At the end of February, just before all the countries were closed, Panasonic introduced us in London its new range of OLED televisions for 2020. There we got to know the new HZ2000, HZ1500 and HZ1000. However, the 2019 range consisted of four OLED models. So we were missing one to know. Today, four months after the official introduction of the higher-end models, Panasonic announced the launch of the new Panasonic HZ980, the most economical model in Panasonic's OLED range for 2020 .
The Panasonic HZ980 arrives to replace the Panasonic GZ950. We do not know very well why the change in numbering is due, since in the rest of the models it has been maintained (changing the GZ for HZ), but the truth is that it is still the most economical model in the range. Even so, this new model includes all the novelties that its older brothers have. That is, it has Dolby Vision IQ, Filmmaker Mode, support for all HDR formats and the HCX PRO processor . But let's take a better look at what the new Panasonic HZ980 offers us.
Small design changes but same image
Panasonic's strategy for 2020 appears to be the same as last year. That is, the only changes between its OLED models are the design and the audio. At least that's the way it is between the HZ980, the HZ1000 and the HZ1500, since the HZ2000 does offer changes in the image thanks to its professional panel.
The Panasonic HZ980 has a minimalist design , with a small circular base as a base. For the rest we have a design practically without frames, with the panel as the main protagonist.
At the image level, the HZ980 has the HCX Pro intelligent processor , the same one that its older brothers equip. Plus, the TV is calibrated by Hollywood professionals to deliver the most cinematic quality possible.
And to achieve this, this year the Filmmaker Mode is added , a special image mode developed by industry professionals so that the content is seen as its creators would like it to be seen.
Another novelty this year is Dolby Vision IQ , a technology that uses an ambient light sensor to adapt Dolby Vision images to the lighting conditions in the room, thus always showing the highest possible image quality.
And speaking of Dolby Vision, the Panasonic HZ980 supports Dolby Vision, HDR10 +, HDR10, and HLG . In other words, it is compatible with all HDR formats on the current market.
To all the aforementioned we must add Dolby Atmos technology for the audio, with the Cinema Surround Pro system integrated into the television. This system seeks to offer a simulation of surround sound with only the TV speakers.
It also has HDMI connectors compatible with eARC , which will allow us to send high definition audio to compatible AV receivers and sound bars. We can thus send the Dolby Atmos audio from applications such as Netflix from the television to our sound equipment with just one cable. And if we don't have external equipment, we can always put a subwoofer on the TV to improve the bass tones and get a better movie experience.
Finally, the new Panasonic model arrives with My Home Screen 5.0 . It is a simple operating system, but it offers access to the vast majority of applications that everyone is looking for. In addition, it is compatible with both Alexa and the Google Assistant .
The new Panasonic HZ980 will go on sale next July with an official price of £ 1,700 for the 55-inch model . We will have to wait to see what the conversion to euros is and to know the price of the 65-inch model.