With the arrival of the new console generation the need arose to support the power of new technologies in terms of gaming with a suitable video device. Savoring the power of the PlayStation 5 and the versatility of the new Xbox Series X / S on a CRT TV is certainly not the best. But lately the appellative “TV and GamingHas been more than abused, riding the crest of the video game trend, and finding one smart TV really designed for video games it is getting more and more complicated. Wanting to break this cycle, Panasonic enters the field. The company unveiled its new range of OLED TVs this summer including the new Panasonic OLED TX LZ980 and this is his review.
The review of the Panasonic OLED TX LZ980
We are facing one Smart TV con OLED screen designed to get the most out of video games and more. The TV is indeed capable of supporting quality YOU ARE 4K and together with a processor HCX Pro AIaudio quality Dolby Atmos and technology Cinema Surround PROaims to become thecentral hub of your home entertainment.
But let’s start with order.
Design
Panasonic once again draws on decades of experience by introducing us an all-black minimalist design and quality materials and great sturdiness. One big one base in metallo and plastic supports the TV thanks to a stand, also in metal, solid and easy to assemble. The TV (55 ″ for this review) also looks great with very thin edges and an elegant design.
On the back of the TV we obviously find the terminal of the various inputs to connect consoles, devices and much more. We find in fact 4 HDMI inputs protected by HDCP and related media (eARC, VRR, ALLM, etc.), 3 USB inputs (1 USB 3.0 input and 2 USB 2.0 inputs), Ethernet cable input, one analog audio input (M3), one digital audio output e a headphone input that can also be used as a subwoofer output. Everything you need to connect many devices to one large TV.
In the package, in addition to the power cable, the remote controller with which you can enjoy most of the entertainment content with a simple button (more on that later in the review).
Technology
The fantastic video quality (spoiler!) that you can enjoy with this one OLED TX LZ980 is the fruit of a incredible mix of technology that Panasonic has put into it. Let’s start with the aforementioned processor HCX Pro AI created by Panasonicable to instantly analyze each image and fine-tune contrast, color and brightness to give us the best possible version of that frame.
L’AI, artificial intelligence, plays a central role in all of this. The function Auto AI it is in fact able to recognize the type of images that are being viewed, whether it is a sporting event, a film or a video game. Each image will be adapted and improved according to the type and not only: the advanced intelligent detection Dolby Vision IQ it is also able to observe “outside” the screen so as to adjust the image according to the amount of ambient light in your room.
Technology and quality go hand in hand to give us vivid images, warm colors and more intense blacks. The inevitable support for HDR formats (High Dynamic Range) HDR10 and the new HDR10 + adaptive format where brightness and color are optimized scene by scene. Quality also in terms of sound thanks to Dolby Atmos and technology Cinema Surround Pro. While the former returns excellent sounds in terms of sharpness and depth, the latter take advantage of the built-in speakers to deliver deep bass and immersive sound like never before, to find yourself, without realizing it, at the center of the action.
A TV for gamers and more
Game Control Board
And this is where we finally start talking about the functions dedicated to us, to gamers who always want to get the most out of their consoles. This Panasonic knows this well and has decided to work seriously on the gaming factor.
In fact, the smart TV uses technologies and methods to obtain the best quality in video games. Among these we find the Game Extreme mode with which to be able adapt Frame Rate (HFR) and Refresh Rate (VRR) according to the game. To this is added theAMD FreeSync Premium, which allows you to synchronize the refresh rate of the console with the processing capacity of the processor. This results in a more stable frame rendering and smoother rendering. Even our video games will benefit from Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos technologies for excellent audio and video quality
To all this is added the Game Control Boardand menu exclusively dedicated to video games which allows you to adapt the TV settings to the type of game, be it a FPS, a sports game, racing and so on. In addition, we will also have a series of more technical information on the rendering of the game in real time.
Our test of the 55 ″ Panasonic OLED TX LZ980
To accomplish this recensione del Panasonic OLED TX LZ980, we used it daily for about 1 month during which it welcomed all our consoles without complaining. Let’s start from this point, the huge amount of HDMI inputs and the like allowed us not only to to be able to attack any device we had at home without hitches but also to connect all the consoles at our disposal at the same time (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series S). With all of them he behaved in an excellent way, allowing us to fully enjoy the fantastic potential of the new generation.
The rendering of images and colors is exceptional and, currently, it has entered the pantheon of the best video quality ever enjoyed by this reviewer. It so happened that during the test, the remake of The Last of Us on PlayStation 5 was released. Well let me tell you that enjoying the potential of the video game on this TV was nothing short of a privilege. The dark and intense colors of the game stand out enormously on this OLED and gave us a truly immersive experience also in terms of audio quality: the Dolby Atmos and Cinema Surround Pro made us forget about headphones, giving us practically perfect sound feedback.
Not just video games
If you are not particularly used to video games, fear not, because this OLED TX LZ980 has everything you need to become your favorite entertainment system. Once the TV is connected to the internet and the home antenna, only time will be your limit to enjoy every available content. Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and all major entertainment platforms are already installed on the TV and can be expanded with a app store all in all well supplied. Through the remote control you will be able to access the contents of the most popular streaming platforms in a flash thanks to the press of a button.
From the remote you will also be able to manage all settings that Panasonic offers. In addition to the aforementioned specific options for gaming, we find many dedicated to audio and video for get the most out of your content. It must be said that the menu sacrifices a bit of intuitiveness of the settings in favor of an unparalleled level of depth. We weren’t aware of the option that allows us to “Emphasize dialogue”, but Panasonic can.
This brings us to another extremely important and advantageous point: we are faced with a Smart TV for everyone. If you are a gamerthe system offers specific settings to get the best out of video games. If you are a lover of TV seriesvideo quality and immersive audio will make you fully enjoy any show. If you are a tech expert the detailed and numerous settings will allow you to calibrate the TV to the millimeter. If technology isn’t your forteindulge in the abilities of artificial intelligence and let them choose the best quality available.
The Panasonic OLED TX LZ980 review at a glance
Panasonic’s LZ980 TX LZ980 OLED Smart TV has conquered our hearts and eyes as gamers in no time proving to be a more than worthy support for the new generation of consoles. A series of specific settings for videogames allow it to become the best tool around to get the most out of each title. We certainly haven’t become pro-players, but dying in 4K and with such color rendition is almost a pleasure!
The vast amount of settings and modes available make it a democratic TV adaptable to any taste and need. Thanks to the refined technology inside, you will be able to obtain the best possible quality not only for each type of content but also according to the external environmental conditions. The magic of technology at its best!
Prices and availability
Panasonic’s new TX LZ980 OLED smart TV is now available in the following versions:
- Panasonic TX-LZ980E da 65″ a 2399,99 €
- Panasonic TX-LZ980E da 55″ a 1799,99 €
- Panasonic TX-LZ980E da 48″ a 1649,99 €
- Panasonic TX-LZ980E da 42″ a 1499,99 €