- Matching (Score)
- Our verdict
- Competing TVs
- TV appearance
- Where to buy
- Contrast and black detail
- HDR effect quality
- Factory color reproduction
- Color reproduction after calibration
- Smoothness of tonal transitions
- Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
- Blur and motion smoothness
- Console compatibility and gaming features
- Input lag
- Compatibility with PC
- Viewing angles
- TV efficiency during daytime
- Details about the matrix
- TV features
- Playing files from USB
- Apps
- Sound
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Panel type: WRGB OLED Brand: PANASONIC Resolution: 3840x2160 System: Amazon FireTV Model year: 2024
Our verdict
7.8
Overall rating
The Panasonic Z85A is a basic OLED model from the Japanese manufacturer that fully utilises the potential of its panel. Thanks to OLED technology, we can expect phenomenal image quality in the highest resolution – perfect blacks, excellent contrast, and great HDR effect, especially after professional calibration. Additionally, it supports a full set of HDR formats, so we can easily choose a movie in the best possible quality. Although Panasonic is usually associated with home cinema equipment, the Z85A performs just as well with sports and games. The 120 Hz panel, support for VRR, ALLM, and even functional Dolby Vision in games ensure smooth gameplay without motion blur. The sound is also commendable – although there isn't an impressive soundbar like in the model Z95A, it is still quite pleasant with noticeable bass. Downsides? Primarily the Amazon Fire TV – the operating system that still has teething problems. Many popular apps are missing, and some features are either unavailable or poorly translated (e.g., lack of support for external subtitles). Another issue is the not-so-high brightness, typical of older WOLED panels – in a brightly lit room, this can be a problem. Despite these shortcomings, the Panasonic Z85A is a great option for movie enthusiasts and gamers looking for a versatile TV with outstanding image quality and solid sound. If we can overlook certain system limitations and the less-than-optimal brightness, the Z85A still has a lot to offer. However, if full comfort of use and a richer app ecosystem are crucial for us, then it's worth considering other OLED TVs from competitors as well.
Advantages
Perfect black and infinite contrast thanks to the WOLED panel
Great HDR quality with good coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut (98%)
Excellent picture quality after professional calibration
Full HDR package: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Low input lag: 5 ms (120 Hz) and 13 ms (60 Hz)
Support for ALLM, VRR, HGIG and Dolby Vision in games
Very good viewing angles
Smooth motion without blurring thanks to the 120 Hz OLED panel
Ability to record to USB and PiP function
AirPlay support
Pleasant sound quality with noticeable bass
Disadvantages
SDR brightness at 300 nits – too low for brightly lit rooms
The Amazon Fire TV system has a limited number of apps
Some system functions are poorly translated into Polish
No support for external subtitles in USB player
No support for DTS:X audio on the television
Movies and series in UHD quality8.1
Classic TV, YouTube8.7
Sports broadcasts (TV and apps)8.5
Gaming on console9.3
TV as a computer monitor7.6
Watching in bright light4.8
Utility functions7.6
Apps7.5
Sound quality7.4
Complete the survey to find out what fits your preferences
Competing TVs in this price range
LG OLED G4 55”
Go to reviewSamsung OLED S95D 55”
Go to reviewPanasonic Z95A 55”
Go to reviewSony A95L 55”
Go to reviewLG OLED C4 55”
Go to reviewSamsung OLED S90D / S94D (WRGB OLED) 55”
Go to reviewPhilips OLED909 55”
Go to reviewLG 55 B4 55”
Go to reviewSamsung Neo QLED QN95D 55”
Go to reviewSony Bravia 8 (XR80) 55”
Go to reviewTV appearance
HDMI inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) Outputs: Toslink (Optical audio), eARC (HDMI), ARC (HDMI), Mini-Jack (Headphones) Network Interfaces: Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Ethernet (LAN) 100Mbps
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Contrast and black detail
10/10
Contrast between the black background and the bright spotlight illuminating Jack. Scene from the movie Oblivion (Universal Pictures).
Result
∞:1
Contrast between the glare on the chameleon's skin and the black near the edge of the screen below. Scene from the Spears&Munsil test disc.
Result
∞:1
Contrast between the reflection on the helmet and the black on the black film strip. Scene from the movie Arrival (Paramount Pictures).
Result
∞:1
Contrast between the actress's face and the black film strip at the top edge of the TV. Scene from the movie Gravity (Warner Bros. Pictures).
