You may find it hard to remember the Obama era, but in 2013, Panasonic Plasma TVs Plasma TVs were a critical darling in the US market. They far outperformed their LED/LCD counterparts at a time when OLEDs were little more than a pipe dream for most. Suddenly, under enormous pressure from ever cheaper LED panels, Panasonic stopped all production of plasma TVs. By 2016, the company had completely exited the US TV market. Now, more than 10 years after its plasma models reigned supreme in the US, Panasonic TVs are back.
Outside of the US, Panasonic remains a global leader in the OLED era. Rumors of a return to the States have been circulating for almost as long as the brand has been absent, but a global partnership with Amazon announced at CES 2024 set things in motion. Today, Panasonic officially revealed the US launch of three premium TVs featuring Amazon’s Fire TV smart interface: the flagship Z95A and Z85A OLED TVs, and the flagship W95A mini LED TV.
All three models are now available in limited sizes as Panasonic begins its slow return to competition with LG, Samsung and Sony. Here’s what you need to know.
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Panasonic Z95A OLED
Photography: Panasonic
The Z95A is the brand’s flagship OLED model, launched earlier this year globally to critical acclaim for its excellent performance. The TV offers advanced features like a dedicated Gaming Bar and a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz (albeit only on two of the four inputs, one of which is the eARC port), HDR10+ and Dolby Vision/Dolby Vision IQ HDR support, and AI-powered picture modes. It uses an OLED panel from LG Display (Panasonic hasn’t officially commented on this), enhanced with Panasonic’s in-house processing and proprietary technology.