Panasonic is launching a new OLED TV in the U.S. and it’s a much cheaper, but still very capable alternative to the flagship Z95B OLED model that debuted several months ago.
It’s likely to get a lot of interest because it’s also much more affordable. The 77-inch version of the Panasonic Z95B carries a hefty price tag of $4,699, whereas the all-new Panasonic Z8BA is priced at just $2,499, making it around 40% cheaper.
The only slight annoyance for some buyers is that the Z8BA is only available in that single size, there are no smaller options available. The Z95B is available in 55-inches and 65-inches, and if anyone wants a Panasonic OLED TV smaller than that, they’re limited to the mid-range Z80B, which can be found in 48-, 55- and 65-inch sizes.
From what HDTVTest can tell, it seems that the Panasonic Z8BA appears to be a special, U.S.-only version of the company’s Z90B OLED TV, which is available in the U.K. and Europe but never launched on the other side of the Atlantic. However, the Z90B has an array of sizes to choose from, with 42-, 48-, 55-, 65- and 77-inch sizes. Still, going with a larger size only perhaps makes sense, for Americans have a distinct preference for big-screen TVs, whereas Europeans and Brits have much smaller living rooms.
We believe the Z8BA is essentially a revamped Z90B because the specifications look very similar indeed. Like the Euro-only model, it features Panasonic’s new HCX Pro AI Processor MK II (which is also found on the Z95B) and it’s fitted with a Master OLED Pro Cinema display. That’s not the Primary Tandem RGB panel found on the Z95B flagship – rather, it’s based on LG Display’s OLED.EX technology that debuted last year. Nonetheless, Panasonic promises “exceptional brightness and performance”.
As is standard for Panasonic’s OLED TVs, the Z8BA has been tuned by the Hollywood colourist Stefan Sonnenfeld to ensure cinema-grade colour accuracy, while the new AI chip powers the company’s 4K Remaster Engine, which upscales Full HD and SD content to 4K resolution.
The Z8BA also comes with Dolby Vision IQ Precision, which is said to be superior to regular Dolby Vision IQ because it’s able to adjust the light level in individual parts of the screen to enhance detail without boosting brightness so much that the image appears washed out, the company explained.
Gamer-friendly features include Nvidia G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync V2 premium support, which is enabled by two HDMI 2.1 ports. There’s also a True Game Mode preset, which helps to improve colour accuracy and optimise white balance for gaming graphics, and features special sound modes first-person shooter and RPG games.
Just like the Z90B, the Z8BA’s panel has a 144Hz refresh rate, and there’s support for Dolby Atmos, which is enhanced by Technics’ 360-degree Soundscape Pro Audio technology. The TV runs the Amazon Fire TV platform, and it also features the U.S.-specific ATSC 3.0 tuner for next-generation broadcast content. Apple HomeKit and AirPlay are on board too.
Panasonic said the Z8BA will start shipping to U.S. consumers on Oct. 27, and promised wider availability the following month.
