Panasonic’s Z95B OLED TV has arrived as a serious contender in the high-end television market, joining the ranks of industry leaders like LG, Samsung, and Sony. It delivers near-flawless picture quality with perfect black levels, exceptional detail, and vivid colors. This performance is driven by the same advanced RGB tandem panel found in LG’s G5, making it one of the brightest OLEDs available. The built-in sound system is also among the best found on any TV, offering immersive audio without needing additional speakers.
Unmatched Picture Quality
The Z95B excels in delivering a truly cinematic experience. Its OLED technology ensures each pixel is individually controlled, resulting in unparalleled contrast and color accuracy. The TV’s brightness has improved significantly over previous generations, making it ideal for both dark and well-lit rooms. Whether watching high-dynamic-range (HDR) content or standard definition broadcasts, the Z95B’s image processing upscales and enhances visuals with remarkable clarity.
The TV supports all major HDR formats, including HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of content. Its gaming features, such as AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync, along with speedy input response, make it a standout choice for gamers. The inclusion of ATSC 3.0 support for NextGen TV broadcasts adds future-proofing for over-the-air viewing.
Design and Setup
Setting up the Z95B is straightforward, with a sturdy swivel stand that attaches easily. The TV’s design is minimalist, featuring thin bezels and fabric-wrapped acoustic accents. It includes two HDMI 2.1 ports supporting features like ALLM and VRR at up to 144 Hz, and a dedicated eARC/ARC port for external audio systems. The integrated Dolby Atmos sound system (though it lacks DTS:X support) offers immersive audio with up-firing and side-firing speakers, and Panasonic’s Sound Focus software allows for directional audio adjustments.
The Fire TV Interface: A Major Weakness
Despite its outstanding picture quality, the Z95B is held back by its frustrating Fire TV interface. Unlike smoother platforms like Google TV or Roku, the Fire TV experience feels clunky and ad-heavy. The homescreen is cluttered, with only six streaming apps visible at a time, and the settings layout is unintuitive.
The interface has proven to be unreliable for some users, with apps loading slowly or freezing over Wi-Fi. While Ethernet connectivity fixes this issue, it shouldn’t be necessary for a premium device. The remote is also subpar, lacking backlighting and dedicated input controls, with two of its four quick keys reserved for Amazon services.
Fine-Tuning the Picture
Panasonic provides a vast array of picture modes for those willing to adjust settings. The default modes look good out of the box, but professionals will want to fine-tune for optimal accuracy. The HDR/SDR Sync feature ensures consistency across different content types, and the backlight setting of 70/100 (confirmed by Panasonic engineers) delivers the best performance in 4K HDR Blu-rays. Dolby Vision modes offer stunning visuals with minimal adjustments.
Final Verdict
The Panasonic Z95B OLED TV is a top-tier display that delivers exceptional picture quality and immersive audio. However, its Fire TV interface is a significant drawback. For buyers willing to overlook or replace the smart platform with an external streaming device, the Z95B is one of the best TVs available, offering a premium experience in every other aspect. Its stunning performance makes it a worthy investment for those who prioritize visual and auditory excellence.
