Panasonic unveils 2023 OLED flagship MZ2000: 150% higher peak brightness

04 Jan 2023 | Rasmus Larsen |

Panasonic is bringing micro lens array (MLA) technology to its 2023 OLED TV flagship MZ2000. It delivers a major boost in peak brightness for better HDR as well as fullscreen brightness. At CES 2023, Panasonic has announced MZ2000 that it claims will reach 150% higher peak brightness. This is achieved with a customized LG Display WOLED panel with micro lens array (MLA) technology that helps improves the efficiency of the OLED panel combined with a new heat dissipation system. - "The MZ2000 uses Panasonic’s new custom module, called the 'Master OLED Ultimate', which uses a state-of-the-art panel with Micro Lens Array, combined with a new multi-layer heat management configuration developed by Panasonic engineers. The result is a major step-up in brightness, with peak brightness increases of approximately 150%, and average brightness also improved compared to last year’s models," announced Panasonic. "The result is Panasonic’s best and brightest picture – making the MZ2000 a must-have TV for 2023." MZ2000 will be available in 55, 65 and 77 inches with 4K resolution but only the 55 and 65 inch versions come with the combination of the new brighter OLED panel and new heat management system. Update: During a presentation Panasonic measured a 10% window where MZ2000 reached close to 1500 nits. It also demonstrated that it could maintain over 1000 nits on larger patches than 10% on the screen compared to last year's LZ2000:

Panasonic MZ2000's peak brightness on a 10% window from a Panasonic presentation. Screenshot: FlatpanelsHD

Panasonic MZ2000 (right) maintained over 1000 nits on this larger white patch. Screenshot: FlatpanelsHD

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MZ2000 is the successor to last year's LZ2000 which reached 1000 nits peak brightness in calibrated mode and around 1200 nits in 'Vivid' mode, according to FlatpanelsHD's LZ2000 review. It is unclear which 2022 model the stated 150% improvement refers to exactly but it is something we will explore in our MZ2000 review later this year. Panasonic 2023 TVs have support for HDR10, HDR10+ Adaptive, Dolby Vision IQ and HLG Photo, the latter being an HDR format for still photography.

Panasonic MZ2000 looks almost identical but has a brighter MLA-based OLED panel. Photo: Panasonic

New features in 2023

Filmmaker Mode will gain support for ambient sensing; "for example, by lowering the temperature in response to warmly lit conditions, or brightening the dark tones in extremely light environments", explained Panasonic. In addition, Panasonic will support Nvidia G-Sync Compatible and an expanded suite of gaming features with 'True Game Mode', 'source-oriented tone mapping' (it is not HDMI 2.1 SBTM, Panasonic told FlatpanelsHD), and Game-related sound modes. MZ2000 still supports HDMI 2.1 for 4K 120Hz, VRR, and AMD FreeSync, but Dolby Vision is still limited to maximum 4K 60Hz. The company confirmed to FlatpanelsHD that MZ2000 does not support HDMI QMS (Quick Media Switching). - "To ensure every title looks its best, the new True Game Mode brings all the colour accuracy features available for movies into the world of gaming, while improved HDR Tone Mapping delivers source-oriented expression from the gaming device. In addition, True Game Mode is calibratable and shows the Calman Calibrated logo after adjustment with Portrait Displays’ Calman Color calibration software – the de facto standard in the world of content creation, distribution and playback. This means True Game Mode reproduces games as intended by their creators," said Panasonic.

The built-in Dolby Atmos speaker system gets an "upgraded Bass Booster algorithm for deeper low frequencies". It must be selected from the menu. There are three new sound focus modes: "'Pinpoint Mode' which allows the sound to be directed to one specific point; 'Area Mode' which lets you shift the sound to a group of people in a specific area of the room; and 'Spot Mode', which boosts the volume in one spot while allowing others to still hear the sound". Panasonic has also implemented a 'Streaming 4K Remaster' algorithm which it claims can improve upscaling of non-4K content.

Lastly, Panasonic brings its in-house TV platform, My Home Screen, up to version 8.0 which includes the Bass Booster function, new accessibility features, and an improved myScenery function. There are no plans to update earlier models to 8.0. Panasonic MZ2000 will launch in Europe in autumn 2023 and pricing will be announced later. Additional 2023 TV models will be unveiled later.