Panasonic 4K HDR TV choices compared: LZ2000 OLED and more

(Pocket-lint) – Panasonic has unveiled its OLED and LED TVs for 2022, with the LZ2000 topping the range. But, considering we don’t yet have release dates, how do they compare to 2021’s JZ series OLEDs and JX series LEDs? Here are the Panasonic TV highlights for 2022, including some of the excellent 2021 sets still available through numerous retailers.

One thing to note on model numbering if you’re browsing Panasonic TVs: L equals 2022, J equals 2021, H equals 2020, and so on – something to watch out for when you come to buy.

Considerations when buying a television

As a big ticket item, there’s plenty to consider when it comes to buying a new television. First and foremost is size. That will, to a large extent, define the price – but you need to make sure that the TV you are buying will comfortably fit in the space you’re trying to place it. 

Panasonic hasn’t made the move to 8K, so that’s not an option here. Instead you’re looking at 4K televisions, up to 75-inch in LED or 77-inch in OLED, which is typically where people are buying such TVs. The OLED range is pretty wide, with Panasonic keen to stress how closely it works with Hollywood studios and offering models from 48-inches and up. 

There are capable LED TVs in the range too, which delivers much more approachable prices, but again there are LED TVs in a range of different positions, so be sure to check exactly what you’re getting to make sure you’re TV is futureproofed.

Panasonic OLED TVs

Panasonic has several tiers of OLED TV and has offered those over the last couple of years, so there’s plenty of choice when it comes to choosing a new TV.

Panasonic

Panasonic LZ2000

• Screen sizes: 77in, 65in, 55in
• OLED, 3840 x 2160 pixels, Filmmaker Mode, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode, Dolby Atmos

The 2022 flagship OLED TV from Panasonic is similar to 2021’s JZ2000 (below) but comes with a few extras to improve picture and sound performance a tad, plus some new gamer-specific features. There’s also the addition of a new screen size for the brand – 77-inches – which gets a boost in the Master OLED Pro tech too, to “Master OLED Pro – Cinema Size”. The main new features though include a new RGB sensor to detect the colour temperature of ambient light.

This enables the Auto AI functionality to change the white balance of the screen to look natural no matter whether you are watching in the daytime or when you have warm home lighting switched on. Plus, a new strip of front-facing speakers offer directional sound that, when combined with the side and upwards firing speakers, offer more accurate and wide Dolby Atmos and surround sound support. Finally, the gaming prowess of the TV has been gtreatly enhanced, with lower latency and a game control board that gives instant access to settings without needing to exit a game – it is overlayed on the screen.

Panasonic

Panasonic LZ1500

• Screen sizes: 65in, 55in, 48in, 42in
• OLED, 3840 x 2160 pixels, Filmmaker Mode, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode, Dolby Atmos

A small step down from the LZ2000, the LZ1500 doesn’t offer the mammoth 77-inch screen size, but is available in 48- and 42-inches.

Like the flagship model, it features the Master OLED Pro panel and many of the picture enhancement features. This includes ambient temperature adjustment and the HCX Pro AI processor. Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode is new to all of Panasonic’s 2022 OLED TVs, so can be found here too, while Dynamic Cinema Surround Pro can be found on the 55- and 65-inch versions of this set to improve Dolby Atmos sound output with a built-in woofer.

The LZ1500 is also tuned well for gaming, with the same Game Control oard menu features that are available across the year’s range.

Panasonic

Panasonic LZ1000

• Screen sizes: 65in, 55in
• OLED, 3840 x 2160 pixels, Filmmaker Mode, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode, Dolby Atmos

The main differences between the LZ1000 and LZ1500 are the panel – this has the slightly stepped down Master OLED configuration – and sound. You get the Cinema Surround Pro sound system with the dynamic functionality. It still supports Dolby Atmos though.

Other than that, much of the feature set on the LZ1000 is the sane, including the Game Control Board and the adoption of Panasonic’s proprietary My Home Screen 7.0 smart TV operating system.

