Panasonic Z8BA: What Real Users Say About This OLED

We bought the Z8BA earlier in December & been using it for the past 3 weeks. For the price ($1500 on Amazon currently) there is no question to go with it over the C5: Picture processing is superior (more natural) + more configuration options; utilizes the same panel FYI. Supports both Dolby Vision & HDR10+ (only US OLED that does). Great built in sound in a clean package (maybe add a subwoofer if you want the extra oomph) - but overall no need for an extra soundbar.

Cant really go wrong with either, both are excellent brands and TVs. I have both a Sony and Panasonic from 2024 and couldn't choose between them. I know it doesn't make your decision easier but you could literally flip a coin and be happy with either result. Win win situation.

Are you OK with giving advice if you are even not aware of Panasonic's models?

Everything about this tv has been great and I was on the fence about what tv to get, but considering how good the colors are compared to real life I wanted that natural tone. I got a great deal in my opinion at 1599. I use filmmaker and professional modes to get the natural true to life tones. This tv uses an LG panel with the benefits of Panasonics cooling and processing.

Don't believe the Panasonic is inferior narrative. It's the exact same Z90B from Europe & made in Malaysia. You will see exponentially many more posts on the web about LG or Samsung going wrong than Panny or Sony.

Yes Panasonic has the inbuilt technics speakers which are really great for tv speakers. If you don't plan to get a soundbar I think the Panasonic is the one to go with.

I would be reluctant to buy a Panasonic TV because they have such a small market share that they may stop selling tvs altogether. TV sales are a high volume low margin business so they may well decide that it's not profitable to continue. Would they continue to provide software updates to your TV if they did leave the business? I don't know.

I confirm identical customer care experience. I have raised a complaint and will take to ombudsman in UK if they don't take down their 5 working days promise.

Return that asap.

If people have to avoid a model because of few faulty units, then probably there won't be any TV available.

Untrue. It is the same as the EU version - the Z8BA (US) is the Z90B equivalent in Europe made in the same factory.

The Panasonic is much better. LG has too much processing here they try to over compensate for the lack of shades of red you get from w-oled while Panasonic will keep it more conservative. You should go to the store and see it for yourself. I remember going to the shop to see a c4, and was absolutely horrified to discover the only mode I liked was game mode (which is where the panel looked more natural because the processing was suddenly turned off).

I bought the Z8BA for my brother for Christmas and it's an amazing TV. I hate the Amazon software, and the setup process was a little more tedious initially setting up than my Sony A95L. However, once everything is set up it's perfect. There are so many picture customization options that I was really impressed with it.

He absolutely loves it, and it's a huge improvement from the LG E8 OLED that I gave him years ago. The colors are vibrant, which not QD-OLED level but definitely more punchier than traditional WOLED. The motion handling and picture processing I think is on par with Sony. The one thing that I know is that Panasonic supports 1440P at 120hz which is good for gaming. Sony surprisingly doesn't on all their TVs.

I still have my main TV as the Panny P60ST60 Plasma from 2013. Like Sony is 1, Panasonic is 1a in terms of quality, reliability, motion performance and cinematic picture out of the box. So even if Panny is sold or goes out of business, the TV will most likely outlive its technology by a long mile.

I kept the tv since the banding issue that pissed me off was with the settings menu on sources and since the update fixed that menu I wasn't too worried about it. I'm happy with it at 1,699 or whatever I paid and I'm very happy with this picture and color quality. I don't see reflections too much.

Both are probably great TVs. C5 is well reviewed, it's known to be good. Z8BA uses Panasonic's best processor, which is highly regarded, and a recent OLED panel by LG, but it doesn't have much reviews.

I would never buy a Panasonic OLED TV again after the current one I have. It has so many CEC issues and hasn't been updated once since it came out.

That's definitely hardware related IMHO. Might get better with time, but it also might not. If it were me, I'd return it.

It's a rebadged Z93A that was sold in Europe last year. It was supposed to come to the US last year, but never did. It uses a regular EX panel like the LG C series, but includes a heat sink and the high end audio found on the Z95A. It being labeled MLA on the website is incorrect. Panasonic said they'll be correcting the website ASAP.

Coming from an OLED, anything other than an OLED will be a noticeable difference.

I have the lz800 and I feel like I can't buy a different brand.

Personally I'd go with the panny. You'll get a 144hz refresh rate I believe. I purchased a Panasonic z85a a month ago and that was my introduction into OLED coming from an old Samsung quantum dot display. To sum it up the experience has been great and Panasonic still makes an amazing tv as they did when they made plasmas.

I opted for the Z8BAP paired with a SpeedWoofer 10e subwoofer. No regrets.

Better processing and build quality to both. Better motion and more 'real' colors than both. In theory, slightly dimmer to both but in actual viewing of real world content you can't tell unless they're both side by side. s90f gets brighter and more saturated colors at high luminance but at the cost of sometimes looking unnatural or artificial, which is great for anime and video games. At 1500 it is an absolute steal especially if your room is light controlled or you mostly watch your content at night.

Yes, for one day. What do you want to know? Build quality is flagship level. Picture quality is too in a light controlled room. Not for a bright room that has no light control abilities, unless you casually watch during day and do serious watching at night.

I would've got this tv if it was available in my region. I splurged on the z95 and it's such a great tv. Out of the Sony, LG, Samsung and Panasonic TVs I own, the panny is my favourite.

Panasonic no question. Filtered light through blinds will be fine as I have similar on my OLED and never had any issue.

I bought my brother the Z8BA and it's a BEAST of a TV.

Better in every way but mostly Panasonic processing, upscaling, image handling, natural colors, build quality > LG/Samsung's brightness, light weight.

I had a 65 and a 55 of the same TV model, both have the same CEC issues. Panasonic was not helpful. I have tried four different models of AVR across three brands, all have some kind of CEC issue with this TV. All of those AVRs don't have any of the same issue on Samsung or LG TVs. It could be the horrendous Fire TV OS that's on it. Picture is great though.

Panasonic oleds r awesome… if only they didn't run fire os.

Even the president of Panasonic said that they may sell their TV business unit as it is one of four underperforming divisions they have. They have not yet found a buyer - see flatpanelshd article.

Do you feel like it's too dim/dark? Looking at the Rtings scores is really making me nervous before I spend that amount of money and have buyers remorse. Everything else puts it above the QM8K in my view, except the fear of it being not bright enough.

Buy an external streaming device, problem solved.

I bought this TV for my brother for Christmas. It was a great deal at $1,499 but I wish I could see more reviews on this TV.

My brand new LG C2 arrived with this issue 3 years ago (on every image, not just menus) and the Pixel Refresh/Cleaning process fixed it immediately and permanently. Ignore people that tell you to return it until you've tried this.

Offer price is $2499 being sold at amazon, best buy through beach camera and also at buydig. Seems like a decent price for a 77 inch oled from Panasonic.

It's $1599 now. I really want to know how it compares to the C5/S90f.

I thought the Panasonic z8b looked very dated until I realized the bar at the bottom is a built-in soundbar. From the side you can see the split. I ordered the Panasonic, I'm curious if you can fully separate the soundbar.

The point is really Panasonic's lack of support for their products. They haven't sold TVs in North America for years, and their support model for these new models just isn't there yet. If your TV works, great. But if anything goes wrong, don't expect meaningful help from them.