TV OLED 4K ULTRA HD TV-55Z95BEG

[Winemaker]

... that reviews or anecdotes will not guarantee that you don't fall on the wrong side of failure statistics just like my first Panny DVD player (there was a class action lawsuit over that).

Picture quality and/or audio quality is entirely a different story. But, "last a lifetime" is hyperbole.

I never said it lasts a lifetime, just that Panasonic is way more reliable than other manufacturers. In fact, Panasonic has a dedicated base of buyers who buy almost exclusively from them.

I was actually looking for someone who owns the 55Z95B model to hear about their experience firsthand.

Right now, looking at the TV market, I don't see anything with better overall quality—both in terms of picture/screen quality and the audio setup (Technics, which is still Panasonic anyway).

As for panel longevity, Panasonic designed an airflow cooling system for this TV series specifically to extend the screen's lifespan and keep it running properly.

If I manage to find one—or if it comes back into stock between September and December 2026—I’ll be happy to share my thoughts with you guys, if you're interested.

 

[respice finem]

I'm afraid you may be waiting in vain, because Panasonic sold off their TV set production, essentially keeping only the brand name.
Sic transit gloria Mundi...

Panasonic exits TV manufacturing, hands production to Skyworth

Under the new arrangement, Skyworth takes full responsibility for manufacturing, sales, and logistics across North America and Europe. Panasonic will remain involved in product design, image processing,...

www.techspot.com

 

[ShadowBoxer]

By the way, I've heard that Panasonic TVs last a lifetime and are incredibly reliable.

Too late.

"Once one of Japan's most revered electronics brands, Panasonic will no longer manufacture its own televisions. The company has confirmed that all Panasonic-branded TVs will now be built, marketed, and distributed by Chinese manufacturer Skyworth."

 

[Winemaker]

Troppo tardi.

"Un tempo uno dei marchi di elettronica più stimati in Giappone, Panasonic non produrrà più i propri televisori. L'azienda ha confermato che tutti i televisori a marchio Panasonic saranno ora prodotti, commercializzati e distribuiti dal produttore cinese Skyworth."

 

[Winemaker]

Temo che la tua attesa sia vana, perché Panasonic ha ceduto la sua divisione di produzione di televisori, mantenendo di fatto solo il marchio.
Sic transit gloria Mundi...

Panasonic exits TV manufacturing, hands production to Skyworth

Under the new arrangement, Skyworth takes full responsibility for manufacturing, sales, and logistics across North America and Europe. Panasonic will remain involved in product design, image processing,...

www.techspot.com

Omnia fert aetas et tempus edax rerum.

 

[Willem]

Don't kid yourself. I had a plasma that met an early demise.

Our Panasonic plasma TV is still going strong after seventeen years.

 

[Willem]

As for serious audio quality of televisions, I would argue that it is irrelevant. The physical format precludes serious loudspeakers, so what I have done for many years was to connect the television to my stereo system. These days that is by using the coaxial or optical audio output into a DAC (RME ADI-2 in my case). Even a modest stereo system will be a vast improvement, not to mention something like mine with QUAD 2805 speakers and three MSO equalized subs. I am missing out on multichannel, but my preferece was for a very good music system, and having five or more speakers of a matching size was not really acceptable, even in our large living room. The sound of this powerful full range stereo system conveys enough of the drama of movies. If you already have a decent audio system it is a dirt cheap option.

 

[Winemaker]

Too late.

"Once one of Japan's most revered electronics brands, Panasonic will no longer manufacture its own televisions. The company has confirmed that all Panasonic-branded TVs will now be built, marketed, and distributed by Chinese manufacturer Skyworth."

I sent an inquiry to Skyworth Italy, let's see what they say.

 

[Power Pop 23]

I'm afraid you may be waiting in vain, because Panasonic sold off their TV set production, essentially keeping only the brand name.
Sic transit gloria Mundi...

Panasonic exits TV manufacturing, hands production to Skyworth

Under the new arrangement, Skyworth takes full responsibility for manufacturing, sales, and logistics across North America and Europe. Panasonic will remain involved in product design, image processing,...

www.techspot.com

This follows the move of Sony on March 31, 2026 to create a joint venture with TCL to design and manufacture Sony-branded TVs and audio gear - with TCL owning 51 percent of the joint venture.

https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/IR/news/20260331_E.pdf

I don't have enough data yet to assess the longevity of the range of TV's made by Chinese companies like Hisense, TCL, or Skyworth.

Perhaps now is the best time to purchase a Sony or Panasonic-branded TV.

 

[respice finem]

This follows the move of Sony on March 31, 2026 to create a joint venture with TCL to design and manufacture Sony-branded TVs and audio gear - with TCL owning 51 percent of the joint venture.

https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/IR/news/20260331_E.pdf

I don't have enough data yet to assess the longevity of the range of TV's made by Chinese companies like Hisense, TCL, or Skyworth.

Perhaps now is the best time to purchase a Sony or Panasonic-branded TV.