Panasonic

Panasonic LZ980

• Screen sizes: 65in, 55in, 48in, 42in
• OLED, 3840 x 2160 pixels, Filmmaker Mode, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode, Dolby Atmos

Another OLED panel dip is just about the only main difference betweem the LZ1000 and LZ980. Other than that, it is as fully-featured and similarly great for TV and movie viewing, plus gaming. Like the LZ1500 it comes in smaller sizes too, which are great if space is at a premium but you still want the best visuals.

Panasonic

Panasonic LZ800

• Screen sizes: 65in, 55in, 48in, 42in
• OLED, 3840 x 2160 pixels, Filmmaker Mode, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode, Dolby Atmos

This UK-only OLED TV model is Panasonic’s entry-level variant for 2022.

It strips back on a few things, with just an OLED pabel (rather than Master OLED) and Cinema Surrround audio. However, you still get the Game Control Board, My Home Screen 7.0 and plenty of the other bells and whistles from the rest of the year’s range as above.

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Panasonic JZ2000

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• Screen sizes: 65in, 55in
• OLED, 3840 x 2160 pixels, Filmmaker Mode, Netflix Calibrated Mode, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, Dolby Atmos

If you can’t wait for the LZ2000, or want to hunt for a bargain, the 2021 flagship is still available and comes with a top-end Master HDR OLED Professional Edition panel, plus HDR10+ Adaptive added for good measure. Like Dolby Vision IQ, this is a HDR technology that not only changes the colour signature depending on each scene, it takes into account your ambient lighting to present colours and contrast in exactly the format the director intended.

The JZ2000 also embraces gaming, with 4K 120Hz support over HDMI 2.1 and variable refresh rate (VRR) technology on board. But, the real key about this set is that it embeds a Dolby Atmos soundsystem – so if you don’t have a separates or soundbar setup and don’t want to buy one then its sound quality is superb. Not interested in that?

The JZ1500 (below) goes lighter on the sound setup.

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Panasonic JZ1500

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• Screen sizes: 65in, 55in, 48in
• OLED, 3840 x 2160 pixels, Filmmaker Mode, Netflix Calibrated Mode, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, Dolby Atmos

The JZ1500 features the same Master HDR OLED Professional Edition panel as the JZ2000, but is also available in smaller 48-inch screen size. It cuts out the full-on Dolby Atmos speaker arrangement from the build too, saving you cash – which is ideal if you want to pair with an existing soundbar or AV system. Gaming is embraced fully as well, with confirmed features including Game Mode Extreme.

This reduces latency to imperceptible levels when playing. It also features AMD FreeSync Premium technology and two HDMI 2.1 ports. Its HCX AI Pro processor (which is also found on the JZ2000 and other 2021 OLED TVs) has an Auto AI mode that examines and detects images in real time, ensuring that they are presented at their best, whether they are sports, cinema or any other kind-of genre.

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Panasonic JZ1000

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• Screen sizes: 65in, 55in, 48in
• OLED, 3840 x 2160 pixels, Filmmaker Mode, Netflix Calibrated Mode, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, Dolby Atmos

The Panasonic JZ1000 sports almost the entire same gamut of features as the JZ1500 but has a different OLED panel.

Instead of the Pro Edition, it sports the Master HDR OLED panel. Other than that, it still comes with the upgraded new processing engine – HCX Processor Pro AI – Game Mode Extreme, and smaller screen size option. It’s worth also noting that it too has two HDMI 2.1 ports – much like the other 2021 and 2022 OLEDs – and Dolby Atmos support.

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Panasonic JZ980

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• Screen sizes: 65in, 55in, 48in
• OLED, 3840 x 2160 pixels, Filmmaker Mode, Netflix Calibrated Mode, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, Dolby Atmos

Again, like the JZ1000, it’s largely the panel that is different on the JZ980.

