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TCL QM9K review: a flagship mini-LED TV with exceptional brightness and Gemini AI
Product Reviews

TCL QM9K review: a flagship mini-LED TV with exceptional brightness and Gemini AI

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TCL QM9K: Two-minute review

The TCL QM9K is the final TV series the company launched in 2025, and it was clearly saving the best for last. As the company’s flagship mini-LED TV series, it arrives packed with the highest level of performance, along with the latest and greatest features, with some of those exclusive to the QM9K.

A key exclusive feature of the TCL QM9K at launch is Google TV with Gemini. This adds the Gemini AI chatbot to what is otherwise the same Google TV smart interface found on many of the best TVs. Gemini enables you to conduct not just content searches, but research on essentially any topic, from dinner recipes to ancient Roman civilization, using the TV’s built-in far-field mic.

The contextual, conversational Gemini lets you ask follow-up questions without losing the thread, and for those concerned about privacy, queries get deleted after 10 minutes. Other Gemini capabilities include image generation, and the screensavers you create can pop up on the screen automatically when you enter the room, thanks to the TV’s built-in presence sensor (another QM9K exclusive).

On the picture-quality front, the QM9K features a mini-LED panel with up to 6,500 local dimming zones, and TCL’s Halo Control System works to minimize incidences of backlight blooming – something it does remarkably well. The result is an exceptionally bright picture with powerful contrast, deep, uniform blacks, and detailed shadows.

Other features that enhance the QM9K’s picture are an AIPQ Pro processor, a wide viewing angle feature, and an anti-reflective screen. Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats are both supported, and the TV features Filmmaker Mode and is IMAX Enhanced.

The QM9K’s Audio by Bang & Olufsen speaker system provides potent Dolby Atmos sound with clear dialogue and an impressive level of bass for a TV. And if you want even better sound, the QM9K is one of the first TVs to support Dolby FlexConnect, which can output wireless Atmos sound to the company’s Z100 speakers and Z100-SW subwoofer, as well as automatically configure the system for optimal performance.

TCL’s Zero Bezel design for the QM9K reduces the screen’s bezel width to 3.2mm for a striking, “all-picture” look. An adjustable height pedestal stand provides solid support and can clear space for a soundbar, and the TV’s edges taper in at the sides to give it a slim profile.

A respectable number of gaming features are provided on the QM9K, including two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support, FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM, and Dolby Vision gaming. A pop-up Game Bar menu lets you make quick adjustments, and a Game Accelerator 288 feature enables 288Hz gaming at 1080p resolution.

  • TCL QM9K QD-Mini LED 4K TV (2025) (55-inch LED) at Amazon for $497.99

TCL QM9K review: Price and release date

The QM9K’s high brightness and refined local dimming help to bring out fine details in images (Image credit: Future)

  • Release date: September 2025
  • 65-inch: $2,999.99
  • 75-inch: $3,499.99
  • 85-inch: $3,999.99
  • 98-inch: $5,999.99

The TCL QM9K is available in 65- to 98-inch screen sizes. As TCL’s flagship TV, it is priced higher than other series in the company’s mini-LED TV lineup, with the 75-inch model I tested priced at $3,499 at launch. To put the QM9K’s price in perspective, the step-down TCL QM8K mini-LED launched in May at $3,199 for the 75-inch size, and is now selling for around $2,000.

Similar to the QM8K, prices for the QM9K are already starting to drop, with the 75-inch model having been reduced to $2,499. Other flagship mini-LEDs in a 75-inch size that the QM9K is competing with include the Samsung QN90F (currently selling for $2,099) and Hisense U8QG (currently selling for $1,899).

TCL QM9K review: Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Screen type:

QLED with mini-LED

Refresh rate:

144Hz

HDR support:

Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG

Audio support:

Dolby Atmos

Smart TV:

Google TV

HDMI ports:

4 (2x HDMI 2.1)

Built-in tuner:

ATSC 3.0

TCL QM9K review: Benchmark results

TCL QM9K review: Features

The QM9K has two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support, plus two HDMI 2.0 ports (Image credit: Future)

  • Wide viewing angle and anti-reflective screen
  • Audio by Bang & Olufsen
  • Google TV with Gemini

The TCL QM9K features a high-contrast display panel with a wide viewing angle and an anti-reflective screen. A Halo Control System with a 23-bit controller and dynamic light algorithm is used to minimize blooming from the TV’s mini-LED backlight, which provides up to 6,500 local dimming zones, and the company’s AIPQ Pro processor is used for upscaling and noise reduction.

High dynamic range support includes both the Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ formats. The QM9K is also IMAX Enhanced certified and features a Filmmaker Mode picture preset, a new addition to TCL TVs in 2025.

The QM9K’s Audio by Bang & Olufsen built-in speaker system features Dolby Atmos support, and there’s pass-through for DTS:X. Upfiring speakers for Atmos height effects are located on the TV’s top surface, and there are dual subwoofers on the back panel.

TCL’s Zero Border design for the QM9K provides a disappearingly thin bezel that allows for virtually the full screen area to be filled with the picture. A built-in sensor can be configured to turn the TV on when it detects your nearby presence, and it will then be switched to ambient mode, displaying artwork or photos. A built-in far-field mic lets you use voice commands to control the TV, and there’s also a built-in mic on the backlit remote control that lets you do the same.

The QM9K is the first Google TV with Gemini AI, which lets you carry out contextual, voice-based content search, among other things. Gemini can be used to control Google Assistant smart home devices, and the TV additionally works with Alexa and Apple HomeKit and jas AirPlay and Chromecast built-in support.

Gaming features include 4K 144Hz support on two of the TV’s four HDMI ports, FreeSync Pro, and Game Accelerator 288, which lets you game in 1080p resolution at a 288Hz refresh rate. There is also a Game Bar onscreen display that lets you make gaming-related adjustments without having to exit to a menu.

TCL QM9K review: Picture quality

The QM9K’s high brightness and anti-glare screen make it a great option for bright room viewing (Image credit: Future)

  • Exceptional brightness and contrast
  • Rich color and excellent detail
  • Wide viewing angle

When I previously reviewed the TCL QM9K’s step-down sibling, the TCL QM8K, one of that TV’s high points was its exceptional brightness. In my testing, the QM9K proved to be even brighter than the QM8K, with a measured peak HDR brightness of 3,322 nits in Filmmaker Mode and 3,811 nits in Standard mode. Fullscreen HDR brightness was also impressive, with the QM9K hitting around 660 nits in both Filmmaker and Standard modes.

The QM9K’s HDR color gamut coverage was also very good, with the TV measuring 96.7% for UHDA-P3 and 79.7 for BT-2020. Color point accuracy was similarly good, with the Delta-E value (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what’s shown on-screen, with a result lower than 3 being undetectable by the human eye) averaging out to 1.8, and to 2.8 for grayscale accuracy.

The QM9K’s high brightness, combined with its extended, accurate color and refined local dimming translated into an exceptional picture. Watching the animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse on 4K Blu-ray, a scene where Spider-Man battles the Green Goblin had powerful contrast, and it caused the scene’s psychedelic color palette to pop more than I’m used to seeing on most TVs. The film’s animated textures were also displayed with a high level of detail, giving it a near 3D-like effect.

The QM9K’s impressive detail carried over to Ripley, which I streamed in 4K with Dolby Vision from Netflix. Watched in the TV’s Dolby Vision Dark picture mode, textures in clothing and objects were clearly visible, and it gave the picture a strong sense of depth. The show’s black and white images looked completely uniform, and subtle gray tones were easily revealed.