Result
∞:1
Contrast between the colorful balloon and the black slice between the falling objects. Scene from the Pioneer Kuro test disc (2008).
Result
∞:1
Visibility of details in the lights:
The Panasonic Z85A uses a WOLED panel, and that means one thing – perfect blacks and infinite contrast. Each pixel lights up and turns off independently, so there’s no smudging or halo effect around bright objects on the screen. Even in the most demanding scenes, the picture looks simply exemplary. In this regard, there’s no room for compromises, which are still present even in the most expensive LCD televisions. Here, Panasonic shines, utilizing organic technology supplied by LG Displays, and does so in truly impressive style.
Halo effect and black detail visibility:
HDR effect quality
6.4/10
Supported formats: HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, HLG Color gamut coverage: DCI P3: 98.1%, Bt.2020: 73.0%
Luminance measurements in HDR:
The measured point is the setting sun against a bright sky. Scene from the movie Life of Pi (20th Century Fox).
Result
812 nit
The measured point is the moon against a dark, starry sky. Scene from the movie Life of Pi (20th Century Fox).
Result
775 nit
The measured point is the flashlight on the rifle, which shines directly at the camera. Scene from the movie Gemini Man (Paramount Pictures).
Result
812 nit
The measured point is the tail light of a helicopter flying at night. This is a very small light point, the essence of the HDR effect. Scene from the movie Sicario 2: Soldado (Lionsgate).
Result
808 nit
The measured point is the sun visible directly between the clouds. The scene is very bright and should blind the viewer as in nature. Scene from the movie The Meg (Warner Bros. Pictures).
Result
390 nit
The Panasonic Z85A is an OLED television, so you can immediately expect excellent effects in films. And indeed – our tests showed that the WOLED panel can achieve around 800 nits of peak brightness in optimal conditions. This is a solid result, performing well in most demanding HDR scenes, allowing viewers to enjoy a dynamic and detailed picture. However, like every OLED, the Z85A also has its limits. In very bright scenes that fill the entire screen – like the final sequence from the movie The Meg – the television reduces brightness to around 400 nits. This is standard behaviour for this technology, so if someone plans to watch films in a heavily sunlit living room, it is worth keeping this in mind. The coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut at 98% also deserves high praise. This allows the television to reproduce a wide range of colours that stand out with vibrancy and depth, while details in HDR scenes are sharp and precise. In short – the Panasonic Z85A delivers a solid HDR effect that will satisfy any film enthusiast.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
During our tests, we examined how the Panasonic Z85A handles exceptionally bright scenes that exceed its technical capabilities. An ideal example is the scene from the film Pan, where brightness reaches nearly 2800 nits – that's almost four times more than the maximum capabilities of this television. How did it perform? Brilliantly! The entire scene looks cohesive, the colours are natural, and the details are preserved. Bright spots, even though they theoretically exceed the capabilities of the panel, were reproduced with great precision. Yes, if we are determined and scrutinise the details, we will notice slight differences in the brightness of the sun in the distance compared to a reference studio monitor, but that's really a minor detail that does not affect the overall perception of the scene. The same applies to the less demanding scene from the film Billy Lynn. The actor in the foreground looks fantastic, and the fireworks in the background, despite their intensity, maintained detail and did not merge into a single bright spot. The Panasonic Z85A shows that it can deliver excellent HDR effects even in the most demanding scenes found on UHD Blu-ray discs.
HDR luminance chart:
The Panasonic Z85A supports all popular HDR formats: HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. This is good news, as no matter what you're watching, the television will handle any material with ease. It was Dolby Vision that made the biggest impression on us. In one of the comparative scenes, the differences were clearly visible – the horses had more defined details, the snowy meadow appeared significantly clearer, and the forest in the background gained depth. It's clear that Dolby Vision can show more where regular HDR10 starts to falter.
The television also offers Dolby Vision IQ, which in theory adjusts the picture to the lighting conditions in the room. However, in practice, the effects were not satisfying. The colours changed in a way that often deviated from what we achieved during calibration. For this reason, we recommend turning off Dolby Vision IQ and using the standard Dolby Vision mode. This way, the picture is more stable, the colours are more natural, and we can be sure that we're watching the film as it was intended by the creators.
Static HDR10
Dynamic: Dolby Vision
Factory color reproduction
8.4/10
The Panasonic Z85A offers many picture modes, but the Filmmaker mode definitely stands out from the rest. It's rare for a TV straight out of the box to be so well calibrated, and the unit we had the opportunity to test truly impressed us.
