- 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 the entry-level OLED model from the Japanese manufacturer, which fully utilises the potential of its panel. Thanks to OLED technology, we can expect phenomenal picture quality at the highest resolution – perfect blacks, excellent contrast, and superb HDR effects, especially after professional calibration. Additionally, it supports a full range of HDR formats, so we can easily choose a film in the best possible quality. Although Panasonic is usually associated with home cinema equipment, the Z85A performs just as well with sports and games. A 120 Hz panel, support for VRR, ALLM, and even functioning Dolby Vision in games guarantee smooth gameplay without any motion blur. The sound also deserves praise – although we won't find an impressive soundbar like in the model Z95A, it is still quite pleasant and has noticeable bass. Downsides? Primarily the Amazon Fire TV – an operating system that still has growing pains. Many popular applications are missing, and some functions 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 may be a problem in a brightly lit room. Despite these shortcomings, the Panasonic Z85A is a great option for cinema enthusiasts and gamers looking for a versatile television with exceptional picture quality and solid sound. If we can overlook certain limitations of the system and the not-so-high brightness, the Z85A still has a lot to offer. However, if complete user comfort and a richer application ecosystem are crucial for us, then it is worth considering other OLED televisions 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
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 games
Very good viewing angles
Smooth motion without smearing thanks to the 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 are poorly translated into Polish
No support for external subtitles in the 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
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 reviewLG 55 B4 55”
Go to reviewSamsung OLED S90D / S94D (WRGB OLED) 55”
Go to reviewPhilips OLED909 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, which means one thing – perfect black and infinite contrast. Each pixel lights up and dims independently, so there is no question of any streaks or glow around bright objects on the screen. Even in the most demanding scenes, the image looks simply exemplary. There is no room for compromise in this regard, which is still present even in the most expensive LCD televisions. Here, Panasonic shines, utilising organic technology provided 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 one can immediately expect great effects in films. And indeed – our tests have shown 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 viewers to enjoy a dynamic and detail-rich image. However, like any OLED, the Z85A has its limits. In very bright scenes covering the entire screen – such as the final sequence from the film 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 brightly sunlit living room, it is worth keeping this in mind. The coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut at 98% also deserves high praise. Thanks to this, the television reproduces a wide range of colours that stand out with vibrancy and depth, and 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 checked how the Panasonic Z85A performs with exceptionally bright scenes that exceed its technical capabilities. A perfect example is a scene from the film 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? Exceptionally! The entire scene looks cohesive, the colours are natural, and the details are preserved. The bright points, although theoretically exceeding the panel's capabilities, were reproduced with great precision. Indeed, if we insist and examine the details closely, we will notice slight differences in the brightness of the sun in the distance compared to a reference studio monitor, but that is really a trifle that does not affect the overall perception of the scene. The situation is similar in 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, retained detail and did not blend into a single 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, as regardless of what is being watched, the television will easily handle any material. It was 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 standard HDR10 starts to lose detail.
The television also offers the Dolby Vision IQ feature, which theoretically adjusts the picture to the lighting conditions in the room. However, in practice, the results were unsatisfactory. 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 image is more stable, the colours 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 surprised us positively.
However, there were a few minor shortcomings. In the SDR signal, we noticed a slight deficit of red and blue, which resulted in the image having a cooler hue than it should have. This is especially noticeable in the comparative photo. Conversely, in 4K HDR content, the situation was the opposite – an excess of red made the image appear warmer than the creators intended. In terms of brightness characteristics (gamma) and the maintenance of the appropriate EOTF curve, it's hard to find fault. There are slight deviations, but they are so minimal that the average viewer is unlikely to notice them.
It is also worth emphasising that our observations pertain to a specific unit of the television. Two identical models may differ from each other due to natural production variances. Nevertheless, the unit we had in our hands looks really solid and deserves praise. Now it's time for our calibration – we'll see if we can extract 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 correcting the white balance, the final result exceeded our expectations. Both HD and 4K HDR content now display nearly perfect colour reproduction, with minimal errors that are hard to catch with the naked eye. Well-calibrated televisions are a rarity, and we must admit – it is truly gratifying. Although the gamma and EOTF curve did not require drastic adjustments, it was possible to further stabilise their characteristics across the entire brightness range. After calibration, the Panasonic Z85A is a true gem for home cinema enthusiasts. The image 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 the smoothness of tonal transitions really well. Colours blend together naturally, without noticeable artefacts or visible banding. However, in brighter scenes, such as the opening sequence in the film Kingsman, minor imperfections can be discerned. This is typical of 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 trained eye will pick them up, especially in more demanding scenes with subtle colour gradients. Despite these minor reservations, the Z85A offers 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, which in practice will rarely be a hindrance during everyday viewing of films 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 performs with tonal transitions in 4K content, it’s time to take a look at its "Gradation Smoothing" feature. It works, but unfortunately not entirely effectively. Regardless of the chosen value – whether it’s 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. Although it may slightly blur fine details, at least the issue of film grain loss does not occur, which for many viewers can be crucial when watching classic productions.
