- 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 technology: WRGB OLED Brand: PANASONIC Resolution: 3840x2160 Operating 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 utilizes the potential of its panel. Thanks to OLED technology, we can count on phenomenal image quality in the highest resolution – perfect blacks, excellent contrast, and great HDR effects, especially after professional calibration. In addition, there is a full set of supported 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 for sports and gaming. The 120 Hz panel, support for VRR, ALLM, and even working Dolby Vision in games guarantee smooth gameplay without motion blur. The sound is also commendable – although there is no flashy soundbar like in the model Z95A, it is still quite pleasant with noticeable bass. Drawbacks? Primarily Amazon Fire TV – an operating system that still has growing pains. Many popular applications are missing, and some features are unavailable or poorly translated (e.g., lack of support for external subtitles). Another issue is the not very high brightness, typical of older WOLED panels – this can be a problem in a heavily sunlit room. Despite these shortcomings, the Panasonic Z85A is a great option for movie enthusiasts and gamers looking for a versatile TV with exceptional image quality and solid sound. If we can overlook some limitations of the system and the not-so-high brightness, the Z85A still has a lot to offer. However, if full comfort of use and a richer app ecosystem are crucial for us, it’s worth considering other OLED TVs from competitors as well.
Advantages
Perfect black and infinite contrast thanks to WOLED panel
Great HDR quality with good DCI-P3 color gamut coverage (98%)
Excellent image quality after professional calibration
Complete 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 gaming
Very good viewing angles
Smooth motion without ghosting thanks to 120 Hz OLED panel
USB recording capability and PiP feature
AirPlay support
Pleasant sound quality with noticeable bass
Disadvantages
SDR brightness at 300 nits - too low for heavily sunlit rooms
Amazon Fire TV system has a limited number of applications
Some system functions poorly translated into Polish
No support for external subtitles in USB player
No support for DTS:X audio in 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
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Go to testTV 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 black and infinite contrast. Each pixel lights up and dims independently, so there are no streaks or halos around bright objects on the screen. Even in the most demanding scenes, the picture looks simply exemplary. In this regard, there is no room for compromises, which are still present even in the most expensive LCD televisions. Here, Panasonic shines, utilizing organic technology provided by LG Displays, and does so in a 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 expect great effects in movies right away. And indeed – our tests show that the WOLED panel can achieve around 800 nits of peak brightness in optimal conditions. This is a solid result that performs well in most demanding HDR scenes, allowing you to enjoy a dynamic and detailed image. However, like every OLED, the Z85A has its limits. In very bright scenes that cover the entire screen – like the final sequence from the movie The Meg – the television reduces brightness to about 400 nits. This is standard behavior for this technology, so if someone plans to watch movies in a brightly lit living room, it's worth keeping this in mind. The coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut at 98% also deserves a big plus. As a result, the television delivers a wide range of colors that stand out with vibrancy and depth, and details in HDR scenes are sharp and precise. In short – the Panasonic Z85A provides a solid HDR effect that will satisfy any movie enthusiast.
Scene from the movie “Pan” (about 2800 nits)
Scene from the movie “Billy Lynn” (about 1100 nits)
During our tests, we checked how the Panasonic Z85A handles exceptionally bright scenes that exceed its technical capabilities. An ideal example is a scene from the movie Pan, where the brightness reaches nearly 2800 nits – that's almost four times more than the maximum capabilities of this television. How did it perform? Remarkably! The entire scene appears cohesive, colors are natural, and details are preserved. Bright points, even though they theoretically exceed the capabilities of the panel, were reproduced with great precision. Yes, if we stubbornly scrutinize the details, we will notice slight differences in the brightness of the distant sun compared to a reference studio monitor, but that is really a small detail that does not affect the overall perception of the scene. The situation is similar in a less demanding scene from the movie Billy Lynn. The actor in the foreground looks great, and the fireworks in the background, despite their intensity, retained detail and did not blend into one bright spot. The Panasonic Z85A demonstrates 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 because regardless of what you are watching, the TV will handle any material with ease. It was indeed Dolby Vision that impressed us the most. In one of the comparative scenes, the differences were clearly visible – the horses had better-defined details, the snowy meadow appeared much clearer, and the forest in the background gained depth. It is evident that Dolby Vision can show more where regular HDR10 starts to lose its way.