Test patterns on the Spears & Munsil Ultra HD Benchmark 4K Blu-ray confirmed that the QM9K’s CrystGlow WHVA Panel worked as well in maintaining uniform color and contrast over a wide viewing angle as the TCL QM8K did when I tested it. The disc’s local dimming torture tests also confirmed the effectiveness of TCL’s Halo Control System at minimizing backlight blooming in high contrast images.

With its Ultra Wide Angle feature, the QM9K’s picture looks uniformly good over a range of seating positions (Image credit: Future)

The only area where the QM9K stumbled a bit was in its motion handling. Watching a scene from the James Bond film No Time to Die, where Bond walks across a craggy hillside cemetery, there was a fair amount of judder, although this could be eliminated by making adjustments to the Custom mode in the TV’s Motion menu without introducing too much “soap opera” effect.

There was also a very slight degree of vignetting at the edges of the screen, an effect likely related to its Zero Border design. This was mostly visible on test patterns, however, and I rarely spotted it on TV shows or movies.

The QM9K’s anti-reflection screen proved effective at reducing screen glare from overhead lights and maintaining picture contrast. I did see some reflections from lamps when placed in the path of the screen, but it was minimal and mostly an issue for dark images.

  • Picture quality score: 4.5/5

TCL QM9K review: Sound quality

The QM9K’s Audio by Bang & Olufsen speaker system features upfiring drivers for Dolby Atmos height effects and dual subwoofers on the TV’s rear (shown) (Image credit: Future)

  • Audio by Bang & Olufsen with Beosonic interface
  • Dolby FlexConnect support
  • Potent sound with good directional effects

TCL doesn’t provide much in the way of audio specs for its TVs, but the QM9K does have an Audio by Bang & Olufsen Dolby Atmos speaker system with upfiring drivers and built-in subwoofers. There’s no DTS Virtual:X processing, but DTS:X pass-through is supported.

The QM9K is also compatible with Dolby FlexConnect, which lets you use the TV with the company’s Z100 wireless FlexConnect speakers and Z100-SW wireless subwoofer. FlexConnect automatically configures and calibrates the system from the TV, and it gives you the freedom to position the speakers anywhere you want in the room, not just in the standard home theater positions to the side of the screen, or behind you to the sides.

One notable feature related to the Audio by Bang & Olufsen on the QM9K is its Beosonic interface, which becomes available when you select the TV’s Custom sound preset.

The graphic interface features a cursor that allows you to move between Relaxed, Energetic, Bright, and Warm quadrants to adjust the sound to your liking. Using this, I was able to warm up the TV’s too-bright sound, though I ended up leaving the Movie preset in place for most of my testing.

Overall, I found the QM9K’s sound to be pretty potent, with clear dialogue and a good helping of bass. When I watched the chase scene through the town square in No Time to Die, the crashes and gunfire had good impact and directionality, and the sound of ringing church bells in the Dolby Atmos soundtrack had a notably strong height effect.

I imagine many viewers will be fine with using the QM9K’s built-in speakers, though I’d recommend adding one of the best soundbars or taking advantage of its FlexConnect feature to get sound quality that equals the picture.

  • Sound quality score: 4.5/5

TCL QM9K review: Design

The TV’s pedestal stand can be installed flush or at an elevated height (shown) to accommodate a soundbar (Image credit: Future)

  • ZeroBorder design
  • Height-adjustable pedestal stand
  • Full-size, backlit remote control

TCL’s ZeroBorder design minimizes the QM9K’s bezel to a vanishingly small 3.2mm, giving it a true “all-picture” look. The panel itself has a two-inch depth, although its sides taper inward in a manner that gives the TV a slimmer look when viewed from the side.

A pedestal stand comes with the QM9K in screen sizes up to 85 inches, while the 98-inch version features support feet. The stand is made of metal covered with a faux brushed metal plastic, and it has two height positions, with the higher option clearing space for a soundbar.

Connections on the QM9K include four HDMI ports (one with eARC), two USB type-A, Ethernet, and an optical digital audio output. There is also an ATSC 3.0 tuner input for connecting an antenna.

TCL’s full-size remote control features a backlit keypad. The layout is uncluttered, and includes three direct access buttons for apps (Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube) plus an input select button, and a Free TV button that takes you to the TV’s free and ad-supported streaming channels portal.

TCL QM9K review: Smart TV and menus

Image 1 of 2

The QM9K’s Google TV smart interface with the Gemini AI icon,(Image credit: Future)Google TV’s Live TV grid guide(Image credit: Future)

  • Google TV with Gemini AI
  • Live program grid with broadcast channels
  • Quick menu for basic adjustments

The QM9K is notable for being the first Google TV with Gemini AI chatbot support. This feature lets you essentially carry on a conversation with the TV using either the set’s built-in far-field mic or the remote control’s mic.

Using Gemini, you can ask a question like, “Show me a list of Samurai movies from the 1960s to the present.” The contextual nature of Gemini search lets you then ask follow-up questions to drill down deeper, such as “Show me the ones with an 80% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score that are available on HBO Max or Netflix.”

Gemini has much more in its bag of tricks: You can ask about anything you want, from questions about astronomy or astrology to recipes to top attractions to see when visiting cities. It can create news briefs with video links and also generate images from prompts (“Fantasy twilight landscape with white deer”) to use as screensavers.

The QM9K features a built-in presence sensor, and it can be configured to activate your AI-generated screensavers, or even a rotating photo gallery drawn from a Google Photos account, automatically when you enter the room.

A Live TV portal in Google TV provides a grid guide of broadcasts pulled in by the QM9K’s ATSC 3.0 tuner, including NextGen channels, and these are displayed along with Google TV Freeplay and TCL free ad-supported TV channels. Google TV gives you multiple options to sort these, including by genre (Reality TV, News, etc.) or antenna-only.

Both AirPlay and Chromecast built-in are supported by the QM9K, which also works with Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit.

The QM9K’s quick menu lets you easily adjust basic settings (Image credit: Future)

There are extensive settings in the QM9K’s menus to satisfy picture and sound tweakers. The Brightness section of the Picture menu provides multiple gamma settings and contrast adjustments. For sound, there are various audio presets, including a custom Audio by Bang & Olufsen Beosonic adjustment that lets you EQ the sound based on parameters like Bright, Relaxed, Energetic, and Warm.

Accessing these settings is done by pressing the gear icon on the remote control or by clicking the same icon in the Google TV home screen. Another option is to press the quick menu icon on the remote, which calls up a menu at the screen’s bottom with a range of picture and sound setup options.

  • Smart TV & menus score: 4.5/5

TCL QM9K review: Gaming

The QM9K’s Game Bar menu (Image credit: Future)

  • Two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support
  • FreeSync Premium Pro and Game Accelerator 288
  • 12.9ms input lag is average

Gaming features on the QM9K include two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support, FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM, and Dolby Vision gaming. There is also a Game Accelerator 288 feature that lets you game at 288Hz in 108p resolution and a Game Bar onscreen overlay for making quick adjustments to gaming-related settings.

The QM9K’s bright, contrast-rich picture makes all manner of games look great. Performance is also responsive, with the TCL measuring at 12.9ms when tested with a Leo Bodnar 4K input lag meter.

TCL QM9K review: Value

The QM9K’s full-size, fully backlit remote control (Image credit: Future)

  • Priced higher than top mini-LED competition
  • Less extensive gaming features than competition
  • Google TV with Gemini enhances value

The TCL QM9K is a fantastic TV, but its raw value is taken down a notch by the fact that there is plenty of great mini-LED TV competition in 2025.