However, there were some minor shortcomings. In the SDR signal, we noticed a slight deficit of red and blue, which made the picture appear cooler than it should have been. This is particularly evident in the comparison image. In contrast, with 4K HDR material, the situation was the opposite – the surplus of red made the image seem warmer than intended by the creators. In terms of brightness characteristics (gamma) and maintaining an appropriate EOTF curve, it's hard to find faults. There are slight deviations, but they are so minimal that the average viewer is unlikely to notice them.
It's also worth highlighting that our observations relate to a specific unit of the TV. Two identical models may differ from each other due to natural production variances. Nevertheless, the piece we had in hand looks really solid and deserves praise. Now it's time for our calibration – we'll see if we can squeeze even more out of this screen!
Color reproduction after calibration
9.4/10
The Panasonic Z85A offers truly wide-ranging capabilities when it comes to picture settings, so we eagerly set about calibrating it. Although we mainly focused on adjusting the white balance, the final effect exceeded our expectations. Both HD and 4K HDR content now showcases nearly perfect colour reproduction, with minimal errors that are hard to catch with the naked eye. Well-calibrated TVs are a rarity, and we must admit – it’s truly satisfying. While the gamma and EOTF curve didn't require drastic adjustments, we managed to further stabilise their characteristics across the entire brightness scale. After calibration, the Panasonic Z85A is a true gem for home cinema enthusiasts. The picture is precise, the colours are natural, and every scene looks exactly as the director intended.
Smoothness of tonal transitions
7.5/10
The Panasonic Z85A handles tonal transition fluidity really well. Colours blend naturally together without noticeable disruptions or visible bands. However, in brighter scenes, such as the opening sequence in the film Kingsman, slight imperfections can be seen. This is typical for WOLED panels, which have their limitations compared to Samsung Display's QD-OLED designs due to the use of white sub-pixels. The differences aren’t colossal, but a discerning eye will catch them, especially in more demanding scenes with subtle colour gradients. Despite these minor reservations, the Z85A presents a level that will satisfy the overwhelming majority of users. Tonal transitions are smooth, and the image maintains consistency even in complex scenes. This is a solid result that will rarely cause issues in everyday viewing of movies or series.
Image scaling and smoothness of tonal transitions
7.4/10
Smooth transition function
Image without overscan on the SD signal
Now that we know how the Panasonic Z85A handles tonal transitions in 4K material, it’s time to take a look at its "Gradation Smoothing" function. It works, but unfortunately not entirely effectively. Regardless of the chosen value – whether it’s low, medium, or high level – we couldn’t achieve perfectly smooth tonal transitions in our test sequence. We recommend setting this function to an intermediate level. While this may slightly blur fine details, at least it avoids the problem of losing film grain, which can be crucial for many viewers when watching classic productions.
When it comes to image scaling, the TV performs quite well. It’s noticeable that the image is slightly sharpened, and thin lines can sometimes appear a bit jagged. However, this is standard for most TVs, and fortunately, it can be adjusted using the sharpness slider. This gives us full control – we can achieve a more vivid, blurred image or a clearer one, although it may appear more "harsh" and artificially sharp. It all depends on the user's preferences and the type of content we’re watching. Overall, the scaling is at a solid level and should satisfy most users who are using lower resolution material.
Blur and motion smoothness
8.5/10
Maximum refresh rate of the panel: 120Hz
Film motion smoothing option: Yes
Blur reduction option: Yes
BFI function 60Hz: Yes, 60Hz (image flickers)
BFI function 120Hz: No
Brightness drop with BFI: 37%
The Panasonic Z85A features a 120 Hz panel, which will surely please both gamers and sports fans. Sure, it’s not 144 Hz like some gaming TVs, but in practice, the difference is really hard to notice. In games, the picture is stable and sharp, and during fast action, there’s no sign of any blurring. The same goes for sports – a player’s quick run or a car’s dynamic maneuver looks smooth and natural. The TV also has an “Intelligent Frame Creation” feature, which is a motion smoother. There are two sliders here – one controls motion blur reduction, while the other adjusts motion smoothness. With these, you can tailor the picture to your own preferences – whether you prefer a more cinematic effect with gentle transitions between frames or a maximally smooth image ideal for watching sport.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
In terms of smearing, the Panasonic Z85A really performs well. Thanks to the organic OLED panel, there are no signs of streaks or blurring here – even in very dynamic scenes, everything looks clean and sharp. Our test with the popular "UFO" pattern showed that the television performs impeccably, with every detail remaining crisp and clear. This is the advantage of OLEDs – pixels light up and turn off independently, which helps avoid the issues that are still visible in LCD televisions. The only thing that might be lacking for the most demanding users is the BFI (Black Frame Insertion) feature, which is a technique of inserting black frames between successive images to further improve motion sharpness. Unfortunately, this feature is not found in the Z85A, but – to be honest – in the case of OLEDs, its absence is not that noticeable. The panel itself already does a fantastic job.
