Panasonic has announced its return to U.S. markets after a decade-long absence. With a new line-up of OLED and Mini-LED TVs that include the Z95A and Z85A and W95A models, respectively. Ranging from 55 to 85 inches, all TVs are designed and developed in Japan.

Through a global collaboration with Amazon, these models also come with Fire TV built in. Starting today, the company states U.S. consumers can pre-order these TVs from retailers such as Amazon and Costco.com.

Why Panasonic is Entering Back into the U.S. TV Market

As one of the most popular consumer electronics brands in Japan, Panasonic states it was driven to re-enter the US by a strong belief in the unmet demand for their televisions, particularly among consumers seeking the highest possible picture quality.

As consumers live through what many call the Golden Age of Television, the number of discerning viewers has increased, with more people wanting to experience their favorite content exactly as it was intended. In addition to the demand for high-quality picture performance, the rise of smart homes has transformed consumer expectations.

Panasonic says it recognizes that today’s viewers desire more than just great picture quality; they seek smart experiences that seamlessly integrate with their evolving smart home environments, which the company notes was part of the reason it partnered with Amazon for its smart TVs.

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“The United States is crucially important to us, and ever since we left ten years ago, it has been my mission to find a way to return,” says Yasunari Anan, Executive Vice President of Panasonic Entertainment & Communication Co., Ltd. “Today is the end of that long journey and the beginning of a new one to bring new choice to US consumers.

“From this year, we have started a global collaboration with Amazon so that new Panasonic smart TVs will have Fire TV built in. These TVs have already been launched in Japan, Asia, Oceania, and Europe and the response from consumers has absolutely exceeded our expectations. We are confident US consumers are also going to be thrilled with them.”

A Closer Look at Panasonic’s OLED and Mini-LED TVs

Initially, Panasonic will sell three series of TVs in the United States. The flagship Z95A OLED TV, available in 65”; the Z85A OLED TV, available in 65” and 55” sizes. In addition, Panasonic will also sell the W95 mini-LED series, available in 55”, 65”, 75”, and 85” sizes. All of these TVs are substantially the same as those sold by the brand in other regions, with some minor regional differences.

Looking at the Z95A OLED TV, CE pros can get a good feel for the type of features that Panasonic prides itself on, with the company’s proprietary HCX Pro AI Processor MK II and Master OLED Ultimate panel.

Coming standard in all Panasonic TVs, the HCX Pro AI Processor MK II, powers the new 4K Remaster Engine which elevates streaming picture clarity, by combining AI and mathematical models for crisp, natural images, and superior streaming noise reduction. Gradation has also been improved to reduce banding.

This technology works in tandem with a TV’s embedded ambient light sensors to perceive how bright it is in the living room and then adjust the on-screen picture to ensure that every detail can be seen, even the darkest of scenes.

This ensures that casual viewers, who may prefer not to tweak settings manually, can still enjoy an optimal viewing experience, though there are options in place for professional calibration as well.

The new HCX Pro AI Processor MK II also enables Dolby Vision support up to 144Hz.

The Z95A displays also feature 360 Soundscape Pro with multidirectional speakers and Dolby Atmos support and come with far field voice control thanks to its integration with Alexa, which also transforms the TV into a smart home hub for Alexa-enabled devices.

The TVs will even transform into dynamic displays, when not in use, cycling between different art images in a way that’s reminiscent of many modern art TVs.

Additionally, the W95 mini-LED features enhanced backlight control with Local Dimming Ultra meant to minimize the “halo effect” found on many LCD TVs. A Quantum Dot Sheet also brings further superior color reproduction and contrast enhancements.

A Superior Gaming TV?

As gaming has become quite the popular hobby for a lot of people, TV and projector manufacturers have sought to capitalize on the growing market trend by having it so their TVs can compete with that of specialized gaming monitors, and Panasonic is no different.

According to the company, the flagship TVs coming to the U.S. markets feature HDMI 2.1 High Frame Rate and VRR up to 144Hz.

Furthermore, Panasonic states the TVs boast an ultra-low input lag, and feature specialized Game Sound Modes for RPG (Role-Playing Games) and FPS (First-Person Shooter) genres.

The RPG mode creates a 3D soundscape with clear dialogues, essential for immersive storytelling and strategic gameplay. Conversely, the FPS mode is finely tuned to accentuate crucial sound cues, like footsteps, providing a tactical advantage in shooter games.

There’s also HDR Picture Adjustment with Tone Mapping OFF, which allows for adjustment of HDR games right at the source, rather than the TV, ensuring high brightness levels and detailed visibility, without overblowing the highlights.

To top it off, all game settings are accessible from a separate ‘Game Control Board’ onscreen overlay, which provides a game settings dashboard allowing fast access to all settings. It can even be placed on the My App button on the remote control for quick access.

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