At the time of writing, TCL had already lowered the price of the 75-inch QM9K by $1,000 to $2,499. Even so, other 75-inch flagship mini-LED TVs such as the Samsung QN90F are now selling for $2,099. The QM9K has higher peak HDR brightness than the Samsung, and it also beats competitors such as the Hisense U8QG on that test. But the Samsung has superior gaming features and performance, and its great overall picture quality was one of the main reasons why it earned a five out of five stars overall rating in our Samsung QN90F review.

TCL’s own step-down mini-LED TV, the TCL QM8K, also provides very impressive picture quality, and it features the ZeroBorder screen, ultra wide viewing angle, and anti-reflection screen features found in the QM9K.

I’d have said that Google TV with Gemini, which is currently exclusive to the QM9K, was its ace-in-the-hole when it comes to value, but that feature is also coming to the QM8K at some point in 2025, and it should also be available as an upgrade for the Hisense U8QG. The QM9K is the only TV of the three with a built-in presence sensor, so that is one exclusive feature the QM9K can claim.

Should I buy the TCL QM9K?

A Gemini-generated fantasy image, used as a screensaver (Image credit: Future)Swipe to scroll horizontallyTCL QM9K

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Google TV with Gemini, Dolby FlexConnect and comprehensive HDR support

4.5/5

Picture quality

Exceptional brightness and refined local dimming combined with a ultra wide viewing angle feature and anti-reflective screen make this a great all-around TV

4.5/5

Sound quality

Very good built-in sound from Audio by Bang & Olufsen Dolby Atmos speaker system

4.5/5

Design

ZeroBorder screen minimizes bezel for all picture look. Adjustable height pedestal stand can clear space for a soundbar

4/5

Smart TV and menus

Google TV is enhanced by Gemini AI, plus the quick menu provides easy access to basic settings

4.5/5

Gaming

4K 144Hz and FreeSync Premium Pro supported, but only on two HDMI ports

4/5

Value

A bit pricier than most of the current flagship mini-LED TV competition. Step-down QM8K model is a better overall value

4/5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

TCL QM9K: Also consider…

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0

TCL QM9K

Samsung QN90F

TCL QM8K

Hisense U8QG

Price (65-inch)

$2,999

$2,499.99

$2,499.99

$2,199

Screen type

QLED w/ mini-LED

QLED w/ mini-LED

QLED w/ mini-LED

QLED w/ mini-LED

Refresh rate

144Hz

165Hz

144Hz

165Hz

HDR support

DolbyVision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

DolbyVision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

DolbyVision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

Smart TV

Google TV (with Gemini)

Tizen

Google TV

Google TV

HDMI ports

4 (2x HDMI 2.1)

4x HDMI 2.1

4 (2x HDMI 2.1)

3x HDMI 2.1

How I tested the TCL QM9K

Measuring a 10% HDR white window pattern during testing (Image credit: Future)

  • I spent about 15 viewing hours in total measuring and evaluating
  • Measurements were made using Calman color calibration software
  • A full calibration was made before proceeding with subjective tests

When I test TVs, I first spend a few days or even weeks using it for casual viewing to assess the out-of-the-box picture presets and get familiar with its smart TV menu and picture adjustments.

I next select the most accurate preset (usually Filmmaker Mode, Movie or Cinema) and measure grayscale and color accuracy using Portrait Displays’ Calman color calibration software. The resulting measurements provide Delta-E values (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what’s shown on-screen) for each category, and allow for an assessment of the TV’s overall accuracy.

Along with those tests, I make measurements of peak light output (recorded in nits) for both standard high-definition and 4K high dynamic range using 10% and 100% white window patterns. Coverage of DCI-P3 and BT.2020 color space is also measured, with the results providing a sense of how faithfully the TV can render the extended color range in ultra high-definition sources – you can read more about this process in our guide to how we test TVs at TechRadar.

For the TCL QM9K, I used the Calman ISF workflow, along with the TV’s advanced picture menu settings, to calibrate the image for best accuracy. I also watched a range of reference scenes on 4K Blu-ray discs to assess the TV’s performance, along with 4K HDR shows streamed from Max, Netflix, and other services.

TCL QM9K QD-Mini LED 4K TV (2025): Price Comparison



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Payday developer Starbreeze cancels Dungeons and Dragons project to focus on its flagship franchise, two years after it was announced
Game Reviews

Payday developer Starbreeze cancels Dungeons and Dragons project to focus on its flagship franchise, two years after it was announced

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Starbreeze has cancelled its Dungeons and Dragons project to focus on its flagship Payday franchise.

Codenamed Project Baxter, it was revealed back in 2023 and was aiming for a 2026 release. Few details were available, but it was planned to have “the signature Starbreeze game cornerstones of co-operative multiplayer, lifetime commitment through a Games as a Service-model, community engagement and a larger than life experience”.

However, following a “strategic review”, development has been discontinued as the board of directors and management have “concluded that resources are best deployed to accelerate the growth of” the Payday series.

PAYDAY 3: Second Anniversary BundleWatch on YouTube

As a result, the studio will incur a non-cash impairment of around SEK 255m (around £20m).

“This was a difficult but necessary decision,” said Adolf Kristjansson, CEO of Starbreeze, in a press release.

“Our strategy is clear: Payday is one of the most iconic IPs in gaming, with unmatched reach and potential. By focusing our investment and talent here, we can accelerate delivery, engage players with more content, and reinforce Starbreeze’s position as the clear leader in the heisting genre. This is about sharpening our focus to create the strongest long-term value for our players, our people, and our shareholders.”

The studio stated “part of the Baxter team will be redeployed across Starbreeze’s projects, most prominently within Payday” and where “internal opportunities are limited, Starbreeze will provide active support for affected employees to transition to new roles across the industry”. It estimates there will be a reduction in headcount of around 44 full-time employees and contractors.

Starbreeze boasted the Payday games have engaged over 50 million players globally, generating almost SEK 4bn in lifetime gross revenue.

“We are doubling down on what our players love – and what we do best – owning the heisting genre,” said Kristjansson. “Payday is more than a game – it’s a genre we created and continue to lead. By redeploying talent and capital, we can bring innovation to heisting gameplay faster, while also laying the foundation for the future expansion of the genre.”

Earlier this year, Starbreeze acquired the publishing rights to its Payday 3 game from Plaion, which launched disastrously in 2023. The acquisition would enable the studio to “significantly accelerate [its] content development roadmap, and pursue broader strategic opportunities for the Payday franchise as a whole,” said board member Thomas Lindgren at the time.



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Gaming Gear

Qualcomm’s new flagship mobile platform is the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

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Qualcomm has launched the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which the company claims is the “world’s faster mobile system-on-a-chip.” It was designed for flagship devices for manufacturers and smartphone brands that don’t make their own mobile platforms, with the first devices equipped with the SoC launching in the coming days. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is powered by the company’s third-generation Oryon CPU, which Qualcomm says “improves performance by 20 percent and CPU power efficiency by 35 percent.” Overall, the company is claiming that the platform has a 16 percent lower power draw, making it more efficient and enabling longer “sustained performance.”

The new platform promises “lightning-fast” app launches and app switching for better multitasking. Qualcomm’s AI Engine allows on-device AI processing, as well, made possible by the company’s upgraded Hexagon NPU that’s apparently 37 percent than its predecessor. “With Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, you are at the center of your mobile experience,” said Chris Patrick, the SVP and generation manager for mobile at Qualcomm. “It enables personalized AI agents to see what you see, hear what you hear and think with you in real time.”

