Panasonic has kept its fans waiting quite a bit longer than most other TV brands, but today it finally took the wraps off of its 2023 TV range, having announced its flagship Panasonic MZ2000 OLED model earlier this year.
All told, Panasonic has announced five OLED TVs and two LCD models, and there’s a clear focus on delivering authentic pictures for both movies and games, as is usually the case with the highly respected brand.
Panasonic’s latest HCX Pro AI processor is onboard to delight viewers with an improved Filmmaker Mode, the company said, with automatic picture adjustments based on the ambient lighting conditions. So, if the amount of light in the living room changes, the TV will adjust the picture accordingly to stay consistent with the creator’s intent.
On the gaming front, Panasonic’s new True Game Mode is designed to replicate the colour accuracy it achieves with movies on console games. Users can also calibrate the new TVs with Calman software to get the picture quality in True Game Mode just right. Gamers may also appreciate a new feature called source-oriented HDR tone-mapping, which is similar to the HGiG setting on some TVs. Some models are also G-Sync certified.
On the downside, Panasonic’s latest models only have two HDMI 2.1 ports, and though Dolby Vision is supported, it only does so at a maximum of 60Hz, though the TVs do support 4K/120Hz gaming otherwise. As such, LG’s TVs remain the best choice for gaming if 4K/120HZ Dolby Vision gaming is a key requirement, though for those who value authenticity, Panasonic’s new models may well resonate.
As stated, the flagship TV this year is the Panasonic MZ2000, which comes with LG Display’s latest MLA panel to improve brightness, as well as an advanced Dolby Atmos sound system.
The step down model is the Panasonic MZ1500 (below), which unfortunately does not use an MLA panel. However, it does get a new “Master OLED Pro panel module”, which is believed to be the OLED EX panel that was seen on most flagship OLED models last year. It has been subjected to an additional development process by Panasonic’s experts, and is therefore able to deliver enhanced brightness and superior dynamic contract, the company promised.
The MZ1500 also sports the new HCX Pro AI chip, which means it supports both the new adaptive Filmmaker mode and True Game Mode. It also has a dedicated forward-firing soundbar built-in, though it lacks the up-firing drivers found on the flagship model.
Panasonic said the MZ1500 will be available in 55-inch and 65-inch sizes, while the stepdown MZ980 TV will come in 42-inch, 48-inch and 55-inch versions. That model, which is exclusive to the U.K. and equivalent to the MZ1000 in Europe, also comes with an OLED EX panel but it does not carry the Master OLED Pro label, meaning it probably isn’t as bright as the MZ1500. On the other hand, it too is powered by the new HCX Pro AI processor, so it will have the advanced movie and gaming modes.
The fourth and fifth OLED models in Panasonic’s lineup are the MZ800 (below) and MZ700, which are virtually similar, with the only real differences being that the MZ700 will be exclusive to an unspecified retailer, and the audio system. According to Panasonic, the MZ800 comes with a subwoofer, while the MZ700 lacks one. They both sport standard OLED panels (not OLED EX) so they won’t match the other models in terms of brightness, and they also lack the latest Filmmaker mode and the new Gaming mode. They do get HDMI 2.1, but specific gaming features were not mentioned, so it’s not clear if they’ll support 4K/120Hz gaming, for example.
It’s notable that the Panasonic MZ800 and MZ700 models both feature the Google TV operating system, as opposed to Panasonic’s MyHomeScreen OS that came on last year’s equivalent models. Both sets will be available in 42-inch, 48-inch, 55-inch and 65-inch sizes.
Lastly, we have a couple of non-OLED TVs in the shape of the MX950, which is an LCD model that’s more or less similar to the MZ1500 OLED in terms of its specs and capabilities. It offers Mini-LED backlighting and has a Quantum Dot panel, plus the HCX Pro AI chip, which means it delivers all of the adaptive picture processing available on the upper-end OLED models.
The Panasonic MX800 somewhat surprisingly runs the Amazon Fire TV platform and is a regular LCD TV, with no Mini-LEDs or Quantum Dots. The fact it’s running Fire TV suggests the focus here is more on the content available, rather than the picture quality, which might be a nice boost for those in the market for a budget TV, especially if Panasonic can help to make those standard pictures look more authentic.
Panasonic hasn’t yet mentioned any prices or launch dates for its 2023 TVs, but we can expect them to hit the shops soon.
