Panasonic's Z95B flagship OLED TV stands out among top models from Samsung, Sony, and LG with superior brightness and audio. The 65-inch model delivers near-flawless blacks, colors, and detail using an RGB tandem panel similar to the LG G5. However, its Fire TV interface draws criticism for being cluttered with ads and slow.
The Z95B marks Panasonic's continued push into the premium TV market following the Z95A. Reviewers praise its hardware for providing 'perfect black levels to pristine detail and colors,' enhanced by a brighter panel. Built-in speakers offer the best sound heard in any TV this year, supporting Dolby Atmos with up-firing, side-firing, and a backside woofer, though treble can turn tinny and bass may buzz on consoles.
Setup is straightforward with a stable swivel stand and thin bezels accented by fabric. Connectivity includes two HDMI 2.1 ports supporting 144 Hz, ALLM, and VRR, plus eARC for audio. Gaming features encompass AMD FreeSync Premium, Nvidia G-Sync, and a built-in game bar. It handles all major HDR formats, including HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, with ATSC 3.0 tuner support.
The Fire TV platform, however, frustrates users. The homescreen limits to six apps, loads slowly over Wi-Fi, and floods with Amazon ads. The remote lacks backlighting and an input key, assigning quick access to Amazon services. Settings are unintuitive, requiring manual tweaks for external audio.
Picture calibration offers modes like Professional 1 for SDR, set brighter than Filmmaker Mode, and HDR at 70/100 backlight for accuracy. Dolby Vision defaults to 100 backlight in Dark Mode for flawless results. Performance shines in content like Disney+'s Boba Fett scenes with 'glittering stars and beaded ruby cockpit lights,' or Mad Max: Fury Road's lightning storms. It reduces glare effectively, outperforming Sony's Bravia 8 in brighter rooms, while matching the LG G5 closely but with more natural colors. Minor issues include Dolby Vision banding and stuttering.
Compared to rivals, the Z95B balances brightness and blacks well, ideal as an all-in-one for those skipping external audio.