In addition, Qualcomm says the new SoC is the first mobile platform to enable recording in Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec, giving creators the ability to film on their phones for professional-level productions. Several smartphone brands have already committed to using the new platform for their flagship devices, including Samsung, OnePlus, OPPO, Honor, iQOO, Nubia, POCO, realme, REDMI, RedMagic, ROG, Sony, vivo, Xiaomi and ZTE.



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Dyson V16 Piston Animal cordless stick vacuum
Product Reviews

Dyson V16 Piston Animal hands-on review: a powerful new flagship, but not quite a slam-dunk

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Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal: two-minute review

The V16 Piston Animal is Dyson’s brand-new flagship stick vacuum, and it boasts a number of upgrades over its predecessors. Based on specs, this is the best Dyson vacuum on the market – and it should be one of the best cordless vacuums from any brand. I’ve been testing it out for a couple of days now, and I have lots of thoughts.

Based on my first impressions – I’ll be writing a full review when I’ve had more time with it – the V16 Piston Animal an incredibly good vacuum, but with one particular issue that could be a deal breaker for some potential buyers.

Let’s start with the good bits. The dust compactor works extremely well and is a logical, solidly useful addition. It gives you more cleaning time without having to empty the bin so often, and when you do come to empty the bin, the same mechanism expels the contents easily, with no need for fingers to get involved.

Dyson has redesigned the attachment mechanism so that you can connect and release attachments on the end of the wand without having to bend down. This seems like an effort-saver, and should also help those with mobility issues.

It almost goes without saying that the suction is excellent, and the battery gives you ample cleaning time without having to stop to recharge. Like its predecessors, the Gen5detect and V15 Detect, there’s an Auto mode that offers intelligent adjustment based on floor type and dirt levels. On the V16, though, it’ll adjust not just suction but also roller speed, for the most effective, battery-efficient clean.

Dyson has also given the floorhead an entirely different design – and this is where my main issue lies. The conical rollers do work well to prevent hair tangles, but the tapered shape means the floorhead comes to a slight point on the front side, which is a pain when you’re trying to clean along the straight edge of a room.

Read on for more information about the new Dyson flagship and my experiences with it so far, and check back in a week or two for my full and in-depth verdict.

(Image credit: Future)

Dyson V16 Piston Animal review: price & availability

  • List price: £749.99 / AU$1,349 (US TBC)
  • Launched: September 2025
  • Available: UK and AU now, US sometime in 2026

The V16 Piston Animal was unveiled at the start of September, and is on sale now in territories including the UK and Australia. It will be available in the US, but not until sometime in 2026.

The regular version has a list price of £749.99 / AU$1,349 (the US list price will be released closer to the launch date). A Submarine version is also available, with an extra mopping floorhead, at a list price of £899.99 / AU$1,599.

For comparison, this model’s predecessor, the Gen5detect, is £769.99 / AU$1,549. The model down from that, the V15 Detect, is £649.99 / AU$1,449.

Those prices position the the V16 firmly in the premium price bracket, and make it one of the most expensive vacuums on the market. It’s interesting to note that it’s actually slightly cheaper than the Gen5detect in the UK (although that older model will attract more discounts).

I’ll make a final call on value for money once I’ve had more time to test the V16 out, but on first impressions, it looks and feels premium. It has been meticulously designed and is packed with features – including some you can’t find anywhere else on the market. I’m not going to pretend it’s not an awful lot to spend on a vacuum, though.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Weight:

7.5 lbs / 3.4kg

Bin size:

1.3L

Max runtime:

70 mins

Charge time:

3hrs 30

Dimensions (H x L x W):

10.2 x 51.1 x 9.8 inches / 25.9 x 129.8 x 25cm

Filter:

99.9% to 0.1 microns

Max suction:

315 AW

Dyson V16 Piston Animal review: design

  • Redesigned anti-tangle floorhead with conical rollers
  • Manual compression lever on bin
  • Automatic power and roller speed adjustment based on floor type

The V16 Piston is a premium cordless stick vacuum with a number of useful features, many of which are brand new to this machine.

Key amongst these – and the reason for the ‘Piston’ of the name, is a compression lever on the dust cup. This can be pushed down to squish dust and hair and increase dustbin capacity, and is also designed to wipe fine debris off the inside of the cup, and to be helpful in efficient emptying.

(Image credit: Future)

A second addition is the red cuff at the top of the vacuum’s wand. This can be pushed down to release the floorhead without having to bend down. The docking section of the floorhead is designed to sit upright at an angle, so you can also snap it on the wand from a standing position.

(Image credit: Future)

Speaking of the floorhead: this looks very different to anything I’ve seen before. Rather than being tube-shaped, the rollers here are conical. The idea is that the tapering shape shifts long hair down to the narrow end where it can be sucked up, rather than leaving it to tangle. This floorhead is designed for both hard floors and carpet, and is kitted out with a laser to illuminate dirt that might otherwise be missed.

(Image credit: Future)

The main body of the vacuum has a matte finish, and Dyson has added a padded section above the hand grip for added comfort. It switches on with a button rather than a trigger, and the battery is removable and swappable.

This is the first Dyson vacuum to be properly ‘connected’, with the companion app providing cleaning summaries and offering advanced setting options. There’s a screen on the machine itself to deliver information, including how long you have left on the battery.

The screen will also provide you with real-time reports on the size and number of particles you’re sucking up, as you clean. This works with the V16’s ‘Auto’ mode, where the vacuum will automatically adjust suction and (newly) brushroll speed based on the kind of floor it’s on and how dirty it is.

(Image credit: Future)

Detail tools will vary slightly depending on which model you opt for, but there are a couple of notable upgrades. The Hair screw tool now has a rubberized band across the front to help loosen hair that’s ‘stuck’ to upholstery fabric. Hidden inside the wand are two stubby Crevice tools – one at the top, attached to the main part of the vacuum, and the other at the bottom of the wand, revealed if you remove the floorhead. Because of the redesigned docking mechanism, none of the tools are compatible with other Dyson stick vacuums.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal review: performance

  • Dust compaction is great, and design makes emptying super-easy
  • Suction excellent, but not notably different to previous models in practice
  • Angled floorhead is a pain for vacuuming the edges of rooms

After one whole-house clean with the V16, I’m impressed in some ways but less so in others. I’ll start with the general suction performance. As I expected, this is excellent. I tested the vacuum in a four-floor house with hard floor, plenty of carpets, and a black Spaniel, and it had no trouble sucking up impressive volumes of dust, dirt and hair.

In Auto mode, I could hear the power and brushroll ramping up and down as I moved into different areas and onto different floor types. I found the on-screen dust reports as mesmerizing as ever, although I’m still not sure they’re that useful.

Officially, the V16 has the most suction of any Dyson stick vacuum, but on first impressions, I didn’t really notice a difference in cleaning power compared to cleaning using the V15 (this house’s usual vacuum, and two models down from the V16 – despite what the number might suggest, the Gen5detect sits in the middle). I’ll run some side-by-side suction tests with all three to see if there is a difference I’m not seeing.

(Image credit: Future)

The V16 feels a little weighty in the hand, but the padded section above the hand-hold is a welcome addition and does help boost comfort. I’m in two minds about the button operation. For longer cleaning sessions, it’s nice not to have to continually compress the trigger, but for quick cleanups, it’s a bit cumbersome to have to keep a hand free to turn the machine on and off (you can’t reach the button with your gripping hand).

