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Panasonic's New OLED: Budget Brightness Breakthrough?
26 Feb
Summary
- Panasonic Z86C uses LG Display's new OLED SE panel.
- New panel offers potential for cheaper production and higher brightness.
- Initial impressions show good brightness but potential tone mapping differences.
Panasonic has unveiled its 2026 TV line-up for the UK and Europe, featuring the new Z86C (known as Z85C in Europe). This entry-level OLED TV is notable for being the first to incorporate LG Display's new OLED SE panel. This panel is designed for more cost-effective manufacturing and is capable of reaching brightness levels up to 1,000 nits.
During a demonstration, the Z86C impressed with its brightness, even when compared to Panasonic's mid-range Z90B from the previous year. Despite the OLED SE panel's cost-saving measure of omitting a polarizer, the Z86C showed comparable reflectivity to the Z90B, thanks to Panasonic's addition of its own polarizer.
However, closer examination of demo content revealed potential differences. While perceived brightness was similar, the Z90B displayed more detail in challenging tonal gradations, suggesting the Z86C's processing or panel might be less adept at tone mapping. This could be a key distinction between this new budget OLED and higher-tier models.
The Z86C will support 120Hz and variable refresh rates for gaming, along with Dolby Vision and HDR10+. It will run on Amazon Fire TV software in the Z86C version and Google TV in the Z85C version for Europe. Available in 55-inch and 65-inch sizes, its price and release date are yet to be announced.
