Panasonic Z95A and Z93A: the future best-selling OLED TVs of 2024!

We were recently able to take a look at the new 2024 premium OLED Panasonic TVs! Discover the specs and features of these new Panasonic 2024 ranges: Z95A and Z93A.

Announced for July, the Panasonic TV-55Z95A (55″/139 cm) and Panasonic TV-65Z95A (65″/164cm) feature a second-generation micro-lens panel. The manufacturer also offers a 77″ (195cm) model with a standard OLED panel under the Panasonic TV-77Z93A reference.

At the Panasonic France headquarters, we were able to discover these new models designed to replace the Panasonic MZ2000 TV range. What are the specifications and new features of these 2024 Panasonic Z95A and Z93A OLED TVs? Find the answers to all of these questions in this article!

Aesthetics and design

Let’s get straight to the point: the new 2024 Panasonic premium OLED TVs are aesthetically identical to the Panasonic MZ2000 models they replace! The minimalist design of the 55″ and 65″ models in the Panasonic Z95A range, with a thin frame surrounding the picture, still rests on a swivel base.

The soundbar is elegantly integrated beneath the screen, and the chassis retains the same configuration, with its side-mounted drivers and an enclosure for the Atmos drivers at the top. The connectors are still grouped together on the rear left-hand side, and still benefit from the clever cable cover that clips onto the base.

Master OLED Ultimate panel with micro lenses

The 55″/139cm and 65″/164cm televisions in the Panasonic Z95A range both feature Master OLED Ultimate technology. The latter is based on the second-generation OLED Meta panel, the new OLED technology unveiled by LG Display in early 2023. 27 billion micro-convex lenses cover the OLED panel, concentrating and channelling the luminous flux of each pixel to improve brightness and contrast.

This panel also benefits from the cooling technology developed by the Japanese manufacturer and reserved exclusively for Panasonic OLED Premium TVs. It optimizes the panel’s operation, allowing it to provide the best performance without the risk of hot spots, while ensuring a longer lifespan.

Panasonic is reluctant to reveal the peak brightness performance of its televisions, preferring to communicate on the cinema-quality picture. As far as we could tell from the presentation, the new generation does at least as well as its predecessor (the 55″ and 65″ MZ2000 achieve 1450 nits).

In fact, we were able to enjoy exceptional contrast on excerpts from Top Gun: Maverick and Fast&Furious 9, with a consistently natural-looking image. We wouldn’t be surprised to see peak brightness levels in excess of 1,500 nits on these new models.

For its part, the Panasonic TV-77Z93A features a Master OLED Pro panel, without micro lenses but with Panasonic’s exclusive cooling technology for maximum brightness and contrast.

HCX Pro AI MKII and professional calibration

With even more computing power, the new Panasonic HCX Pro AI Processor MKII promises even more advanced image and sound processing. It analyzes each scene of the program viewed in real time, adapting the image and sound to the type of content.

The TV now detects the image format and definition, which it then analyzes on three levels (background, textures and contours) before eliminating noise. Finally, it breaks down the scene to remove residual noise and optimize the sharpness of each element. According to the manufacturer, the display gains greater depth and clarity, with improved legibility of the different image planes. We’ll be sure to check out the upscaling capabilities of this new HCX processor when we test this TV.

The HCX Pro AI MKII processor also controls the adjustment of image brightness and contrast in real time, according to the intensity and temperature of the ambient light.

As with previous generations of Panasonic Premium OLED TVs, Panasonic’s technological mastery is combined with the color calibration skills of Stefan Sonnenfeld, one of Hollywood’s leading colorists. In fact, the Japanese manufacturer has been collaborating with Hollywood professionals for over 20 years: Panasonic TVs are present in directing and post-production studios, helping directors to ensure an accurate reproduction of their work, all the way to the viewer’s living room. For movie fans, the Filmmaker and Cinema modes should be preferred on these Panasonic TVs.

All HDR formats

Once again this year, Panasonic ensures that its Premium OLED TVs are compatible with all HDR image types. HLG, HDR10, HDR10+, HDR10+ Adaptive, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision Gaming and the very recent Dolby Vision IQ Precision Detail are therefore supported.

In practice, this means you’re guaranteed to always enjoy the best 4K HDR picture quality with a Panasonic Z95A or Panasonic Z93A TV, whether you’re watching Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Disney+ or a 4K UHD Blu-ray movie.

The best audio experience on TV

The manufacturer extends its Soundscape Pro 360° audio technology to its Panasonic TV-55Z95A, Panasonic TV-65Z95A and Panasonic TV-77Z93A TVs. We were particularly impressed by this technology during our review of the Panasonic TV-55MZ2000, and it continues to perform just as well on these new models.