I’m also not entirely sold on the new floorhead. While it does work well to siphon off hair, the new design requires the front long side of the floorhead to come to a slight point rather than being in a straight line. This means you can’t approach the edges of rooms front-on – instead, you have to go in from the side. That quickly becomes very annoying.

Otherwise, it pivots well but feels a little harder to push than previous Dysons (and other vacuums I’ve tested). I did find the laser useful for highlighting dust in dingy corners, though.

(Image credit: Future)

The quick-release works well and is an effort-saver, but the joints in general are a little stiffer than on other Dyson stick vacuums I’ve used. It’s also a shame that existing attachments won’t work with the V16.

More of a success is the dust compactor. This is a solid win; the mechanism works a treat, and means you can fit in more cleaning without having to make so many trips to the trash. It also makes it far easier to empty than most cordless vacuums I’ve used.

Those are my thoughts so far – check back for the full review, including the results of TechRadar’s official suction tests, when I’ve had more time to put the V16 Piston Animal through its paces.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal: Price Comparison



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NFT Gaming

OpenSea Reveals ‘Flagship’ NFT Treasury Stockpile as SEA Token Drop Nears

by admin



In brief

  • OpenSea is creating an NFT reserve, starting with a CryptoPunk on Ethereum.
  • The firm is preparing for the final phase of pre-token rewards, starting with a prize vault filled with $1 million in ARB and OP tokens.
  • The OpenSea Foundation is expected to announce SEA tokenomics in early October.

Prominent NFT marketplace OpenSea said Monday that it has committed more than $1 million to acquiring culturally relevant NFTs as it charges towards the launch of its native ecosystem token, SEA.

The marketplace’s reserve, called the Flagship Collection, will begin with CryptoPunk #5273, which was last purchased for $282,000 on August 25 before being transferred to a new address on Monday. After acquiring “essential pieces,” the firm aims to acquire and elevate pieces from emerging artists. 

“We’ve always said NFTs are culture. The Flagship Collection is about picking the pieces we believe will stand the test of time,” OpenSea CEO Devin Finzer told Decrypt.

Today we’re introducing:

– OS Mobile: a beautiful trading experience powered by AI
– Flagship Collection: honoring web3’s cultural heritage
– Final Rewards Phase: 50% of platform fees funding millions in token & NFT prizes
– $SEA Update: details in early October

Learn more ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/EfsjucUeSR

— OpenSea (@opensea) September 8, 2025

The firm will choose pieces for the collection using a committee of OpenSea employees and a group of external advisors with strict internal procedures in place to prevent the leak of information prior to acquisitions. 

In 2023, a former OpenSea employee was convicted in the first-ever NFT insider trading case, as the executive had purchased and profited from assets that were to be featured on the popular marketplace. The conviction was ultimately overturned this July. 

“There are a variety of elements that factor into our buying criteria, ranging from cultural significance, impact on Web3 as a whole, unique expressions of creativity and more,” OpenSea CMO Adam Hollander told Decrypt. 



“Some of the selections for the Flagship Collection will seem obvious, while others much less so,” he added. “The goal is to spotlight well-deserving artists and creators, even new and emerging ones, placing their works shoulder-to-shoulder with historical pieces that represent digital culture.” 

Beyond the Flagship Collection, OpenSea is gearing up for a final push before the official launch of the SEA token, the native ecosystem token announced by the OpenSea Foundation in February. 

Starting on September 15, the firm will begin using 50% of its platform fees to create a prize vault for the final phase of pre-token generation rewards. Additionally, it is kickstarting the vault with $1 million worth of the native tokens from Ethereum layer-2 networks Optimism (OP) and Arbitrum (ARB).

Based on activity on the platform, such as NFT and token trading and completing daily tasks, users can level-up their portion of the prize vault, which will also play a “meaningful role” at the time of the SEA token generation.

Full tokenomics details are expected to be shared by the OpenSea Foundation in early October. 

The Miami-based firm—which hit a valuation of $13.3 billion in 2022 amid the NFT boom—announced a complete overhaul earlier this year with the launch of “OS2,” a renewed vision for NFT and fungible token trading.

In July, OpenSea acquired crypto portfolio application, Rally, to level up its mobile experience. Waitlists for a revamped mobile application and an AI-focused trading experience are expected to launch in the coming weeks, the firm said Monday.

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Hasselblad’s flagship medium format camera is cheaper than you’d think.
Product Reviews

Hasselblad’s flagship medium format camera is cheaper than you’d think.

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We’ve spent most of the year talking about gadgets getting more expensive. Thanks to US tariffs, prices are rising every few months, and even small upgrades have come with big price hikes. So I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the new Hasselblad X2D 100C II will actually be cheaper than its predecessor, coming in at “just” $7,400 for the body.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s far from cheap. But Hasselblad is trying to get this camera in the hands of a wider audience. I’ve been looking at my account balance ever since I started this review, trying to figure out if I can justify buying one for myself. I probably can’t — but not because I don’t want to.

Here’s what you need to know about digital medium format cameras like the X2D. They’re bigger and slower than full-frame or crop-sensor cameras. They take longer to process images and usually have slower autofocus. And yes, they cost a lot more money. But you get nearly perfect photos with incredible detail and sharpness unlike what you can get with any other camera. And the photos I got from the X2D II are some of the best photos I have ever taken. The question is whether they’re worth sacrificing speed, size, and money.

It’s been three years since the last X2D, and the new version comes with some exciting updates: it’s using LiDAR to assist with autofocus, it’s the first medium format camera capable of taking HDR photos, and it has 10-stop in-body stabilization. It also has one new button and a joystick! That might sound minor, but it has made handling this camera a lot faster and let me rely less on touchscreen commands, which I was never fond of. Medium format cameras are lethargic, so any bit helps!

But in many other ways, the new one similar to its predecessor. The body has the same handheld shape, it still takes 100 megapixel photos, and it offers similar dynamic range (15.3 versus 15 stops). Want to shoot video? In 2025, you might expect that option from a medium format camera, like you would in Fujifilm’s GFX line or the five-year-old Leica S3. But we’ll have to wait a few more years for that. This is strictly a photographers’ camera — fortunately, it’s a very good one.

$7399

The Good

  • Incredible image quality
  • More buttons
  • Price

The Bad

  • LiDAR is just ok
  • Still a bit slow
  • Bulky

Last year, DJI released a product called DJI Focus Pro LiDAR, which combines a LiDAR sensor with a mechanism that attaches to your camera and lets you use autofocus with your manual-focus lenses. I haven’t used one, but it’s popular with some content creators. LiDAR has made its way to cameras as part of the standard autofocus system, and it’s also the first real sign of DJI’s influence over Hasselblad since the acquisition in 2017.

The LiDAR module on this camera is much smaller than the one on the Focus Pro module, and it works in tandem with the existing phase detection and contrast detection autofocus.

LiDAR is a big new features with the X2D 100C II, but you won’t notice a big change in autofocus performance in everyday use.

So, is it good? It is good. Is it impressive? It’s not bad. Is it flawless? Not quite. In my few weeks with the X2D II, I found the LiDAR system to bereliable, pin-point accurate, and just fast enough where it almost feels like a modern mirrorless camera. Think more like a Fuji than a Sony: a bit slower but still good.

But sometimes it also felt like the LiDAR was questioning itself. It would often focus behind a subject and then work its way forward, especially when using continuous autofocus. The same goes for subject detection and eye autofocus: if the subject wasn’t looking directly at the camera, then the system would often decide to focus on the subject as a whole, not the eye. This happened more with animals than people (sorry, most of my friends are four-legged) and would sometimes make me miss out on potential photos. On the other hand, it was also able to capture subjects from far away; it worked well in the dark and low light.