This model has Panasonic’s standard OLED panel, although the feature set is largely identical.

Panasonic LED TVs

Panasonic has a proliferation of LED TVs in lots of positions – and here are some of the top level TVs to choose from.

Panasonic

Panasonic LX940

• Screen sizes: 77in, 65in, 55in
• LED, 3840 x 2160 pixels, Filmmaker Mode, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, Dolby Atmos

Panasonic calls its non-OLED range Core LED in 2022, with the LX940 being the flagship model. However, it’s not available in the UK – just Europe this time around. It features many similarities with the 2022 OLED TVs above, including ambient room colour temperature sensors that judge the lighting in your viewing room and adjust the picture accordingly.

It comes with a 120Hz fast panel, plus the Game Control Board menu system that Panasonic introduces in this range refresh. It also supports AMD FreeSync Premium. Dolby Atmos is supported with the TV coming with, what Panasonic calls, Cinema Surround sound.

You also get the My Home Screen 7.0 OS for smart TV functionality.

Panasonic

Panasonic LX800

• Screen sizes: 77in, 65in, 55in
• LED, 3840 x 2160 pixels, Filmmaker Mode, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive

With no LX940 in the UK, the LX800 migjht be the one to fill the void. It comes with standard “Surround Sound” and Panasonic’s Core LED technologies. And it’s the only one offered by the company to feature Android TV as its smart TV system.

A HCX processor runs the show on the LX800 and there are no ambient colour temperature sensors. Gamers might also be put off by the lack of specific features for them, but this model does come with many other features that make it a decent entry-level 4K HDR TV.

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Panasonic JX940

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• Screen sizes: 75in, 65in, 55in, 49in
• LED, 3840 x 2160 pixels, Filmmaker Mode, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, Dolby Atmos

As with the 2021 OLED TVs, the flagship LED from that year is still available. It runs on the HCX Processor Pro AI chip, which enables it to automatically detect the type of content playing and adjust the image accordingly.

This is claimed to significantly improve sports broadcasts, for example. It comes with the HDR Cinema Display Pro – Panasonic’s best LED panel to hit the market to date – and, for the first time in an LED TV from the brand, carries Filmmaker Mode (as do the other LEDs from the year). It is the only LED TV in the range to support Dolby Vision IQ, the form of Dolby Vision HDR that adapts depending on the ambient lighting in your home.

There is also Game Mode Extreme and Dolby Atmos on-board, with the former designed to help gamers get the most from their consoles. The TV is 4K 120Hz too, which is a major boost, and comes with innovative tabletop feet that can lift the set higher when placed in an alternative position.

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Panasonic JX850

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• Screen sizes: 65in, 58in, 50in, 40in
• LED, 3840 x 2160 pixels, Filmmaker Mode, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ Adaptive, Dolby Atmos

The JX850 makes a few compromises when compared to the 2021 flagship model. It has standard Dolby Vision on-board, for example, as well as a slightly less beefy processor, in the HCX Processor AI.

Game Mode is less “extreme” and the panel used is Pana’s HDR Bright Panel Plus. Other than that, this is another top-line LED TV for 2021 with Dolby Atmos decoding for hook up to an equivalent soundbar, AV reveiver and/or speaker system.

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Panasonic JX800

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• Screen sizes: 65in, 58in, 50in, 40in
• LED, 3840 x 2160 pixels, Filmmaker Mode, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ Adaptive, Android OS

Further down in the 2021 LED TV family is the JX800, which loses some of the features of the ZX940 and JX850, but (like its 2022 successor) actually runs on Android OS. Its smart TV platform represents the only TV of the 2021 models to have Android.

It incorporates some of Panasonic’s own Home Screen platform but gives you the best Google has to offer too. You don’t get Dolby Atmos support on this model. Picture processing is also slightly less powerful, with Panasonic’s entry-level HCX Processor running the show here.

Writing by Rik Henderson.