• See our review of the Panasonic TV-55MZ2000

Like their predecessors, these new Panasonic 2024 OLED TVs feature a high-performance audio system developed by Technics, the Japanese manufacturer’s hi-fi branch. It features a 16-channel soundbar, with a true center channel for dialogue, accompanied by two side speakers for surround effects and two top speakers for Atmos effects. There’s also a woofer dedicated to the lows (on the back of the screen), capable of delivering a convincing level of bass. During this demonstration, the ensemble delivered an impressive spatialization of sound effects with a real sense of immersion. Despite the noise of the turbojets, the voices of Maverick and Goose were perfectly clear, thanks to the effective center channel.

If you wish, you can connect a real subwoofer to the TV’s headphone socket for an even more energetic, high-impact sound. During the presentation, we were able to see that the integration of a modest Yamaha subwoofer connected by cable to the TV was totally seamless, bringing a new dimension to the listening experience.

Audio zones

The audio system on these Panasonic TVs has another unique feature: thanks to its directional sound wave management technology, it can modulate and direct the sound in the room in a number of ways, to suit different situations.

A dedicated menu displays a 3D representation of the listening area and TV, and lets you choose, remote control in hand, which area to send the sound to.

For example, Pin Point mode can focus sound on a specific zone when watching TV by yourself. It’s ideal for following a program and enjoying the sound of a film without having to turn up the volume too high, even when there’s noise in the room.

The +/- mode, for its part, allows different sound volumes to be set in specific zones, providing optimum listening comfort for every viewer. A person who is hearing impaired can enjoy a higher volume, while the person sitting next to them on the same sofa retains a normal volume.

Finally, the Zoning mode lets you direct the sound to a particular area of the room, so you can listen to your program from your favorite armchair, without disturbing the people sitting on the sofa next to you.

144Hz 4K gaming, G-Sync, FreeSync and Dolby Vision Gaming

Since 2023, Panasonic has been making a comeback in the gaming TV market, and will continue to do so in 2024. The HDMI 2.1 ports on Panasonic’s Z95A and Z93A TVs are now compatible with the latest gaming consoles and PCs, supporting 4K VRR streams up to 144Hz, including Dolby Vision Gaming!

Nvidia G-Sync Compatible and AMD FreeSync Premium VRR technologies are also included to optimize input lag and eliminate image tearing. As a result, even the most demanding gamers can enjoy an extremely fast and smooth gaming experience, with optimal contrast and superb HDR image quality.

What’s more, just like the Filmmaker image mode, which is designed to deliver images that are as faithful as possible to the director’s intentions with films, the Game mode ensures that the colors and lighting of images from your favorite video games are respected. So you can enjoy the graphics of your AAA games with an image quality faithful to that intended by the game designers, while retaining the fluidity and responsiveness of the OLED panel.

The Game Control Board interface has also been retained, for on-the-fly adjustment of all gaming parameters and real-time display of the framerate and definition of the connected source.

Last but not least, the 360° Soundscape technology and sound modes dedicated to FPS and RPGs make for a truly immersive experience. The former improves perception and localization of the faintest sounds, such as the footsteps of a nearby enemy. The latter ensures greater immersion by accentuating the realism and intensity of sound effects.

Built-in Fire TV!

The flagship 2024 Panasonic OLED TVs now feature a new operating system. After four years of joint development between Panasonic and Amazon, the Panasonic Z95A and Z93A TVs now feature the Fire TV operating system.

Light, smooth and low on processor resources, it can be integrated without compromising image quality, while preserving all the TV’s settings.

AirPlay 2 compatibility is also part of the package, as is Alexa smart object control, natively integrated into the TVs. The icing on the cake is that you can use Alexa voice control to pilot your connected objects without turning on the TV. There’s also a microphone on the remote control, activated by pressing the dedicated button.

Aesthetically speaking, the new remote control hasn’t changed much, with slightly more rounded corners. Shortcut keys to SVOD services have been updated, and a new direct access button to the DTT tuner has been added. Unfortunately, key backlighting is still absent.

Comparative image: old and new remote control

Prices and availability

Needless to say, we can’t wait to test these new high-end Panasonic Z95A and Z93A OLED TVs, due in July 2024, more thoroughly. No doubt they will continue the Japanese manufacturer’s tradition of excellence. Other future Panasonic OLED TV ranges, designed to replace the Panasonic MZ1500 and Panasonic MZ800 series, are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.