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- 1 First Impressions
- 2 Introduce
- 3 System
- 4 Display
- 5 Audio
- 6 Features
- 7 Connectivity
- 8 User Feedback
First Impressions
The Panasonic Z85A has a premium design that looks fantastic in any room. Its thin bezels give the TV a sleek look when viewed from the front.The back section that houses the inputs is quite thick and made of plastic. When facing the front, the inputs are located on the left side of the TV, but they're easily accessible even when the TV is wall-mounted. There are clips on the back to help withcable management.
The Panasonic Z85A has outstanding build quality. With the exception of the back section that houses the inputs, the TV is made entirely of aluminum, which gives it a premium feel. Theres some minor flexing near the VESA mounting points, but this is typical and doesnt cause any issues. There are no issues with build quality, but the TV emits a slightbuzzing noise.
Introduce
| Parameter | Panasonic Z85A |
|---|---|
Picture |  |
Reference Price | $1099.99 |
Model Year | 2024 |
Specific Uses | Gaming, Smart Home Integration |
Built-In Media | - Quick Start Guide - Owner’s Manual - 1 x Stand Neck - 1 x Cable Management Clamper - 1 x TV Remote - 2 x AAA TV Remote Batteries |
Highlight | • Size: 65 inches • Display Type: OLED • Resolution: 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) • Processor: HCX Pro AI Processor MKII • HDR Support: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG • Audio Technology: Theater Surround Pro with Dolby Atmos • Gaming Features: Game Mode Extreme, HDMI 2.1, 120Hz refresh rate, VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium, NVIDIA G-SYNC • Special Features: Dedicated Game Control Board |
System
| Parameter | Panasonic Z85A |
|---|---|
Operating System | FireOS |
Internet Applications | Amazon Prime Video |
Controller Type | Voice Control |
Control Method | Voice |
System Experience | Overall Impression: The TV offers a smooth and user-friendly experience with its Fire TVOS, providing a great selection of apps and the ability to cast content easily. However, it is marred by a significant bug affecting certain settings like motion interpolation, which requires a workaround to function properly. Additionally, the presence of non-disableable ads in the smart interface may detract from the viewing experience for some users. |
Display
| Parameter | Panasonic Z85A |
|---|---|
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
Display Technology | OLED |
Screen Finish | Glossy |
Has Color Screen | Yes |
Resolution | 4K |
Refresh Rate | 120 Hz |
HDR Format | HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG |
Backlight Technology | Self-Luminous |
Picture Enhancement | HCX Pro AI Processor MKII |
Viewing Experience | The Panasonic Z85A offers an impressive viewing experience, especially in darker settings, thanks to its remarkable contrast and nearly infinite contrast ratio, characteristic of OLED technology. The self-lit pixels enable bright highlights to coexist with deep blacks without any blooming effects, resulting in a visually stunning image quality. While it delivers excellent gray uniformity and an impressive viewing angle, some color inaccuracies and undersaturation, particularly in greens and cyans, may detract from the overall color performance. The TV's reflection handling is exceptional, minimizing glare from both direct and indirect light sources, making it suitable for various viewing environments. However, the unique WOLED panel pixel structure may present minor text display issues in specific scenarios. Overall, the Panasonic Z85A stands out for its outstanding black uniformity, contrast, and reflection handling, providing a compelling option for immersive viewing. |
Audio
| Parameter | Panasonic Z85A |
|---|---|
Audio Channels | 5.1 |
Surround Sound | Dolby Atmos |
Audio Output | Dolby Atmos, Bluetooth |
Audio Input | HDMI |
Speaker Description | Theater Surround Pro with Dolby Atmos |
Speaker Output Power | 6E+1 Watts |
Audio Experience | The Panasonic Z85 features a well-balanced sound profile at moderate volume levels, making it effective for clear dialogue. However, it struggles with bass production and becomes unbalanced at higher volumes, resulting in noticeable distortion. Overall, the audio performance is decent for casual viewing but may not satisfy those seeking a robust sound experience at maximum levels. |
Features
| Parameter | Panasonic Z85A |
|---|---|
Video Encoding | H.264, H.265 (HEVC) |
Compatible Devices | [POSSIBLE] Bluetooth-enabled devices |
Tuner Type | ATSC |
D x W x H | 57"D x 33"W x 2.7"H |
Mount Standard | 300 x 300 mm |
Voltage | 1.1E+2 Volts (AC) |
Line Voltage | 110 VAC 60 Hz |
Other Features | HDR10+ Adaptive, Dolby Vision IQ, Theater Surround Pro with Atmos, Game Mode Extreme, Fire TV built-in |
Motion Smoothing | The Panasonic Z85A delivers a strong performance with its low-quality content smoothing, effectively preserving details but showing some limitations in image smoothing, particularly noticeable in dark scenes. Its nearly instantaneous response time ensures sharp motion clarity, though some persistence blur can be experienced at 60Hz. While it lacks a traditional backlight and does not utilize PWM, it does exhibit slight flicker in low-luminance areas, which may affect sensitive viewers, though this is generally not noticeable during typical use. The optional motion interpolation feature enhances clarity for slower scenes, but struggles with faster motion, leading to distracting artifacts. Overall, the Z85A presents a solid visual experience with some quirks that may affect specific viewing scenarios. |
Connectivity
| Parameter | Panasonic Z85A |
|---|---|
Connectivity Technology | Bluetooth |
Screen Mirroring | Google Cast (Chromecast) |
Wireless Technology | Bluetooth |
Usb Ports | 2 |
USB3.0 Ports | 2 |
Audio Out Ports | 4 |
HDMI Ports | 4 |
Connector Type | HDMI, Bluetooth |
Signal Format | HDMI, ATSC |
Sharing Direction | TV to Mobile |
Connecting TV | The Panasonic Z85A TV delivers an impressive gaming experience with its incredibly low input lag in True Game mode, ensuring a responsive interaction between the user and the screen. It fully supports next-gen gaming features, accommodating resolutions up to 4K at 120Hz and offering compatibility with HDMI Forum VRR and Auto Low Latency Mode, which simplifies the setup for gamers. The HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on two of its ports allows for high-quality visuals, although the dual functionality of HDMI 2 as the eARC port limits high-bandwidth connections when using an external sound system. While it provides support for advanced HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10+, the lack of an ATSC 3.0 tuner restricts over-the-air 4K content viewing. Additionally, the absence of DTS audio format support may be a limitation for users with specific audio needs. Overall, the Panasonic Z85A is a strong contender for gamers looking for low latency and high performance in visual quality, with some caveats regarding audio and tuner capabilities. |
User Feedback
Pros:• Excellent picture quality with crisp visuals and fantastic contrast
• Superb upscaling of 1080p content
• Impressive 5.1 surround sound with Dolby Atmos, eliminating the need for a soundbar
• Tons of customizable settings for personalization
• Smooth performance for gaming with a 120Hz refresh rate
• Great handling of dark scenes in movies and shows
Cons:
• Initial setup process was frustrating and required multiple restarts
• Occasional software hiccups that can lead to hanging and source linking issues
• Packaging considered wasteful with excessive plastic and styrofoam
Overall Impression:
This Panasonic OLED TV impresses with its outstanding picture quality and immersive sound system, making it an excellent choice for both movie lovers and gamers. While it has some software-related issues and an initially frustrating setup process, the performance once operational is highly satisfying. Overall, it's a strong contender in the market, particularly for those who prioritize visual and auditory experiences.
