Panasonic has today unveiled three new "core" LCD TV ranges for 2020, HX940, HX900 and HX800. The LCD TVs will be available in 43 to 75 inches with 4K resolution, multi-HDR, and Dolby Atmos support.

Panasonic 2020 LCD
The new LCD line-up for 2020 announced at the company's annual event today can be seen mainly as a refresh of last year's line-up. The LCD TVs still come with 4K resolution, edge LED, and support for the same formats.

The HX800 will be available in 40, 50, 58, and 65 inches and is described as an "entry-level" series. It features Panasonic's HCX video processor, including support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, and HLG Photo. In addition, it supports Dolby Atmos audio.



Stepping up to the HX900 series, which will be available in 43, 49, 55, and 65 inches, offers the same features on an LCD panel with "increased brightness". The panel type was not specified.

The most advanced HX940 will come in 43, 49, 55, 65, and 75 inches. With a faster 100 Hz LCD panel and a more advanced HCX Pro video processor, HX940 offers more advanced picture systems. HX940 is edge-lit and features 'Local Dimming Intelligent Pro' to "dynamically adjusts both the backlight and also the LCD shutters" in an attempt to improve contrast.



HDR in software vs. hardware
Panasonic is highlighting support for "all popular HDR formats" but the LCD technology in these TVs will not match the most advanced LCD TVs from competing brands, and if you had hoped to see a successor to Panasonic's flagship DX900 with full array local dimming from 2016, HX940 is not it - despite its '940' designation.

Panasonic counters by arguing that the advantages of Dolby Vision and HDR10+ "are often most visible on core-range LCD TVs as the dynamic metadata HDR formats allows less bright TVs to avoid unnecessary tone-mapping of scenes which are within the native brightness of the panel".

The company has yet to announce pricing details so it is hard to say how competitive this year's LCD line-up will be. Panasonic reserves its most advanced picture features for its OLED TVs. None of the new LCD TVs are equipped with HDMI 2.1 ports.

HX940 and HX900 have a "2-way switch" stand meaning that you can position the pedestal feet in either a central position or close to the edges of the frame.

Panasonic has yet to detail its plans for 8K TVs. The company had planned to unveil its first 8K TV in 2019 but postponed the launch arguing that the market is not ready at this time.



More models coming later
Panasonic said that all "4K LCD TV series announced today feature the latest iteration of Panasonic’s highly evaluated smart TV OS, My Home Screen 5.0". The latest version of My Home Screen (née Firefox OS) will highlight featured titles from Netflix and YouTube above the app icon.

The company more than hinted that additional LCD models will be announced later this year but did not comment on the rumor that it will introduce a 7 series LCD model powered by Google's Android TV platform. FlatpanelsHD is in London for the event and we are chasing information.

The company has not announced plans to update the My Home Screen software in previous TVs. Samsung and LG are not providing updates for Tizen and webOS either, whereas some Android TVs receive major updates after launch.

Availability and pricing details will be announced later.

Panasonic 2020 LCD TVs
Panasonic HX940
43, 49, 55, 65, and 75 inches
4K LCD panel
Edge LED with Local Dimming Intelligent Pro
100 Hz
HCX Pro Intelligent video processor
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision and HLG Photo
Dolby Atmos support
My Home Screen 5.0
Switch stand

Panasonic HX900
43, 49, 55, and 65 inches
4K LCD panel ('HDR Cinema Display' with increased brightness)
50 Hz
Edge LED
HCX video processor
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision and HLG Photo
Dolby Atmos support
My Home Screen 5.0
Switch stand

Panasonic HX800
40, 50, 58, and 65 inches
4K LCD panel
Edge LED
50 Hz
HCX video processor
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision and HLG Photo
Dolby Atmos support
My Home Screen 5.0