Or it's too late already, maybe save for the absolutely premium models.
My limited experience with basic to midrange units: Bought a Panasonic LCD "made in Turkey" for my mother's summer condo. Instable shortly after warranty period (freezes, losing channels every few weeks and must be reset). After this, I've bought her a TCL LCD "made in Poland" for her small main flat, and a larger one for my house. Hers has no problems at all, mine has no freezes, but must be reset every few weeks anyway, because the dynamic brightness gets stuck at the minimum value. My inner pessimist thinks, the industry never really recovered after COVID.

Sidenote: My mother's previous LG LCDs have worked 20+ years without issues.

 

[Willem]

Philips were probably the first, originally collaborating with LG, and then selling their part of the business, including the brand name of what are still very good televisions.

 

[respice finem]

Probably it is similar to the "fate" of the US and EU consumer electronics business from days of yore.
They were taken over by Japan and Korea, now Japan and Korea are slowly pushed out of market by China.

 

[Willem]

Advanced modern economies mostly produce services. Trying to bring back manufacturing to either the US or Europe is mostly uneconomic, unless for geopolitical reasons. An example of both would be the Netherlands currently modernizing its navy with more than two dozen new warships. The hulls of these are mostly being built on Dutch owned shipyards in Rumania or Vietnam, to be outfitted in the Netherlands. The four new submarines will be built in France, however.

 

[Power Pop 23]

Or it's too late already, maybe save for the absolutely premium models.
My limited experience with basic to midrange units: Bought a Panasonic LCD "made in Turkey" for my mother's summer condo. Instable shortly after warranty period (freezes, losing channels every few weeks and must be reset). After this, I've bought her a TCL LCD "made in Poland" for her small main flat, and a larger one for my house. Hers has no problems at all, mine has no freezes, but must be reset every few weeks anyway, because the dynamic brightness gets stuck at the minimum value. My inner pessimist thinks, the industry never really recovered after COVID.

Sidenote: My mother's previous LG LCDs have worked 20+ years without issues.

Agreed on saving up for premium range TV's.

I perceive the profit margins are too thin in lower-priced ranges of TVs to rely on the longevity of the parts sourced for them.

My pre-COVID (Sept. 2019) Samsung reverts to 'soap opera' mode every few months. A 'factory reset' fixes it.

My 82-inch Samsung was made in Mexico. It is my understanding that TV's made in Mexico are tariff-free to the USA under the current US-Mexico trade agreement.

I am uncertain of what other brands of TVs are assembled in Mexico.

 

[respice finem]

Seems like anything that has a computer must be reset periodically. In my case - I'm waiting for MicroLED with buying premium, because I don't like the idea of OLED "baking" the panel at night to keep the colours uniform. OTOH, provided no further problems will occur, I'm quite happy with the el cheapo TCL so far. But I'm not a discerning consumer, TV wise.

 

[Power Pop 23]

Seems like anything that has a computer must be reset periodically. In my case - I'm waiting for MicroLED with buying premium, because I don't like the idea of OLED "baking" the panel at night to keep the colours uniform. OTOH, provided no further problems will occur, I'm quite happy with the el cheapo TCL so far. But I'm not a discerning consumer, TV wise.

Best Buy USA is currently selling a 'basic' 58-inch Hisense 'QD50' TV for $199.99

At that such a cheap price, I would be satisfied with 5 years of service.

 

[respice finem]

Mine was not quite that cheap, approx. 700 € (3 years ago) for the 65" version.

TCL C745- 144Hz QLED Gaming TV | TCL Global

Looking at TCL C745 TV for Real 144Hz Panel guarantees a higher resolution for sharper image quality. Dolby Vision enhances every scene with astonishing effect.

www.tcl.com

Since it runs "cold as a fish", I expect it to last. And, luckily, it is dead silent, no coil whine etc.
Normally, I wouldn't buy a new-to-market TV, but I kind of had to, after moving from Germany to Poland.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

Our Panasonic plasma TV is still going strong after seventeen years.

Hold on to it as Panasonic no longer makes any type of TV.

BTW, this is why collecting small sample anecdotes on reliability stats is not very useful.

Another anecdote: I have a cheap TCL LED that has far superior PQ to the plasma so it wasn't really worth not retiring the still-working plasma from a cost-benefi perspective.

 

[MRC01]

Our Panasonic plasma TV is still going strong after seventeen years.

Mine is 22 years old, still working like new.

 

[noisey]

I wish they sold these in the USA.

According to Yahoo! finance Panasonic TVs will return to the US shortly. The Z95B will be available in 55" and 65" sizes. No 77" Z95B for the US market according to the linked article.

Meanwhile, I received my pre-ordered 65Z95B a week ago and will finally be able to set it up tomorrow. I plan to do a frequency response sweep of the Z95B's sound system pre- and post calibration. I will not test its sub-out because I don't own a subwoofer. Will be interesting to compare it to my 2.0 setup. I don't expect much, however.