Panasonic Z95A vs Samsung S95D: Which OLED TV should you buy?

After a gap of eight years, Panasonic returns to the US with three new TVs. The star of the show Panasonic Z95Aflagship OLED has serious potential as one of the best best tvs is set to debut this year – and it has some tough competition, especially in the form of Samsung S95D OLED.

Both are proving to be extremely well-rounded displays, with a ton of features to meet all sorts of diverse entertainment needs, including HDR coverage, gaming capabilities, and more. But neither is created equal.

You’ll see major differences in design and sound, which could sway your inevitable purchasing decision. And when it comes to price, there doesn’t seem to be a huge difference — there’s only a $100 difference between the 65-inch models.

From overall picture performance to advanced gaming features, let’s take a look at which OLED model makes a better choice for your next TV purchase.

Panasonic Z95A vs Samsung S95D: Features compared

Swipe to scroll horizontally

	Panasonic Z95A	Samsung S95D
Dimensions	65″	55″, 65″, 77″
Ports	4 HDMI 2.1	4 HDMI 2.1
Resolution	3840×2160	3840×2160
High Definition (HDR)	HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision	HDR10, HDR10+ (Adaptive), HLG,
Smart TV software	Amazon Fire TV	Tizen
Is there ATSC 3.0 support?	Yes	Yes
Processor	HCX Pro AI mk2	NQ4 Artificial Intelligence 2nd Generation

Panasonic Z95A vs Samsung S95D: Design

(Image source: Samsung)

Although both Samsung and Panasonic are flagship OLED TVs, their designs differ slightly, particularly in terms of panel types. Samsung has its own QD-OLED panelsComing directly from Samsung Display and offering some improvements derived from similar technologies seen in Mini-LED TVs, these models have advantages, notably color quality and better size range.

On the other side of the spectrum, we have Panasonic, which doesn’t have its own OLED manufacturing facility and therefore uses panels made by LG Display, in this case the MLA gen two design, which for many offers the best viewing experience on the block. However, this additional TV comes at the cost of size, and is why the Panasonic Z95A is only available to buy in a 65-inch configuration.

That’s all well and good, but what makes them truly unique? Panasonic’s MLA panel, or Micro Lens Array, is designed to dramatically improve brightness. The panel was just introduced at CES 2024 and has become a staple in the TV space thanks to its incredible detail enhancer and META Multi Booster.

(Image credit: Future)

And with that powerful brightness comes improved mitigation against reflections. Sure, Samsung’s S95D may have a good anti-reflective coating (and likewise a better brightness at 1777 nits), but the Panasonic Z95A outshines it with more detailed colours and richer blacks.

Then there’s the audio coverage. It’s hard to beat a screen with one of the largest wattage speakers we’ve seen in the Panasonic Z95A’s 160W system, mainly best soundbars It’s also equipped with a Sound Focus feature that lets you fine-tune your sound in a number of ways, particularly with a useful Pinpoint and Area function that places the sound in a central position away from the TV.

While it’s a niche function, the fact that Panasonic is giving you the keys to an unbridled home cinema experience shouldn’t be overlooked here. In its grand return to the US, it’s clear that Panasonic is trying to pull out all the stops and deliver where it matters most – and where others fail.

(Image source: Tom’s Guide)

The S95D and Z95A are neck and neck in terms of what they offer, with their 144Hz refresh rates being on par with the industry. In terms of gaming features, both models support FreeSync and G-Sync, but come equipped with VRR and ALLM. They also have four HDMI 2.1 ports, but the S95D’s 9.2 input lag is a tough bargain to beat against the Z95A’s 12.6.

But I have to give Panasonic credit, because there’s a huge amount of ingenuity in something as simple as a TV stand. Unlike almost every other TV on the market, the Z95A comes with its own swivel stand, making it incredibly easy to swap HDMI cables and inputs on the fly.