The TV also offers Dolby Vision IQ, which theoretically adjusts the picture to the lighting conditions in the room. However, in practice, the results were not satisfactory. The colors 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 image is more stable, the colors are more natural, and we can be sure that we are 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 is rare for a television to be so well-tuned straight out of the box, and the unit we had the opportunity to test really impressed us positively.
However, there were some minor shortcomings. In the SDR signal, we noticed a slight deficiency in red and blue colors, which made the image have a cooler shade than it should. This is particularly evident in the comparative photo. Conversely, in 4K HDR materials, the situation was the opposite – the excess of red made the image seem warmer than the creators intended. In terms of brightness characteristics (gamma) and maintaining the appropriate EOTF curve, it is hard to find fault. There are some minor deviations, but they are so minimal that the average viewer is unlikely to notice them.
It is also worth emphasizing that our observations pertain to a specific unit of the television. Two identical models can differ from each other due to natural production variations. Nevertheless, the unit we had in hand is really solid and deserves praise. Now it's time for our calibration – we'll see if we can squeeze even more from this screen!
Color reproduction after calibration
9.4/10
The Panasonic Z85A offers truly wide possibilities when it comes to image settings, so we enthusiastically set about calibration. Although we mainly focused on white balance correction, the final effect exceeded our expectations. Both HD and 4K HDR content now present nearly perfect color reproduction, with minimal errors that are difficult to catch with the naked eye. Well-calibrated televisions are rare, and we must admit – it is truly gratifying. Although gamma and EOTF curve did not require drastic adjustments, we managed to further stabilize their characteristics across the entire brightness scale. After calibration, the Panasonic Z85A is a true gem for home cinema enthusiasts. The image is precise, colors are natural, and every scene looks exactly as the director intended.
Smoothness of tonal transitions
7.5/10
The Panasonic Z85A handles tonal transitions very well. Colors blend naturally without noticeable disruptions or visible bands. However, in brighter scenes, such as the opening sequence in the Kingsman film, 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 are not colossal, but a seasoned eye will catch them, especially in more demanding scenes with subtle color gradients. Despite these minor reservations, the Z85A presents a level that will satisfy the overwhelming majority of users. The tonal transitions are smooth, and the image remains consistent even in complex scenes. This is a solid result that will rarely be a hindrance during 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 materials, it's time to look at its "Gradation Smoothing" feature. It works, but unfortunately not entirely effectively. Regardless of the selected value – whether low, medium, or high – we were unable to achieve perfectly smooth tonal transitions in our test sequence. We recommend setting this feature to an intermediate level. While it may slightly blur fine details, it at least 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 television performs quite well. It is evident that the image is slightly sharpened, and thin lines can sometimes appear somewhat jagged. However, this is standard in most televisions and fortunately, it can be adjusted using the sharpness slider. This gives us full control – we can achieve a more plastic, blurred image or a clearer one, though more "harsh" and artificially sharp. It all depends on the user’s preferences and the type of content we are watching. Overall, the scaling is at a solid level and should satisfy most users who are using lower resolution materials.
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 has 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 image is stable and clear, and during fast action, there's no sign of any motion blur. The same goes for sports – a quick run by a soccer player or a dynamic car maneuver looks smooth and natural. The TV also has an "Intelligent Frame Creation" feature, which is a motion smoother. There are two sliders – one for reducing motion blur and the other for motion smoothness. With these, you can adjust the picture to your personal preferences – whether you prefer a more cinematic effect with gentle transitions between frames or a maximally smooth image perfect for watching sports.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
In terms of motion blur, the Panasonic Z85A really performs well. Thanks to the organic OLED panel, there are no streaks or blurs here – even in very dynamic scenes, everything looks clear and sharp. Our test with the popular "UFO" pattern showed that the TV handles it perfectly, and every detail remains sharp and legible. This is the advantage of OLEDs – pixels light up and turn off independently, which avoids problems that are still visible in LCD TVs. The only thing that might be missed by the most demanding users is the BFI (Black Frame Insertion) function, 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 felt as much. The panel itself already does a really great 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 enter the gaming world with a really strong punch. This is equipment that can easily be called a gaming beast - it has everything needed for comfortable gameplay.