Console compatibility and gaming features
10/10
- ALLM:
Yes
- VRR:
Yes
- VRR range:
40 - 120Hz
- Dolby Vision Game Mode:
Yes
- Correct implementation of HGIG:
Yes
- 1080p@120Hz:
Yes
- 1440p@120Hz:
Yes
- 4K@120Hz:
Yes
- Game bar:
Yes
Panasonic is mainly associated with home cinema televisions, but the Z85A shows that it can also step into the gaming world with a truly strong punch. It's a device that can easily be called a gaming beast – it has everything needed for comfortable gameplay.
Even though it has only two HDMI 2.1 ports, both operate at full bandwidth, so we can easily connect both a next-gen console and a gaming PC. All the key features are supported: ALLM automatically switches the television into game mode, VRR provides smooth visuals without stuttering and tearing, and with properly implemented HGIG and Dolby Vision, HDR games look really good – colours are vivid, details are sharp, and dark scenes are clear. We also find a Game Bar in the form of a transparent, circular menu. It may not look as impressive as the competition's, but it's intuitive and includes all the most important settings we’d want at hand during gameplay.
In summary – the Panasonic Z85A is a device that truly surprises with its gaming capabilities. It's a television where both console gamers and PC gamers will feel at home. It's smooth, dynamic, and just good.
Input lag
10/10
Since the Panasonic Z85A has also been designed with gamers in mind, the input lag had to be refined. And indeed – the results are really excellent. At 120 Hz, the lag is just 5 ms, and at 60 Hz it's 13 ms. These are values that will satisfy even the most demanding gamers, whether we're talking about fast-paced shooters or precise fighting games. The responses to our movements on the controller are practically instantaneous, and the gameplay is smooth and responsive. Importantly, the Dolby Vision mode also works perfectly here. Just a few years ago, using Dolby Vision in games often came with high input lag, but in the Z85A, this problem has been effectively eliminated.
| SDR | HDR | Dolby Vision |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p60: 13 ms | 2160p60: 13 ms | 2160p60 DV: 13 ms |
| 1080p120: 5 ms | 2160p120: 5 ms | 2160p120 DV: 5 ms |
| 2160p60: 13 ms | ||
| 2160p120: 5 ms |
Compatibility with PC
7.6/10
Chroma 444 (maximum resolution and refresh rate): Yes
Font clarity: Very Good
Readability of dark text and shapes: Very Good
Input lag in PC mode (4K, maximum refresh rate): 5ms
Matrix subpixel arrangement: RWBG
Max refresh rate: 120Hz
G-Sync: Yes
Using the Panasonic Z85A as a computer monitor performs really well. The text is readable and clear, making web browsing or working with documents not a major issue. However, one must keep in mind certain limitations of the WOLED panel – the characteristic way of displaying fonts may be bothersome for more demanding users, especially those who spend long hours working with text. In terms of gaming on PC, the television performs just as well as it does with consoles. Low input lag, 120 Hz refresh rate, and proper implementation of G-Sync and FreeSync ensure a smooth and responsive image without annoying stutters or tearing.
Viewing angles
7.4/10
Brightness drop at an angle of 45 degrees: 28%
The viewing angles on the Panasonic Z85A are really good – after all, it’s OLED. Whether we’re looking at the screen straight on or at a steep angle, the colours remain vibrant, and the contrast hardly loses quality. Of course, the Z85A falls slightly behind TVs with MLA micro-lenses or Samsung's QD-OLED panels, which currently set the highest standard in this respect. However, the differences are subtle enough that most users won’t notice them during regular viewing.
