Sound quality on the Z85A is good overall.
The Z85A carries many of the features we look for in thebest gaming TVs.
Smooth performance and stunning graphics make the Z85A a fantastic OLED gaming TV.
Textures and details on the Panasonic Z85A are very realistic.
It is available in 55- and 65-inch sizes in both the US and UK.
Panasonic TVs are not sold in Australia.
Unlike other OLED TVs in the US, it supports both the Dolby Vision and HDR10+high dynamic rangeformats.
The Panasonic Z85A comes with a good number of connections, but only two HDMI 2.1 ports
For sound, the Panasonic Z85A has a 2.1-channel speaker array totaling 50W of power.
It supports Dolby Atmos but not DTS.
The Panasonic Z85A features only two HDMI 2.1 ports but otherwise has an extensive list of gaming features.
The Panasonic Z85A has incredible contrast and very good shadow detail when viewed in dimmed conditions
In the US, it additionally comes with an ATSC 3.0 tuner.
The Z85As results were roughly what I anticipated if not alittlelow.
Both provided incredible detail and contrast, but I opted for Filmmaker due to its higher brightness.
The Panasonic Z85A’s color and detail are stunning
Moving onto 4K movies and TV shows, the Panasonic Z85A demonstrated spectacular color reproduction.
A Dolby Vision stream ofStar Wars: The Last Jedivia Disney Plus also demonstrated the Z85As excellent color reproduction.
Black levels, shadow detail and contrast were also superb.
The Panasonic Z85A has decent sound quality and does well with movies likeLa La Land, but it struggles with Dolby Atmos reproduction
Panasonics OLEDs typically excel in showing details and textures, and the Z85A is no different.
WatchingTop Gun: Maverick, close-ups of pilots revealed every facial feature sweat, hair, pores.
As youd expect from OLED, the Z85As motion handling is very good overall.
The Panasonic Z85A has a light, sleek design but its stand feels a little cheap.
Motion handling with movies was excellent throughout, even with motion options turned off.
One thing I found interesting is that there is no preset intended for movies among the Z85As sound modes.
Instead, I opted for the Stadium preset which promised the biggest sound.
Panasonic Z85A uses Fire TV as its smart TV platform, replacing my Home Screen 8.0
Its screen lacks the bezel-less design of other premium OLEDs but is still suitably trim.
It feels sturdy when installed with its stand but is also very light for easy movement.
Speaking of the stand, the Z85As is a mixed bag.
The Panasonic Z85A has a good number of gaming features and great performance.
The Z85As supplied remote continues what has become a somewhat sore subject for me with Panasonic TVs.
It is long, bulky, covered in a load of buttons, and feels outdated.
Unsurprisingly, these recommendations are almost entirely centered on Amazons Prime Video platform.
Panasonic’s remote, shown here, feels outdated compared to other remotes supplied with OLED TVs
Gaming on the Z85A is responsive and smooth, with fast-paced gameplay well handled.
When playingBattlefield Vat 4K 120Hz, targeting, movement and animations were all fluid and seamless.
Should I buy the Panasonic Z85A OLED TV?
Plus, it delivers great performance.
Look at brighter OLEDs such as the LG C4 if you want a brightness boost.
In terms of picture and sound quality, it’s close between the two.
This is the Panasonic Z85A’s closest rival.
Sound is another area where the Bravia 8 has the Z85A beat.
In terms of gaming features, they’re even.
If you’re in the UK, it’ll be a close call between these two.
4K Blu-rays were played using thePanasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player.
For critical testing, I used reference scenes from movies and TV shows.
I also tested the Panasonic Z85A’s gaming features and performance using anXbox Series X.
After subjective testing, I moved onto objective testing, taking measurements using specialized equipment.
This consisted of a test pattern generator, a colorimeter andPortrait Display’s Calman calibration softwareto record the measurements.
I took measurements for HDR color gamut, analyzing the BT.2020 and UHDA-P3 color spaces.
Finally, I measured the Z85A’s input lag using a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Input Lag Tester.
