Panasonic is switching from its own MyHomeScreen to FireTV in its 2024 OLED TVs, which will also incorporate the brighter 2024 MLA OLED panel. Here's our first look at Z95A.

2024 is a fresh start for the Japanese company with a new model nomenclature. Z95A is the new flagship OLED TV that will be available in 55 and 65 inches, while Z93A will be available in 77 inches without the MLA OLED panel.

The most significant change is the shift from Panasonic's own MyHomeScreen, which will no longer be in Panasonic TVs – but will still be maintained, the company said – to Amazon's FireTV platform. This change will also introduce a completely overhauled TV menu structure.


 The redesigned picture/audio menus in Panasonic Z95A. Photo: FlatpanelsHD

FlatpanelsHD received a demonstration of the new FireTV features in Z95A, and one surprising element is that Amazon and Panasonic have collaborated to integrate Panasonic's TV Guide, recordings menu, and some of the other unique tuner features known from existing Panasonic TVs – something not typically seen in other FireTVs.

Panasonic Z95A and Z93A also come with Panasonic's own remote featuring the user-configurable MyApp button. The new Matter Casting system will be supported on Panasonic FireTVs, and in addition, there is Apple AirPlay support. Alexa will be supported in English in all markets, Amazon confirmed.

Below you see Amazon's 'Ambient Experience' that shows artworks and widgets when the TV is not in use. It was previously exclusive to Amazon's own devices but is also coming to 2024 Panasonic TVs.


 Amazon's Ambient Experience is also supported in Panasonic's FireTVs. Photo: FlatpanelsHD

Unlike MyHomeScreen, FireTV will receive regular updates to the user interface through Amazon's cloud servers, but FireTV also has an increasing number of ads on the homescreen. It is Panasonic's responsibility to release firmware upgrades related to the tuners and HDMI hardware, if necessary.

We recorded the presentation so you can see it for yourself.



First look: Panasonic Z95A
You have now seen FireTV, which Panasonic says "will be our primary OS" this year – not ruling out Google TV in some models – but Z95A is, of course, first and foremost a flagship OLED TV.

It was confirmed to FlatpanelsHD that Z95A will come with the 2024 MLA (Micro Lens Array) OLED panel. While LG Display claims that it can hit up to 3000 nits peak brightness, Panasonic has not provided any hard figures. Panasonic is just saying that it will be brighter. As for MLA OLED missing in 77 inches, Panasonic argued that the market for large OLED TVs is still small, and having MLA would have made the 77-inch more expensive.

We were given a short demonstration by Panasonic of the 2024 panel's picture quality and peak brightness capabilities but not enough to provide any meaningful commentary other than it looking very promising. Our expectation is that Z95A will, once again in 2024. be among the top-performing TVs.

Filmmaker Mode will support auto-switching with the built-in Prime Video app but not yet the Apple TV app. Amazon said that this auto-switching mechanism works with over 1000 movies on Prime Video.

Panasonic is switching to the MediaTek Pentonic chip platform, so Z95A (and Z93A) will, for the first time, support Dolby Vision at both 120Hz and 144Hz. Like all other TV brands with MediaTek Pentonic, there are still only two HDMI 2.1 ports. The other two ports support select HDMI 2.1 features but offer only HDMI 2.0 bandwidth up to 4K60.


 The upgraded Game Control Board in Panasonic Z95A. Photo: FlatpanelsHD

For gamers, an upgraded 'Game Control Board' shows you information about the input signal and offers quick access to relevant gaming features. As you can see in the photo, VRR from an Nvidia GeForce PC graphics card will, for the first time in TVs, be supported up to 144Hz. A 'True Game Mode' is pre-calibrated so you can play games as intended, with accurate color.

Panasonic said that gaming is now one of its main focus areas, in addition to movies. With the new features and enhancements, Panasonic OLED TVs are closer than ever – save for the absence of four HDMI 2.1 ports – to matching LG's OLED TVs that are very popular among gamers.


Atmos speakers with new features
The built-in speaker system is largely unchanged in terms of hardware, with both up-firing and side-firing speakers for Dolby Atmos.

As shown in the video, there are, however, new audio settings and features that allow you to focus sound on specific positions in the living room, for example, if you have a chair in the living room that is not directly in front of the TV. There is a 'Spot Mode' and 'Area Mode', as seen in the picture below.

Unfortunately, the environment was too noisy to evaluate how well it worked.

That's all for now. FlatpanelsHD expects to receive a review sample later.


 The new audio features in Panasonic Z95A and Z93A. Photo: FlatpanelsHD

 The new audio features in Panasonic Z95A and Z93A. Photo: FlatpanelsHD

 The new audio features in Panasonic Z95A and Z93A. Photo: FlatpanelsHD

Panasonic 2024 OLED TVs – specifications
 FlatpanelsHD