Autofocus performed marginally better with the lens that Hasselblad is releasing alongside this camera — the XCD 35-100 mm, which will cost $4,599. In its press release, Hasselblad called this lens “compact,” but it isn’t even close. It is a very large lens. In fact, it is so large that Hasselblad had to release special UV and ND filters for the 86mm diameter lens. At least it’s not too heavy for its size, at 1.97 lbs.

The Hasselblad X2D II comes with a built-in 1TB SSD, which makes processing those 100MP images fairly fast (I’m grading on a curve here). There’s still some delay before you can review your photo on the screen, especially in burst mode — about four seconds per exposure. But it’s fast enough that it didn’t slow me down too much. You can still keep shooting without a problem. I’m not a spray-and-pray photographer; I tend to be more intentional with my shots, so it’s fast enough for me, but it could feel sluggish for some. And yes, there’s still a CFexpress type B slot for extra storage, and I haven’t noticed any improvements or hindrances when using those.

The Hasseblad X2D 100C II adds a few new buttons which makes operating this camera much faster. It’s the little things.

Photos from the X2D II look crisp and gorgeous. The details are sharp, the edges look razor-thin, the bokeh from the 25mm prime lens that I mostly used is silky with that signature Hasselblad 8-point starburst effect. (For full-size samples, be sure to download images from this folder.)

The camera is rated for 15.3 stops of dynamic range, which made the 16-bit photos extremely lifelike. Pair that with incredibly accurate colors, and I was constantly amazed with the results. I truly couldn’t wait to review each and every photo across as many screens as possible — especially the HDR ones, since this is the first medium format camera capable of capturing true HDR photos.

1/11The level of detail and sharpness from the Hasselblad’s medium format sensor is truly spectacular. Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

In general, I am not a fan of the HDR look that you usually get out of smartphone or action cameras, but it looks more natural here. In some extreme and high contrast scenes, you’ll see lots of processing, particularly in the shadows, which are heavily lifted, and you’ll also see noise creeping in. In more even exposures, the HDR processing and the noise looks much better and well sustained. I encourage you to take a look at these on an HDR monitor and pay attention to the highlights, which retain lots of information and look great. If you’re into that punchy look with rich highlights, then you’ll enjoy what you get out of the X2D II.

When you connect this camera to the new Phocus 2 app, you can control how much HDR processing you want to apply. This is definitely the best way to go about processing HDR photos with this camera, and it’s made me use HDR a whole lot more. Also, shout out to Hasselblad for making a minimalistic and simple companion app that looks great and works well. I’ve had minor connectivity issues with it, but far less than with other apps I’ve used in the past. (For HDR samples, download images from this folder.)

Noise in both HDR and non-HDR photos looks well maintained, and only at about ISO 6400 does it slowly start to jeopardize the image. The lowest ISO on this camera is 50, down from 65 on the X2D. If you’re worried about noise in this camera, you shouldn’t be. But if you are, the 10-stop stabilization will help you open up that shutter a bit longer.

Hasselblad says that you can get clean handheld exposures up to “several” seconds. It’s hard to tell what several seconds actually means, but I was able to get some long exposure of waterfalls by handholding a camera up to three seconds on a bright and sunny day, albeit while leaning against the railing. For other photos, I was comfortable with handholding for up to a second.

We live in an age where camera specs are slowly fading away. Every digital camera shoots great photos, they all have great autofocus, and they all get similar colors. It really comes down to how a camera makes you feel when you use it: Can it become an extension of one’s self? Can it help you express yourself as a photographer?

This Hasselblad is gorgeous and bold. The dark gray body and matte finish look like a luxury supercar. The grip on the side has a new, extremely comfortable, and good-looking texture. It feels so good in your hand: robust, and every corner well-made. You feel like you’re in the driver’s seat, buckled up and ready for a smooth ride.
The three-level tilting screen, buttons, joystick, dials, and everything else is very Hasselblad — made with care and precision. But it’s also a heavy camera that will tire you out after a long day of filming. And for me, the novelty of carrying a Hasselblad started to wear off toward the end of my review period — that is, until I looked back at the photos that I took and the memories that I was able to create. And gosh, I am so glad that I made those memories with one of the greatest cameras I have ever used.

Photography by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

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panasonci z95b showing image of leaf onscreen
Product Reviews

Panasonic Z95B review: a flagship OLED TV that combines refined pictures with powerful sound

by admin



Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Panasonic Z95B: Two-minute review

The Panasonic Z95B is the latest flagship TV to enter what is turning out to be a very competitive OLED TV market in 2025. Whereas some of those models – specifically those from Samsung and LG – are making a bet on high brightness to distinguish themselves among the best TVs, Panasonic is pushing accuracy with the Z95B, and the effort can be seen in its refined, natural, and finely detailed picture.

For the Panasonic Z95B, the company opted to use the same Primary RGB Tandem panel OLED display found in the LG G5. This new panel tech has a ‘four-stack’ structure, with separate red and green OLED layers sandwiched between two blue layers, and it accounts for the Z95B’s rich color display and high brightness capability – I recorded brightness measurements as high as 2,107 nits, though brightness is considerably more limited in several of the TV’s picture presets such as Filmmaker Mode, which is a quirk I’ll dig into later in the review.

The Z95B’s predecessor, the Panasonic Z95A, distinguished itself as one of the best TVs for sound with its powerful 5.1.2-channel built-in speaker array. This same ‘360 Soundscape Pro tuned by Technics’ system carries over to the Z95B, though Panasonic has made improvements to the speaker drivers, speaker layout, and woofer output. The result is one of the best built-in TV speaker systems you can buy, with sound that’s clear, powerful, and immersive enough that you could easily get away with not using an external soundbar.

Those speakers on the Z95B are concealed behind a gray mesh fabric that runs along the TV’s top, bottom, and sides, and gives it a solid, dignified appearance. A pedestal stand that swivels in either direction to accommodate a range of seating positions is a bonus, though the included, basic remote control seems at odds with the TV’s premium design.

Panasonic uses Amazon Fire TV as its smart TV system, and it’s a serviceable, but ad-driven platform that really would like you to be a Prime Video subscriber and devotee of other Amazon services and products. Fire TV’s Live TV portal is particularly friendly to users of the best indoor antennas, though, and the Z95B supports ATSC 3.0 broadcasts for viewers in the US.

Gaming is well supported on the Z95B, with 4K at 144Hz, Dolby Vision gaming, and variable refresh rate, including AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync, all accounted for. HDMI 2.1 ports supporting those features are limited to two, rather than the four HDMI 2.1 ports we look for on the best gaming TVs, but the Z95B’s powerful built-in speaker system makes that less of an issue than it normally would be.

Panasonic OLED TVs are typically priced higher than their Samsung and LG counterparts, particularly in the UK, but the Z95B was priced around the same as its competition at launch, and has already seen discounts. Given its impressive picture and sound quality, it’s one of 2025’s best OLED TVs, and a very good overall value among premium TVs.

  • Panasonic Z95B 4K OLED TV at Amazon for $2,399.99

Panasonic Z95B review: Price and release date

The Fire TV Ambient Experience lets you choose images and artworks to display when the TV is in standby mode (Image credit: Future)

  • Release date: June 2025
  • 55-inch: $2,599 / £2,499
  • 65-inch: $3,399 / £2,999
  • 77-inch: $4,699 / £3,999

The Panasonic Z95B is available in 55-, 65-, and 77-inch screen sizes, with that last option an expansion on last year’s Z95A series, which was only available in 55- and 65-inch sizes. Prices for all Z95B series TVs have dropped since launch, with all screen sizes now selling for several hundred less in both the US and the UK.