Winning: Panasonic Z95A

Panasonic Z95A vs Samsung S95D: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

In terms of performance, the Z95A and S95D are not exactly neck and neck in terms of image quality, despite their price. The test results prove that the Panasonic Z95A is a real powerhouse. It offers much better HDR brightness compared to the Samsung S95D and even has a much lower Delta-E score of just 2.3334.

The S95D can reach up to 276 nits for SDR content in Filmmaker mode, while the Z95A only offers 114 nits. But for HDR workloads, the Panasonic’s 2,012 nits is quite noticeable. After all, HDR content is one of its shining stars thanks to Dolby Vision support, which the Samsung flagship lacks.

But if you look at the UHDA-P3 and Rec.2020 gamuts, the S95D has better numbers at 99.97% and 89.73%, the former being quite exceptional. This means HDR colour accuracy and overall performance will slightly surpass the Z95A, making some content feel more immersive and realistic.

(Image source: Tom’s Guide)

The Panasonic Z95A and S95D both have incredible anti-reflective measures, but the second-generation MLA panel on the former does a fantastic job of delivering a smooth, clean image. It’s hard to really say which is the better option here, but the Panasonic might take the cake, primarily due to its better brightness scores.

You’ll also notice much better motion processing on the Panasonic Z95A, where Samsung has always struggled. Call of Duty or Star Wars OutlawsWhile it shows little to no banding or artifacting, you may need to turn up “Image Clarity” to get the best performance from the Samsung model.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Row 0 – Cell 0	Samsung S95D	Panasonic Z95A
SDR Brightness (10% in nits)	276.0536	114,215
Delta-E (lower is better)	3.5085	2.3334
Rec. 709 Gamut Coverage	99.8042	99,226
HDR Brightness (10% in nits)	1777	2012.063811
UHDA-P3 Gamut Coverage	99.97	98.34
Rec. 2020 Gamut Scope	89.73	74.44
Input Delay (ms)	9.2	12.6

And then there’s the sound. As I mentioned Panasonic Z95A hands-on previewIt has one of the highest wattage outputs we’ve ever seen in a display, packing 160W across a seven-channel system with integrated up-firing and side-firing speakers — which were tuned by Technics, to be sure. Dolby Atmos supported, which adds to the fuel of never needing one of these best soundbars.

That’s not all the Panasonic OLED TV has to offer. It also comes equipped with a Sound Focus feature that lets you fine-tune the sound cone in a given environment, and is set in four different modes. One of the ways Panasonic explained this feature was that it would allow the elderly or those with hearing difficulties to adjust the sound field closer to where they would normally sit.

Meanwhile, the Samsung S95D’s 4.2.2 channel speaker system only has 70W power. Dolby Atmos It doesn’t have the particularly interesting Sound Focus feature, despite cutting back on Dolby Vision. What it does have are a few AI integrations, such as Active Voice Amplifier and Adaptive Sound Pro, both of which are workable for the right buyer, but not quite to the level of the Panasonic.

Winner: Panasonic Z95A

Panasonic Z95A vs Samsung S95D: Appearance

(Image credit: Future)

The Samsung S95D and Panasonic Z95A are clearly all-round top-tier displays with their own advanced features. While their prices are close, there’s a clear winner here, and it’s a fascinating turn of events spanning eight years.

Considering its slick sound system and second-generation MLA panel, the Panasonic Z95A OLED TV is a better option and one of the best around. best OLED TVs on the market — even if it’s $100 more expensive than its rival, at $3,199. It’s only held back by one size by its 65-inch model, but its popularity in that size should make it a sufficient choice even if you want one of these best 75 inch tvsAlso, Amazon Fire TV might not be the best choice for an interface, but it’s easy to live with.

However, if price is more your concern, you can always save a bit by getting the 55-inch S95D, which comes in at $2,399. You’ll miss out on Dolby Vision support and the 160W speaker, which may require you to buy one of the following as extras: best Dolby Atmos soundbarsBut that’s the price you pay for a more valuable OLED TV model.