Panasonic W95 Series 65-inch Mini LED 4K Ultra HD Smart Fire TV, Sport Stadium Mode, ATSC3.0, Dolby Vision IQ, Dolby Atmos, HDR10+ Adaptive, Press and Ask Alexa, 144Hz, Wall-mountable - 65W95AP

After heavily debating spending significantly more to get the very best in image quality (OLED), I ended up "settling" on a mini-LED as long as it was from a reputable brand. Panasonic was always one of the highest-regarded TV brands, and based on professional reviews, it was clear they maintained that status even to today. Yes, there are some highly-rated Hisense and TCL TVs out there, but those weren't on my radar because I know from experience that they're not built to last. Panasonic, on the other hand, has a solid reputation for longevity. --- PICTURE: 9/10 Image quality is outstanding. It's technically not the brightest TV out there (by a long shot), but it's plenty bright enough for all but the very brightest rooms, and there's so much more to a TV than how bright a white screen can get. For one, the contrast is outstanding. While the blacks aren't OLED-perfect, it's incredible how close it gets. More importantly, you have to actively search for evidence of blooming/haloing. In ordinary non-scrutinizing viewing, you could be fooled into thinking it IS an OLED. The processing is where Panasonic shines. They've nailed everything from the calibration to motion and frame generation (which, on low and mid settings really cleans things up without inducing much of the "soap-opera effect"). The Panasonic exhibits an overall grace that most other brands (the exception being Sony and, to an extent, Vizio) seem to lack. The one caveat that I think is worth mentioning is that the screen is fairly reflective. Mine is being used in a small home theater which is almost always dark, so it's of virtually no consequence to me, but in a bright living room, it might be suboptimal. I've heard that its closest competitor (Sony Bravia 7) is pretty much just as reflective, however, so I can't say for sure how it compares to the industry average. Just something to note and research if it concerns you. SOUND: 8/10 Sound quality is quite good... for a TV (at least on the 85" model). I'd say it rivals budget soundbars up to around $150. If you're not planning to spend more than that on a soundbar (or even better, dedicated amp + speakers), I'd say just use the TV speakers. They're totally adequate for casual use. OS: 7/10 The elephant in the room is the FireTV OS. Personally, as someone who uses FireTVs, I thought it was a plus. I can absolutely understand why people who don't use FireTV don't want that. But I've used Android/Google TVs and I don't think they're any better or worse. All TV OSs are becoming more and more ad-heavy. It's the unfortunate reality, and no doubt why such fancy high-quality TVs can be so affordable. One important note to improve your experience: disaable automatic previews. I've heard it repeated (even by professionals) that ads on the homescreen automatically play with sound and that it can't be disabled. That is false. While the TV is set up by default to behave this way, it's easy to change this in the settings (it's under 'Featured Content' if I recall correctly). You'll still see the same banners, but they're much easier to ignore when they're not flashing and playing audio. SETTINGS & ADJUSTABILITY: 9/10 I was impressed with the settings that you can adjust with this. While you can easily choose one of the presets and be happy with it, it also allows you to get surprisingly detailed with adjustments. It's comfortably above average in my experience. BUILD QUALITY: 9/10 This feels like a robust TV that will last. As I've mentioned earlier, with the influx of Chinese TVs like Hisense and TCL undercutting competitors and said competitors lowering their quality to compete at lower price points, I fear the TV market will fall victim to disposable culture at some point like so many other industries already have. TVs used to be a once-a-decade purchase for anyone who didn't demand the very latest. From what I've seen and read, Hisense and TCL TVs can only be expected to last a few years before something either fails or wears out. I strongly encourage people to buy TVs from reputable companies with a track record of long-lasting products. Sony and Panasonic at the higher end and Vizio at the lower/midrange. Of course, since this is a new TV, I can't really say how long it'll last. Only time will tell. But I really like my odds. VALUE: 8.5/10 Value is a bit hard to gauge because I've noticed the price has fluctuated quite a bit. I bought mine on a steep sale and consequently I'd say the value was an easy outstanding 10/10. At MSRP, however, I think it'd be more like 7/10. --- In summation, while I was originally set on getting an OLED, I'm actually very happy that I 'settled' on a mini-LED, and I'm very happy with the Panasonic. It's a quality TV that I fully expect to last a good decade or more.