At the reduced price, the Z95B series is now priced in line with its premium OLED competition from LG, Samsung, and Sony. For example, the 65-inch Panasonic is now selling for around $3,000 in the US. In that same screen size, you’ll find both the LG G5 and the Sony Bravia 8 II priced around $3,000, and the Samsung S95F at $3,299.

Panasonic Z95B review: Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Screen type:

Primary Tandem RGB OLED

Refresh rate:

144Hz

HDR support:

Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG

Audio support:

Dolby Atmos

Smart TV:

Fire TV

HDMI ports:

4 (2x HDMI 2.1)

Built-in tuner:

ATSC 3.0 (US)

Panasonic Z95B review: Benchmark results

Panasonic Z95B review: Features

The Z95B’s four HDMI ports, including two inputs with 4K 144Hz support (Image credit: Future)

  • Primary RGB Tandem panel OLED display
  • Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support
  • 360 Soundscape Pro tuned by Technics speaker array

The Panasonic Z95B uses a new Primary RGB Tandem panel OLED display with a notably higher brightness capability than the Master OLED Ultimate panel with micro lens array tech used in its Panasonic Z95A predecessor. Panasonic additionally uses a ThermalFlow aerodynamic cooling system that helps to maximize peak brightness by improving airflow through the TV.

Panasonic has carried over the same HCX Pro AI Processor MK II from the Z95A to the Z95B. This advanced picture processor uses dynamic 3D LUTs (Look-Up Tables) to ensure accurate colors across a range of picture brightness levels and provides 4K Fine Remaster and Smooth Motion Drive Pro features to improve detail and motion handling.

Panasonic models continue to be the only OLED TVs in the US to support both the Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats (Philips OLEDs in the UK have the same capability), and in the Z95B, that’s supplemented by Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive for automatic picture brightness adjustments across a range of lighting conditions. Picture presets include Filmmaker Mode and Panasonic’s True Cinema and True Game modes, along with Netflix and Prime Video Calibrated modes for automatic picture optimization when streaming from those services.

The Panasonic Z95A quickly earned a spot as the best option for built-in sound quality in multiple TechRadar best TVs lists, and the new Z95B also features a ‘360 Soundscape Pro tuned by Technics’ built-in 5.1.2-channel 160W speaker system – this time with redesigned speaker drivers and speaker layout, and higher bass output. This differs from the built-in speaker arrays found on most other TVs in providing a dedicated center channel speaker, along with side-firing and upfiring speaker drivers for enhanced immersion.

As with picture settings, the Z95B features a wide range of sound settings. Key among these is Space Tune, for automatically tuning the TV’s sound output using the remote control’s built-in mic, and Sound Focus, which lets you adjust the directionality of the TV’s sound using beam-forming to accommodate off-center seating positions.

Panasonic switched to the Amazon Fire TV smart TV interface back in 2024, and Fire TV on the Z95B features optimized voice control features for content discovery and navigation, a hands-free control option, and an interface that can be personalized for multiple users. Live TV channels, including ones pulled in by the TV’s ATSC 3.0 tuner, can be integrated into the smart interface for browsing and also customized for a ‘personalized Live-TV Experience.’

Gaming features on the Z95B include a True Game mode with latency reduction, a Game sound mode, and a Game Board onscreen menu for making quick adjustments while gaming. Two of the TV’s four HDMI ports also support HDMI 2.1 features such as 4K 144Hz and VRR, including AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync.

Panasonic Z95B review: Picture quality

Ambient Experience options include full-motion and AI-generated images plus information widgets (Image credit: Future)

  • High brightness capability for an OLED TV
  • Brightness is limited in Filmmaker and other picture modes
  • Rich color and excellent detail

The first thing to say about the Panasonic Z95B’s picture is that, while the TV is capable of high brightness, it’s not as bright as its premium OLED TV competition when its most accurate picture presets – Filmmaker Mode, True Cinema, and Cinema – are used and left at their default settings.

That’s because Panasonic is prioritizing picture accuracy over brightness here, and those modes limit peak brightness based on the maximum mastered brightness level of the source – typically 1,000 nits for most content.

Correspondingly, I measured Z95B’s peak HDR brightness in Filmmaker Mode at 992 nits, while its fullscreen brightness in that mode was 347 nits. After bumping up the luminance level of my test pattern source, peak HDR brightness in Filmmaker Mode jumped to 2,107 nits, and the TV’s EOTF (the equivalent gamma for HDR) also remained accurate at that brightness level.

Viewers not wanting to deal with any brightness limitations could instead opt for the Standard picture preset, which had a measured peak HDR brightness of 1,835 nits, and 327 nits fullscreen brightness. Panasonic also provides settings in the TV’s HDR submenu that let you manually set HDR tonemapping and luminance clipping levels, and these can be used to help optimize brightness. Needless to say, this is great news for tweakers, but a potential source of annoyance for others who don’t like to sift through menu settings.

As for other numbers, the Z95B’s coverage of the UHDA-P3 and BT.2020 color spaces in Filmmaker Mode measured 99.9% and 79.1%, respectively – both impressive results. The average Delta-E value (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what’s shown on-screen, with a result lower than 3 being undetectable by the human eye) for color point accuracy was 2.6, and it was 3.2 for grayscale accuracy.

The Z95B has high peak brightness capability, but brightness is limited by default in specific picture modes, such as Filmmaker Mode (Image credit: Future)

For most of my Z95B evaluation, I viewed it in dimmed lighting, and such conditions allowed the Panasonic’s picture to fully shine. The set does use an anti-reflection screen, and while this works to a degree, I could still see mirror-like reflections from lamps and overhead lights, and picture contrast was also lessened with my room lights on.

After watching the recent movie Weapons in the theater, I was motivated to stream the director’s earlier movie, Barbarian (on Netflix in 4K), and the Z95B did an excellent job of displaying the deep black of the house’s basement and fleshing out shadows in the corridors of the creepy, dungeon-like space. For this movie, I used Netflix Calibrated Mode, which by default made it too dark, but the TV’s multiple black level adjustments allowed me to tweak the picture for a more balanced look.

Wild Robot was up next, and I streamed it in 4K with Dolby Vision using the TV’s Dolby Vision Dark preset – one that I’m happy to report turned off motion smoothing by default. The jungle and creatures in this animated movie were displayed with rich, vivid color. The picture also looked fantastically detailed and clean, with the textures in the computer-generated images giving the picture a near-3D quality.

I like to use the Netflix series Ripley in TV evaluations because of its sumptuous cinematography (by frequent Paul Thomas Anderson collaborator Robert Elswit). The Z95B certainly did not disappoint here, displaying the wide range of fine gray tones in the black and white images of Italian villages and villas with an impressive level of subtlety.

Dolby Vision Dark mode proved to be a good match for Ripley, but in this case, when I switched to Netflix Calibrated mode, the picture retained both its subtle grayscale and contrast punch.

No Time to Die is one of my go-to reference 4K Blu-rays, and when I watched the scene where James Bond walks across a craggy hillside cemetery, the Z95B’s picture looked impressively solid, with only a minimal level of judder. I often find myself applying some level of motion adjustment to TVs after checking this scene, but the Z95B’s motion handling was good enough that I didn’t feel any need to.