As for image scaling, the television performs quite well. It’s noticeable that the image is slightly sharpened, and slim lines may at times appear a bit jagged. However, this is standard in most TVs, and fortunately, it can be adjusted using the sharpness slider. This gives us complete control – we can achieve a more plastic, blurred image or a clearer one, although it may be more “harsh” and artificially sharp. It all depends on user preference 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 features a 120 Hz panel, which will certainly please both gamers and sports fans. Admittedly, it is 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 is no sign of any blurring. The same applies to sports – a fast-running footballer or a dynamic car manoeuvre looks smooth and natural. The TV also has the “Intelligent Frame Creation” function, which is a motion smoother. There are two sliders here – one is for reducing blur, and the other is for motion smoothness. With these, you can adjust the image to your own preferences – whether it be more of a cinematic effect with gentle transitions between frames, or a maximally smooth image ideal for watching sports.
Blur (native resolution, maximum refresh rate):
In terms of motion blur, the Panasonic Z85A truly excels. Thanks to its organic OLED panel, there are no signs of smearing or blurring here – even during very dynamic scenes, everything looks clean and clear. Our test with the popular "UFO" pattern showed that the television performs exceptionally well, with every detail remaining sharp and legible. This is the advantage of OLEDs – pixels can light up and turn off independently, effectively avoiding the problems still visible in LCD televisions. The only thing that might be lacking for the most demanding viewers is the BFI (Black Frame Insertion) feature, which inserts black frames between successive images to further enhance motion sharpness. Unfortunately, this feature is not found in the Z85A, but – to be honest – its absence is not that noticeable in the case of OLEDs. 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 demonstrates that it can also step into the gaming world with a really strong impact. This hardware can easily be called a gaming beast – it has everything needed for comfortable gameplay.
Although there are 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 key features are supported: ALLM automatically switches the television to game mode, VRR ensures smooth images without stuttering or tearing, and with correctly 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 clear, circular menu. It may not look as impressive as the competition's, but it is intuitive and contains all the important settings we would like to have at hand during gameplay.
In summary – the Panasonic Z85A is equipment that truly surprises with its gaming capabilities. It is a television on which both console gamers and PC players will feel at home. It is smooth, dynamic, and simply good.
Input lag
10/10
Since the Panasonic Z85A has also been designed with gamers in mind, the input lag had to be refined here. And indeed – the results are truly excellent. At 120 Hz, the lag is only 5 ms, and at 60 Hz, it is 13 ms. These are values that will satisfy even the most demanding gamers, whether we are talking about fast-paced shooters or precise fighting games. The responses to our movements with the controller 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 resulted in 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 it easy to browse websites or work with documents. However, one must keep in mind certain limitations of the WOLED panel – the distinctive way it displays fonts may hinder 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 with a console. Low input lag, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and proper implementation of G-Sync and FreeSync ensure a smooth and responsive image without annoying stutters or frame 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 is somewhat outperformed by televisions with MLA micro-lenses 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 everyday 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, despite being matte, moderately 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 tint. In certain 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 simply isn't enough to comfortably watch television in a brightly lit room. If we are planning a viewing in the middle of a sunny day, it will be necessary to cover the windows to ensure the image 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 Polish market. Until now, we mainly associated it with portable smart devices, and now it is also making its way into televisions – similar to the flagship model Z95A.
On the plus side, it must be noted that the system operates 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 lacking. In the Amazon store, we do 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 in certain areas one has to guess what is meant. However, we believe that these are just growing pains, and over time they will be improved – both in terms of translations and application availability.
As for user functions, the situation is much better. The television supports recording to USB and the PiP (picture-in-picture) feature. There is also support for AirPlay, which will surely please users of Apple devices. We also have Bluetooth here, but unfortunately, we cannot connect headphones to it – it only works with keyboards and other control devices. Fortunately, it is possible to connect headphones or a home cinema system via cable, which resolves this issue.
In summary – the Panasonic Z85A offers a solid set of user functions that 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 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 rather significant drawback – it does not support external subtitles. So, if we have older films on the drive or USB stick with separate subtitle files, we must reckon with the fact that the television simply will not display them. This is a considerable disadvantage, especially for those who use their own media libraries instead of streaming services. Of course, this problem can be circumvented by using an external media player (e.g. via a console or Smart TV box), but this 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 television delivers a pleasant and clear sound, and it can also generate a noticeable bass, which adds depth to both films 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 cinema systems. Therefore, 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 television.