TV efficiency during daytime
4.8/10
Matrix coating: Satin
Reflection suppression: Average
Black levels during daytime: Very Good
The Panasonic Z85A leaves a bit to be desired during the day. The panel, although satin finish, mediocrely suppresses reflections, which can be noticeable in bright rooms. The reflections are not excessively visible, but there is one catch – they take on a bluish hue. In some situations, especially in strong daylight, this can be slightly annoying and distract from the content on the screen. On top of that, the maximum brightness is just under 280 cd/m². That’s simply not enough to comfortably watch TV in a heavily sunlit room. If you plan to watch in the middle of a sunny day, you’ll need to close the windows to ensure the picture looks good.
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
Panasonic Z85A: 286 cd/m2
Details about the matrix
Software version during testing: FIRE OS 8.1.1.2
Subpixel Structure:
Panel uniformity:
TV features
7.6/10
System operacyjny: Amazon FireTV
TV reception: DVB-T, DVB-T2, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C
- Recording to USB (terrestrial TV):
Yes
- Recording programming:
Yes
- Picture in Picture (PiP):
Yes
- Screen mirroring (Windows Miracast):
Yes
- AirPlay:
Yes
Voice search in native language:
No - Ability to connect a keyboard and mouse:
Yes
- Possibility to connect Bluetooth headphones to the TV:
Yes
- Possibility to simultaneously use Bluetooth headphones and the TV speaker:
No
- Audio only mode:
Yes
- RF remote control (no need to aim at the screen):
RF
- Backlit remote control:
No
- Teletext:
Yes
The operating system in the Panasonic Z85A is Amazon Fire TV, which is still a relatively new solution in the Australian market. Until now, we mainly associated it with portable smart devices, and now it is also arriving on televisions – similar to the flagship model Z95A.
On the plus side, the system operates smoothly and responsively. It is also quite intuitive, so navigation poses no major problems. Unfortunately, when it comes to the availability of applications, it's somewhat lacking. While the Amazon store does have icons for popular services like SkyShowtime, Rakuten, or Viaplay, they cannot be downloaded. This is a significant disadvantage for those who use these platforms regularly. Additionally, some functions are poorly translated, meaning that in certain areas, you have to guess what they are referring to. However, we believe that these are just growing pains and that over time they will be improved – both in terms of translations and application availability.
As for user features, things are much better. The television supports USB recording and the PiP (picture-in-picture) function. There is also support for AirPlay, which will certainly please users of Apple devices. It also has Bluetooth, but unfortunately, you cannot connect headphones to it – it only works with a keyboard or other controlling devices. Fortunately, you can connect headphones or a home theatre system via wired connection, which resolves this issue.
In summary – the Panasonic Z85A offers a solid set of user features that will perform well in everyday use. The Amazon Fire TV system is a step in the right direction, especially when compared to Panasonic's old system. However, at this time, it is difficult to praise it unequivocally. There is potential, but the manufacturer still has a lot of work ahead to ensure everything functions as it should.
Playing files from USB
3.1/10
| Maximum photo resolution: | Supported photo formats: |
|---|---|
| 4 Mpix | JPEG |
| 6 Mpix | HEIC |
| 8 Mpix | PNG |
| 10 Mpix | GIF |
| 12 Mpix | WebP |
| 16 Mpix | TIFF |
| 20 Mpix | BMP |
| 24 Mpix | SVG |
| 28 Mpix | |
| 32 Mpix |
In terms of playback of files from USB, the Panasonic Z85A performs rather mediocrely. The built-in media player does handle most popular video formats, but it has one significant drawback – it does not support external subtitles. So, if we have older films on our drive or USB stick with separate subtitle files, we have to reckon with the fact that the television simply won't display them. This is quite a downside, especially for those who rely on their own media library rather than streaming services. Of course, this issue can be circumvented by using an external media player (e.g. via a console or Smart TV box), but it's an extra step that could be avoided if the built-in application were better developed.
Apps
7.5/10
Sound
7.4/10
7.4/10
Subjective sound quality
Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Dolby True HD 7.1
Dolby Atmos in Dolby Digital Plus (JOC)
Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD
DTS:X in DTS-HD MA
DTS-HD Master Audio
In terms of sound, the Panasonic Z85A is pleasantly surprising. The television delivers enjoyable and clear audio, and can generate noticeable bass that adds depth to both movies and music. The surround effect is also quite well reproduced, making watching films or playing games more immersive. Unfortunately, there is one “but”. The television does not support the DTS:X format, which is quite popular among more advanced home theatre systems. So, if we plan to use this audio standard, it will be necessary to connect the audio equipment first to the amplifier or soundbar, and only then to the television.