When it comes to this year's new TVs, the biggest technological developments we'll hear about at CES 2024 involve AI processors, and Panasonic has joined the attack. The Japanese company has announced two brand new OLED TVs – called the Z95A and Z93A – that feature the next generation of its HCX Pro AI processor, which it is calling the Mk II.
The improved chip not only promises to deliver a big improvement in picture quality when watching the best streaming services – thanks to a new 4K Remaster Engine with improved noise cancellation – but will also enable Dolby Vision support at a 144Hz refresh rate, making it TVs are highly recommended. major challenger to the best gaming TVs available today.
Oddly enough, Panasonic has gone straight to Z for its model names (last year it was M, the year before that it was L, and so on, with a few exceptions). The first of the two, the Z95A, will be available in 55-inch and 65-inch sizes and will use what Panasonic calls a Master OLED Ultimate panel, which – like last year's flagship Panasonic MZ2000 – uses microlens array (MLA) technology. for high brightness. Meanwhile, the Z93A is only available in a 77-inch size and will use a Master OLED Pro Cinema panel, which is essentially the same as in the Panasonic MZ1500, although supported by more advanced technology in processing and elsewhere. This means it's less bright than the 55-inch and 65-inch versions, hence the different model name
Both sets are specified as a complete all-in-one package, with Amazon's Fire TV software built in for a personalized streaming home screen (a first for TVs of this high quality), Dolby Vision IQ Precision for extra picture improvements and clarity and the seriously Panasonic's impressive 360 Soundscape Pro technology for immersive Dolby Atmos without having to add one of the best soundbars.
The new HCX Pro AI Processor Mk II is the brains behind the improved Game Mode Extreme, which combines the power of HDMI 2.1, AMD Freesync Premium, Nvidia G-Sync and VRR up to 144 Hz to deliver higher resolutions, faster frame rates and faster bandwidth. The new TVs also feature ALLM support, to switch to their low-lag mode.
Outside of gaming, Panasonic's new Z93A and Z95A are also excellent smart home hubs. For example, features like Alexa, Apple Home and AirPlay compatibility allow owners to check in on security cameras or beam photos for easy viewing. It even has an ambient TV mode (see image above) that shows customizable Alexa widgets like calendars and reminders.
There's no official word yet on when the TVs will become available or how much they will cost, but based on the MZ2000 we might be looking at a similar price range of between £2,699 for the 55-inch and up to £4,499 for the 55-inch . 77-in. Unfortunately, as usual with Panasonic, we don't expect them to be available in the US. If Panasonic manages to bring the price down at all, which was the only major setback we encountered when reviewing last year's flagship model, then we certainly have a contender for our list of the best TVs, given Panasonic's strong history .
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