Even though we only have 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 key features are supported: ALLM automatically switches the TV to game mode, VRR ensures smooth images without stuttering and tearing, and with properly implemented HGIG and Dolby Vision, HDR games look really good - colors are vivid, details clear, and dark scenes readable. There is also a Game Bar in the form of a clear, circular menu. It may not look as impressive as with the competition, but it is intuitive and contains all the most important settings that we would like to have at hand during gaming.
In summary - the Panasonic Z85A is equipment that really surprises with its gaming capabilities. It is a television where both console gamers and PC gamers will feel at home. It's smooth, dynamic, and simply good.
Input lag
10/10
Since the Panasonic Z85A was also designed with gamers in mind, the input lag had to be fine-tuned. And indeed – the results are really great. At 120 Hz, the lag is only 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 dynamic shooters or precise fighting games. The reactions to our controller movements are practically instantaneous, and the gameplay is smooth and responsive. Importantly, the Dolby Vision mode also works flawlessly 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. Text is readable and clear, making web browsing or working with documents not much of a problem. However, one has to 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 TV performs as well as with a console. Low input lag, 120 Hz refresh rate, and proper implementation of G-Sync and FreeSync ensure 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 are looking at the screen straight on or at a steep angle, the colors remain vibrant, and the contrast hardly loses quality. Of course, the Z85A falls a bit short compared to TVs with MLA micro-lens technology or Samsung's QD-OLED panels, which currently set the highest standard in this regard. 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 something to be desired during the day. The panel, although silky, averages in suppressing reflections, which can be noticeable in bright rooms. The reflections are not overly prominent, but there is one catch – they take on a bluish tint. In some situations, especially in strong daylight, this can be slightly annoying and distract from the content on the screen. Additionally, the maximum brightness is just under 280 cd/m². That’s simply too little to comfortably watch television in a brightly lit room. If we plan to watch a movie in the middle of a sunny day, we will need to close the curtains to ensure the picture looks good.
Matrix brightness
Average luminance SDR
Panasonic Z85A: 286 cd/m2
Details about the matrix
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 Polish market. Until now, we primarily associated it with portable smart devices, and now it is also coming to televisions – similar to the flagship model Z95A.
On the positive side, the system works smoothly and responsively. It is also quite intuitive, so navigation does not pose major problems. Unfortunately, when it comes to the availability of applications, it is somewhat worse. In the Amazon store, we can find icons for popular services such as SkyShowtime, Rakuten, or Viaplay, but... they cannot be downloaded. This is a significant drawback for those who use these platforms daily. Additionally, some functions are poorly translated, which means that in some places, you have to guess what they mean. However, we believe that these are just growing pains, and over time, these issues will be resolved – both in terms of translations and app availability.
When it comes to practical features, it is much better. The TV supports USB recording and the PiP (picture-in-picture) function. There is also support for AirPlay, which will certainly please users of Apple devices. We also have Bluetooth here, but unfortunately, we cannot connect headphones to it – it only works with keyboards or other control devices. Fortunately, you can connect headphones or a home theater system via cable, which solves this problem.
In summary – the Panasonic Z85A offers a solid set of practical features that will work well for 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 moment, it is difficult to give it an unequivocal praise. There is potential, but the manufacturer still has a lot of work to do to ensure everything works 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 playing 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 movies on the disk or USB drive with separate subtitle files, we must reckon with the fact that the TV simply will not display them. This is a significant downside, especially for those who use their own media library instead of streaming services. Of course, this problem can be circumvented by using an external media player (e.g., through a console or Smart TV box), but it is an additional 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 TV delivers a pleasant and clear sound, and it can also generate a noticeable bass that adds depth to both movies and music. The spatial effect is also quite well reproduced, making watching movies or playing games more immersive. Unfortunately, there is one "but." The TV does not support the DTS:X format, which is quite popular among more advanced home theater systems. So if we plan to use this sound standard, it will be necessary to connect the audio equipment first to the amplifier or soundbar and only then to the TV.