Panasonic OLED TVs have captivated home theater enthusiasts for many years with their exceptional image quality. The new 2023 generation of Panasonic OLED models (MZ2000 and MZ1500) also look set to capture the hearts of gamers!
Year after year, Panasonic OLED TVs are acclaimed for their color accuracy and cinema-like images. So much so that many directors use then to control the picture during post-production. The Japanese manufacturer also carefully designs the audio section of its high-end televisions, notably by using the expertise of the group’s audio branch, which is none other than Technics. 2023 is no exception in this respect, with the Panasonic MZ2000 and Panasonic MZ1500 ranges offering superb image quality and each featuring a genuine Dolby Atmos-compatible soundbar. After winning over home theater fans, Panasonic is now turning its attention to gamers, with a number of compelling arguments in its favor…
2023 gaming TVs: the current situation
After home theater enthusiasts and streaming fans, the TV market has been attracting a new audience in recent years: gamers. Those wishing to play on a very large screen feel limited by the size of gaming screens, which generally don’t exceed 48″ (121cm) for 16:9 formats, with the exception of the Samsung Odyssey Ark 55″. Along with LG, Samsung is one of the very first TV manufacturers to have invested heavily in winning over this demanding clientele. And both are no strangers to this market, as LG gaming monitors and Samsung gaming monitors have appealed to gamers for several years now.
The two Korean giants offer numerous TVs with low input lag, multiple HDMI inputs compatible with 4K 120 Hz and even 144 Hz, VRR support (AMD FreeSync, Nvidia G-Sync), access to several cloud gaming platforms and a specific menu for image and sound settings dedicated to gaming. Hisense, TCL, Philips and Sony models also offer excellent gaming performance.
Panasonic seemed to take a back seat, rarely communicating on the subject, but those days are over. The Japanese manufacturer now equips its TVs with numerous gaming features, and wants to take advantage of the release of Diablo IV to promote them.
Why choose a Panasonic OLED TV for gaming?
It’s possible to love movies AND video games. Panasonic therefore equips its premium TVs with high-performance OLED panels and two 120Hz 4K-compatible HDMI 2.1 connectors. They support ALLM and VRR functions, and above all, the manufacturer ensures dual compatibility with AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-SYNC. Whatever graphics card you have, the TV will support it to give you the best picture smoothness. Automatic detection of compatible NVIDIA GPUs (GeForce RTX 30 and later generations) even enables the TV to automatically optimize settings for perfect gaming performance. Dolby Vision Gaming is also included, for optimal display of wide dynamic range video games.
Following in the footsteps of LG with its Game Optimizer and Samsung with its Game Bar 3.0, Panasonic offers gamers a specific settings interface called the Game Control Board. This centralizes all image and audio options designed to optimize the gaming experience. It also displays a wealth of information about the source: frame rate, HDR metadata, VRR format (FreeSync or G-Sync), etc.
To stand out from the competition, Panasonic takes advantage of its expertise in image calibration to introduce the True Game mode. This is an image mode calibrated specifically for video games, designed to reproduce colors as imagined by game developers. This makes cinematic sequences even more stunning, and gameplay even more realistic.
2023 Panasonic OLED gaming TV: immersive sound
In both video games and movies, sound is an essential component of immersion. Panasonic understands this, and offers two distinct audio settings within the Sound Game mode: one dedicated to RPGs, the other to FPSs. The first enhances surround sound while preserving the clarity of the characters’ voices, helping to immerse players in the game’s story and universe. The second ensures precise localization of sounds, allowing gamers to hear subtle effects and giving them the edge in competitive games.
Panasonic MZ2000E and Panasonic MZ1500E OLED TVs are equipped with a Dolby Atmos-compatible soundbar to ensure the best possible reproduction of all video game sound elements. The Panasonic MZ2000E range even benefits from speakers dedicated to vertical and lateral surround effects to create a true 360° sound field. What’s more, Panasonic TVs feature a connector for a separate subwoofer to boost movie soundtracks. Last but not least, they feature a two-way Bluetooth audio connection so you can connect two Bluetooth headphones simultaneously and play as a duo without disturbing those around you.
Panasonic gaming TVs: in a nutshell
A key player in the high-end OLED TV market, Panasonic now intends to make its mark in the gaming market too. The Panasonic MZ2000 and Panasonic MZ1500 ranges offer users a complete gaming experience, combining image quality and immersive sound. Their outstanding visual performance and compatibility with HDMI 2.1, 120Hz 4K, AMD FreeSync, NVIDIA G-SYNC and Dolby Vision Gaming guarantee an unrivalled gaming experience.
These Panasonic TVs also have a video game dedicated settings interface, the Game Control Board, and a True Game mode for accurate color reproduction. The sound experience is also very immersive thanks to the Dolby Atmos compatible soundbar integrated underneath the screen, providing specific audio settings for RPG and FPS games. The only thing missing is access to cloud gaming services.
