Just how accurate are Panasonic's TVs? Considering the company works with some of Hollywood's top colourists and studios to master its tops model and give an as-the-director-intended performance, we'd say pretty accurate. One of its longest standing collaborators is Stefan Sonnenfeld, described by NPR as 'the da Vinci of the movies'.
If you want a taste of Hollywood right in your lounge, a Panasonic TV is a smart bet. But which one?
We're here to help. We've tested countless Panasonic TVs over the years (as well as hundreds from other brands), so we know what makes a great one. Below, you'll find a list of the very best Panasonic TVs that are available right now.
How to choose the best Panasonic TV for you
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi?
Screen size is the most obvious consideration. Measure how much space you've got, and check out the full dimensions of your chosen set before spending any money. Some have slimmer bezels than others, which makes a real difference when squeezing into a tight space.
Do you want 4K? You'll likely get it anyway as Panasonic (like most brands) produces very few HD models these days.
Most modern Panasonic TVs also support all four varieties of HDR – HLG, HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision – so you don't have to worry about being left out with certain content.
The big question you need to ask yourself is whether you want an OLED TV or an LCD model, as Panasonic produces both. Generally speaking, we recommend going for an OLED if you can afford one – Panasonic's OLED TVs represent the company's best, and they're among the very best OLEDs you can buy anywhere. All of the below are OLED models.
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The Panasonic MZ1500 is the latest rival to the What Hi-Fi? Award-winning Sony A80L as the best OLED for most people. With subtle but accurate picture quality, it's the best performance-per-pounds model in the firm's latest OLED range.
The built-in speaker will be a godsend to some, but a pain to those looking to add their own soundbar. The MZ1500 misses out on the dedicated up- and side-firing drivers of the flagship MZ2000. But last year's swivel stand makes a welcome return – this makes it easy to place and angle the TV, as well as to access the rear ports.
The MZ1500 has the same OLED EX panel as the LG C3, so it's in good company. But Panasonic has tuned and optimised it to boost the brightness and colour accuracy – hence the Master OLED Pro branding. This is all powered by the same HCX Pro AI processor as seen in the MZ2000 (below).
Gamers will be pleased by the True Game Mode and Dolby Vision gaming support, but less so with the two HDMI 2.1 ports (LG's C3 has four). And while the app selection is good, it does have some holes – you only get Apple TV+ instead of the full Apple TV app, and there are no GeForce Now, Xbox or Steam Link.
Filmmaker Mode provides a suitably accurate picture that's really authentic. Skin tones are warm, motion smooth and the picture is bursting with detail. That's the MZ1500 all over – it favours a subtle, authentic performance over the garish 'pop' of some rivals.
As for the built-in speaker bar, it is better than most TVs' integrated speakers, but that's not saying much. There's more bass than most TVs manage, but it soon starts rattling, and it can't place sounds with as much accuracy as the Sony A80L. As we always say: get a soundbar.
But for the money, this is the best TV Panasonic currently offers.
Read the full Panasonic MZ1500 review
Panasonic's flagship OLED TV brings MLA tech (also used by LG's G3) to up the brightness. But that's not the only trick up its sleeve – its built-in sound system has the same speaker bar as the MZ1500, but with added side-firing and up-firing drivers.
The excellent Filmmaker Mode can adjust to your room's ambient lighting conditions, not only for brightness but colour temperature, too. The MZ2000 is one of the few TVs to play nice with every current format of HDR, but it is missing some apps like Now and Discovery+ (which is home to TNT Sports). Gamers are well served by True Game Mode, 4K/120Hz, VRR (Freesync, G-Sync and ‘standard’) and ALLM. But it's not all good news: the Dolby Vision game mode tops out at 60Hz rather than the full 120Hz, and you only get two HDMI 2.1 ports to the LG C3's four.
The picture is noticeably brighter and more impactful than the non-MLA MZ1500, and it digs up plenty of detail. Colours are subtle and nuanced, with plenty of room for manoeuvre between the inky blacks and stark whites. Motion is also excellent.
Sonically, it's more heavyweight than its rivals, thanks to the built-in speaker bar. But again, it struggles with placement, and the overall sound lacks crispness and definition. If you have the money, and can add your own home cinema system, this flagship is definitely one for the shortlist.
Read the full Panasonic MZ2000 review
Panasonic's more affordable 2023 OLED TV follows the Award-winning LZ980. But times have changed, with Sony's A80L the current Award-winner in the same price category.
The MZ980 still holds its own. You get a more basic stand than the MZ1500 or MZ2000 (it doesn't swivel), and there's no built-in speaker bar, which does make a separate soundbar a more practical choice. The screen panel also hasn't been tuned like those of Panny's pricier models. But it features the same processor, though it does suffer from the same app omissions as its pricier stablemates.
It gives a similarly balanced picture as the MZ1500, with fantastic detail, but it's not as bright as the middle child in Panasonic's OLED range. The knock-on effect is a narrower colour range. But skin tones remain very authentic and lifelike, and the level of shadow detail is impressive for a TV this price.
Sonically, it leaves a lot to be desired. The speakers rattle even at moderate volumes, and any injection of bass prompts some distortion. As ever, we advise a soundbar.
Overall, Sony's A80L is the better TV at this price. But if it's a Panasonic you're after, the MZ980 is still a very good option.
Read the full Panasonic MZ980 review
How we test TVs
Here at What Hi-Fi? we review hundreds of products every year – and that includes many of the best Sony TVs. So how do we come to our review verdicts? And why can you trust them?
We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London, Bath and Reading, where our team of expert reviewers do all of our testing. This gives us complete control over the testing process, ensuring consistency.
All products are tested in comparison with rival products in the same price category, and all review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole rather than an individual reviewer, again helping to ensure consistency and avoid any personal preference.
The What Hi-Fi? team has more than 100 years experience of reviewing, testing and writing about consumer electronics.
From all of our reviews, we choose the best products to feature in our Best Buys. That's why if you take the plunge and buy one of the products recommended below, or on any other Best Buy page, you can be assured you're getting a What Hi-Fi? approved product.
- Our pick of the best LG TVs available
- And the best Sony TVs