Panasonic Z85 65Z85AP Z85 65" 2024 Review
Panasonic's Z85 OLED TV brings that perfect black contrast and killer HDR support to a shockingly low price. We found it's a fantastic value for movies and games, as long as you're okay with adding a soundbar.
The 30-Second Version
This Panasonic OLED delivers a stunning, high-contrast picture and excellent gaming chops for hundreds less than the competition. Just budget for a soundbar, because the built-in speakers are an afterthought.
Overview
Look, Panasonic's back in the US TV game, and they're swinging for the fences with this Z85 OLED. The one thing you need to know? This is a killer deal on a proper OLED panel that handles every HDR format under the sun. For under $1200, you're getting that perfect, infinite-contrast OLED picture that usually costs hundreds more. It's not the absolute brightest or most feature-packed set out there, but for pure movie-watching and gaming, it punches way above its price tag.
Performance
The biggest surprise here is how well it games. Our data shows its gaming performance lands in the 89th percentile, which is seriously impressive for a TV at this price. The 120Hz panel and low input lag make it feel responsive, and the HCX Pro AI processor does a solid job keeping motion smooth. Honestly, we expected it to be more of a movie-only specialist, but it's a legit gaming TV.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Stunning OLED contrast and perfect blacks for the price. 95th
- A true HDR Swiss Army Knife: Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HLG, you name it. 90th
- Gaming performance is shockingly good with 120Hz support. 81th
- Comes with a massive 26-month extended warranty, which is a huge peace-of-mind bonus. 75th
Cons
- The built-in audio is weak. The subwoofer is more of a suggestion.
- Fire TV is fine, but it's a step behind LG's webOS or Samsung's Tizen for snappiness.
- Peak brightness can't keep up with high-end Mini-LEDs in a bright room.
- Some bundles might not include all the promised extras, which is annoying.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Display
| Size | 65" |
| Resolution | 3840 (4K UHD) |
| Panel Type | OLED |
| Backlight | OLED |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Year | 2024 |
HDR
| HDR Formats | Dolby Vision IQ |
| Dolby Vision | Yes |
| HDR10+ | No |
| HLG | No |
Gaming
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz |
| VRR | FreeSync Premium, G-Sync Compatible |
| Game Mode | Yes |
Smart TV
| Platform | Fire TV |
| Voice Assistant | Alexa |
Audio
| eARC | Yes |
Connectivity
| HDMI Version | 2.1 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
Value & Pricing
Absolutely worth it. For the picture quality you're getting, this is one of the best value OLEDs on the market right now. You're sacrificing some peak brightness and top-tier smart features, but you're getting that iconic OLED look for hundreds less than the big names.
vs Competition
This sits in a sweet spot between the more expensive LG G5 and the brighter, but less contrast-rich, Samsung QN90F Mini-LED. If your room isn't a sunroom and you crave perfect blacks for movies, this Panasonic beats the Samsung. Compared to the LG, you're giving up some processing finesse and the brilliant webOS interface, but you're saving a ton of cash for nearly identical panel performance. The Hisense U6 and TCL X11L are brighter, but they're LED-based and can't touch this OLED's contrast.
| Spec | Panasonic Z85 65Z85AP Z85 65" | Sony Bravia Sony BRAVIA 5 98" 4K HDR Smart Mini-LED TV | LG OLED evo - C5 series LG - 77" Class C5 Series OLED evo AI 4K UHD Smart | Samsung Neo QLED Samsung - 65” Class QN80F Series Neo QLED Mini LED | Hisense U65QF Mini-LED Hisense - 75" Class U6 Series MiniLED QLED UHD 4K | TCL QD Mini LED - QM6K TCL - 85" Class QM6K Series 4K UHD HDR QD Mini LED |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 65 | 98 | 77 | 65 | 75 | 85 |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 3840x2160 | 4K (2160p) |
| Panel Type | OLED | MiniLED | OLED | Neo QLED | MiniLED | MiniLED |
| Refresh Rate | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 144 | 144 |
| Hdr | Dolby Vision IQ | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG | HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG |
| Smart Platform | Fire TV | Google TV | webOS | Tizen | Fire TV | Google TV |
| Dolby Vision | true | true | true | false | true | true |
| Dolby Atmos | - | false | true | true | true | true |
| Hdmi Version | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | - | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Hdr | Audio | Smart | Gaming | Display | Connectivity | Social Proof | Picture Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic Z85 65Z85AP Z85 65" | 89.9 | 62.2 | 75.1 | 94.5 | 45.3 | 43.7 | 80.8 | 43 |
| Sony Bravia K98XR50 98" LED Compare | 92.9 | 73.8 | 91.6 | 94.9 | 75.4 | 97.2 | 99.5 | 86.1 |
| LG OLED evo - C5 series 77" Class C5 Series Compare | 92.9 | 90.4 | 95.3 | 99.9 | 95.6 | 98.6 | 99.5 | 43 |
| Samsung Neo QLED 65” Class Series Neo Compare | 89.9 | 90.4 | 96.6 | 92.8 | 80.1 | 92.4 | 97.6 | 86.1 |
| Hisense U65QF Mini-LED 75" Class U6 Series MiniLED Compare | 98.8 | 90.4 | 93.8 | 96.5 | 69.1 | 97.2 | 97.6 | 97.1 |
| TCL QD Mini LED - QM6K 85" Class QM6K Series Compare | 96.5 | 90.4 | 98.6 | 98.4 | 37.3 | 96 | 94.3 | 86.1 |
Common Questions
Q: Is the sound really that bad?
Yeah, it's the weak point. The 'subwoofer' is basically useless. Plan on using a soundbar or a proper audio system. It's a TV for your eyes, not your ears.
Q: How does it handle a bright room?
It's okay, not great. An OLED will always struggle against direct sunlight or super bright rooms compared to a Mini-LED. For a typical living room with some light control, it's fine, but don't expect Samsung-level punch in daylight.
Q: Is the 26-month warranty legit?
Panasonic USA authorizes it, so yes. It's a huge selling point. Just make sure you register it and keep your receipt, as some users have had hiccups with the bundle paperwork.
Who Should Skip This
If your living room is a bright, sunny conservatory and you need eye-searing peak brightness above all else, this isn't it. Go look at a Samsung QN90F Mini-LED instead. Also, skip it if you hate the Fire TV interface and want the absolute smartest platform; LG's webOS is still the king there.
Verdict
If you want the best possible picture quality for movies and a great gaming experience without breaking the bank, buy this TV. Pair it with a decent soundbar on day one, and you've got a fantastic home theater setup. It's a clear recommendation for anyone prioritizing picture over everything else.