It took two tries to get a working TV. First arrived with a damaged screen. Second was damage free. I wasn't going to try again if damaged twice. The packaging is not the best for surviving rough handling in shipping and Panasonic should think about upgrading it. That said this TV is probably the best bang for buck going at current prices for a mini led. It isn't the best in contrast or brightness but makes up for it with good image processing and color accuracy. It's not the best choice for hard core gamers either with VRR limitations with local dimming. I don't game much so not an issue for me. It won't get you OLED blacks but they aren't too far off. In a dark room you will notice it more. I find it best to have accent lighting to help with perceived blackness. HDR impact isn't too shabby being not the brightest. It still provides a good viewing experience. Just enough to make your eyes react without being too intense. Reflection handling is also a bit weak on this set If you have any light sources in view you will see them and it will distract you. Best to have control of lighting and have a room on the darker side as even walls and ceilings will reflect if on the lighter side color wise. It's only on darker scenes anyway as otherwise the TV is bright enough to overcome them. As far as build quality goes it is mid tier but feels pretty solid overall. I just hope it lasts as long as the Viera line of TVs did. My old 19 incher refused to die. So overall it is good enough. Just know it has some limitations that if you can manage will make it a good choice especially at the current pricing. I give it 5 stars at current pricing for the value but a lower rating for prices closer to MSRP.

As someone who proudly identifies as an OLED snob, I’ve long dismissed LED TVs. Especially older edge-lit models, for their blooming issues, grayish “black” levels, and overall washed-out look in dark rooms. MiniLED has definitely stepped up the LED game, but honestly, I never saw myself owning one. I’ve just seen too many bad examples firsthand. That said, my parents were still using my old Samsung HU8550. It was TV they adored, but as a home theater enthusiast, I knew it was on its last legs. The edge-lit problems were obvious to me, even if they couldn’t see them. Movie nights at their place were starting to make me wince inside. When I heard Panasonic was returning to the US TV market, I was hyped. Back in the day, Panasonic was a heavy hitter, right up there with Sony and Pioneer in terms of display quality, especially in the plasma era. But let’s be honest, they had a downfall. When Panasonic went Best Buy exclusive in the US, their quality noticeably dipped, and the brand’s reputation started to crumble. Eventually, they pulled out of the US TV market entirely around 2016, leaving a big hole in the home theater community. I already own the fantastic Panasonic UB820 4K Blu-ray player, so I knew they were still capable of delivering excellent picture processing. I just didn’t know if their first US MiniLED effort would live up to the old Panasonic glory days. But when I saw the W95A’s RTINGS review, I was shocked: they rated it poorly, even suggesting some mid-tier Hisense and TCL sets were better. Really? Panasonic’s return to the US was a bust? So I initially passed, waiting for something that met my high standards without breaking the bank (especially since I hoped my siblings would help split the cost). Then Amazon dropped a deal I couldn’t ignore: $599 for the 65” W95A, which originally retailed for $1,799. I figured, even if it’s just okay, it would definitely be better than what my parents were using. So, I pulled the trigger. After setting it up and carefully tuning the picture settings, I was blown away. The black levels? Surprisingly excellent for a MiniLED. The colors? Bright, vibrant, and punchy. The motion handling and picture processing? Not quite on the level of my Sony A95K (to be fair, that’s a $4,000 QD-OLED), but seriously impressive especially for the price. And here’s the kicker: I couldn’t notice any blooming issues. That’s right, the thing that’s always bugged me the most about LED TVs just wasn’t a problem here. The local dimming zones handled highlights and dark scenes beautifully. No distracting halos, no washed-out contrast. Just clean, controlled black levels and crisp image detail that left me genuinely impressed. My parents? They absolutely love the TV. And honestly, I think RTINGS’ review didn’t do this set justice. It really makes me question whether they’re as unbiased as they claim, or if certain brands just get an automatic pass or fail. If you’re in the market for a 4K TV, I highly recommend checking out the Panasonic W95A. It’s a total steal when on sale, and it’s made me super curious about how Panasonic’s upcoming OLEDs will stack up. My trusty old Sony A80G might just be staring down retirement soon… LOL.