exactly the same as the best QD-OLED panels and the previous generation MLA from LG Display. As a result, even watching the TV from the side does not give the impression that the image is fading or hard to read.
Colors do fade slightly at extreme angles and are not as stable as in QD-OLEDs, but this is hard to consider a serious issue. The image still looks great, and one can be confident that watching the Z95B from a large angle will keep everything clear. It is also worth noting the rotating stand in terms of viewing angles, as it is a practical solution that allows you to easily position the screen so that everyone in the room has the best possible view.
PANASONIC Z95B - TV efficiency during daytime
7.4/10
Matrix coating: Glare
Reflection suppression: Decent
Black levels during daytime: Very Good
The year 2025 is a moment when one can confidently say that OLEDs are suitable for viewing even in heavily sunlit rooms. The new generation of WOLED panels used in the Z95B can achieve really high brightness – the average value for the Z95B in SDR mode is as much as 623 nits. This is a result that was beyond the reach of this technology just a few years ago. Of course, it is not the level of the best LCD TVs designed for bright living rooms, and the panel itself, glossy with a slight filter, does an average job of suppressing reflections. Nevertheless, it is hard to have major complaints. The Z95B will handle most daylight conditions with ease, and one can comfortably watch TV or movies even when plenty of light is coming into the room.
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
Panasonic Z95B: 623 cd/m2
PANASONIC Z95B - 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
Smart TV: Amazon FireTV
Panasonic in the Z95B uses the Fire TV system, a platform created by Amazon. This is quite a change, as just two years ago the company relied on its own Linux-based system. At first glance, everything looks good – the interface is clear, and the operation is quite simple. Additionally, we have AirPlay, which allows you to stream photos or videos from an iPhone, and screen mirroring from both Windows and Android phones. The TV also works with the Amazon Alexa voice assistant, but here a significant limitation quickly appears. In practice, only a few of the most popular languages, such as English, work well, while Polish is still unavailable, and it's unclear when it will be added.
Classic Features
Here, the situation gets at least a bit strange. During tests in the editorial office, the TV refused to search for any channels – neither satellite nor terrestrial. As a result, we couldn't check the functionality of PiP or the tuner itself. The only certain feature is USB recording, as when a flash drive is connected, the TV immediately asks if we want to format it for that purpose. The remote control looks quite classic – it is large, with a full numeric keypad, and a plus is that you don't have to aim at the screen, as it works with RF technology.
Issues in Daily Use
The biggest disappointment arises with the apps and system stability. Some apps are completely unavailable in Poland, others can be found, but they cannot be downloaded as they are tied to a specific market. This is compounded by strange bugs, untranslated menu items, and occasional "freezes" that can effectively take away the enjoyment of using such a good screen as the Z95B. So, one could say that while the Z95B impresses with its picture quality as a "monitor," as a smart TV, it can be simply frustrating and falls short in every aspect.
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 Z95B - Apps
7.2/10
PANASONIC Z95B - Playing files from USB
3.5/10
| 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 |
Here we also encountered another problem with the Fire TV system. The built-in player handles popular audio and video files without any issues, so at first glance, everything seems fine. However, the problem arises when we want to enable subtitles in movies. We were unable to launch any format – neither .srt, nor .sub, nor .txt. Regardless of the settings, the subtitles simply did not appear. So if you have a movie with a separate subtitle file, you are forced to watch it in the original language unless the subtitles are permanently embedded in the image. For a TV of this class, this is quite a disappointment and further proof that Fire TV still has a lot of shortcomings that can ruin the enjoyment of use.
PANASONIC Z95B - Sound
8.9/10
91dB
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 built-in audio system in the Panasonic Z95B is truly impressive. The manufacturer has added an extra soundbar here, which completely changes the audio experience in the TV – this time it can be confidently said that no external equipment is needed to enjoy full and dynamic sound. The bass is clear and surprisingly strong, dialogues remain understandable even during louder scenes, and the TV itself can play quite loudly, reaching levels up to 91 decibels. It is also a plus that it fully supports Dolby Atmos, so if you use movies or streaming services that support this format, you can expect spatial and impressive sound. One limitation is the lack of support for DTS:X – if someone plans to connect a home theater system or Blu-ray player with this standard, they must be aware that the TV will not play it, but this should not be a major concern considering how all manufacturers approach this standard. I guess we have to come to terms with that.
Acoustic Measurements
91dBC (Max)
75dBC
PANASONIC Z95B - Details about the matrix
Software version during testing: Fire OS 8.1.4.1 (RS8141/3009)
Subpixel Structure:
Panel uniformity and thermal imaging:
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