  • Picture quality score: 5 / 5

Panasonic Z95B review: Sound quality

The Z95B features a rear-mounted subwoofer with dual passive radiators (Image credit: Future)

  • 5.1.2-channel, 160W speaker array
  • 360 Soundscape Pro tuned by Technics
  • Sound Focus feature adjusts for off-center seating

The Z95B features a built-in 5.1.2-channel, 160W speaker array, with the front-facing left, center, and right-channel speakers contained in a soundbar-like enclosure at the screen’s bottom. Along with these, there are newly designed line-array speakers positioned at the sides and top surface of the TV, along with a subwoofer and dual passive bass radiators located around the back.

This ‘360 Soundscape Pro tuned by Technics’ Dolby Atmos sound system is more elaborate than what you’ll find on most TVs, and its performance is good enough that you can easily use it in place of one of the best soundbars. Panasonic has also introduced enhanced two-channel and 5.1-channel upmixing on the Z95B which it says can “deliver immersive rear sound without rear speakers,” though the TV’s virtual processing comes short of delivering on that claim.

As with the picture, there are extensive sound presets on the Z95B, along with settings for customizing the sound. After using Space Tune, a feature that uses the remote control’s built-in mic to calibrate the TV’s sound output for your viewing environment, I found that many of the presets sounded too bright for my taste and opted for the User preset, which provides Sound Field and Bass Boost settings to customize the sound, along with an eight-band EQ adjustment.

Once adjusted, dialogue projected clearly and sounded natural, and even music sounded good, as I confirmed when watching Queens of the Stone Age Alive in the Catacombs, an acoustic performance by the band recorded in the catacombs beneath Paris. The sound effects in action movies like Mad Max: Fury Road had a high level of spatial precision, and the TV’s powerful speaker array delivered a strong impact on engine roars and crashes during the movie’s many vehicle chase scenes.

Another key Z95B feature is Sound Focus, which uses beam-forming processing to change the direction of the speaker output to accommodate off-center seating positions. You can choose Pinpoint, Area, Spot, or Ambient settings, each of which provides a different level of soundfield width. Testing this, I used the Pinpoint setting to aim the sound at the far end of my sofa, and the TV’s soundstage clearly shifted 30 degrees off from center.

  • Sound quality score: 5 / 5

Panasonic Z95B review: Design

Image 1 of 2

The Z95B’s swiveling pedestal stand(Image credit: Future)The mesh fabric grille covering the TV’s top- and side-mounted speakers(Image credit: Future)

  • Swiveling stand
  • Wide range of input and control ports
  • Flimsy remote control

With its two-inch depth, the Z95B, while slimmer than its Z95A predecessor, is still on the bulky side for an OLED TV. That girth is a necessity given the TV’s substantial built-in speakers, however, and the Z95B still manages to maintain a sleek look when viewed straight on.

An attractive dark gray fabric mesh covers both the front-facing and side- and top-firing speakers, and the TV’s sturdy aluminum pedestal stand can be swiveled – a useful feature to accommodate a range of viewing positions.

The Z95B’s extensive connections include four HDMI ports (with two HDMI 2.1) and both optical digital audio and a 3.5mm headphone output that can also be configured for connecting an external subwoofer. An ATSC 3.0 tuner connection can be used for viewing ‘NextGen’ digital TV broadcasts in the US, and there are also powered USB and Ethernet ports, and an IR blaster output.

Panasonic hasn’t changed the flimsy remote control that previously shipped with the Z95A for the Z95B. And while that’s disappointing given this TV’s premium price, it mostly does the job and features a built-in mic for Alexa voice commands.

There’s no input select button on the US remote for changing inputs – one of my pet peeves with TV remotes – but you can configure one of the controls to switch to a specific input on the TV, along with a range of other options such as selecting a specific streaming app.

Panasonic Z95B review: Smart TV and menus

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The main Fire TV home screen(Image credit: Future)The Live TV guide screen on Fire TV(Image credit: Future)

  • Amazon Fire TV smart TV platform
  • Live program grid with broadcast channels customization
  • Extensive array of picture and sound adjustments

Panasonic TVs use Amazon Fire TV for a smart TV system, and the version you’ll see on the Z95B is essentially the same as what’s found on Amazon’s own Fire TV lineup. The top half is occupied by ads, many for Amazon streaming and VOD offerings, while a horizontal bar cutting across the center contains input selection, My Stuff, search, and Live TV tabs, along with a customizable row of streaming apps and a gear icon for advanced menus.

The bottom section contains a grid of recommended program options culled from free TV and subscription apps, and if you scroll down, you’ll see a seemingly endless range of these, with everything from political news to the latest cooking videos.

Fire TV’s Live TV portal features a grid guide option that lets you browse channels grouped in a range of categories such as Antenna Channels, Sports, News by Fire TV, and more. Digital broadcast stations can be arranged into lists, with the option to favorite your regularly watched channels, and to hide ones like home shopping networks that you’d prefer to shut out.

Fire TV provides a greater range of customization for browsing both free broadcast and streamed TV channels than most other smart interfaces, so it’s a good option for antenna users.

The Fire TV Ambient Experience provides a wide assortment of still and motion images that can be displayed when the TV is in standby mode. (It can also be accessed at any time by pressing and holding the power on/off button on the remote.) Along with the supplied content library, you can access personal photos (you’ll first need to upload these using the Amazon Photos app on your phone).

You can also use Alexa voice commands to create AI-generated images for your Ambient Experience library, though, as I found when experimenting with this feature, political content is not permitted.

Panasonic provides a much wider range of picture and sound adjustment options in the setup menus than most other TVs. I hit the high points for sound in the Sound Quality section above, but the Z95B’s picture menus include an almost over-the-top array of advanced adjustments.

To list just a few, the Brightness menu has multiple advanced settings for configuring black levels, and there’s an HDR submenu that lets you set EOTF type, HDR tonemapping, and luminance clipping levels. For color, you can switch between Rec. 2020, DCI-P3, Adobe, and Rec. 709 color gamuts.

The reason for all these adjustments is that Panasonic’s OLED TVs are used in post-production facilities as reference monitors, but in the majority of instances, you’ll want to leave things set to Auto.

  • Smart TV & menus score: 4 / 5

Panasonic Z95B review: Gaming

The Z95B’s Game Bar menu overlay (Image credit: Future)

  • Two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support
  • FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync VRR
  • 12.7ms input lag is average

The Z95B’s gaming features include two HDMI ports with 4K at 144Hz, FreeSync Premium, and Nvidia G-Sync VRR support, and Dolby Vision gaming. There’s a True Game picture and a Game sound mode, and Panasonic’s Game Board onscreen menu can be called up to make quick and easy adjustments to parameters like dark visibility, sound mode, and variable refresh rate.

Input lag measured with a Bodnar 4K meter was 12.7ms, which is an average level for a TV. The best gaming TVs can hit the 9ms range, but the Z95B’s input lag is minimal enough that the vast majority of gamers will find it more than acceptable.

Panasonic Z95B review: Value

The Z95B’s remote control is flimsy and lacks backlighting and an input select button (Image credit: Future)

  • Priced the same as top OLED competition
  • Built-in sound enhances value
  • Less extensive gaming features than competition

The Panasonic Z95B is currently priced on par with, or even less than, its premium OLED competition from LG, Samsung, and Sony. Choosing between this year’s top OLED TVs is tougher than ever, but I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed with the Z95B’s picture, though the Samsung S95F and LG G5 may be better options for those wanting to view in bright rooms.

One thing that enhances the Z95B’s value is its powerful sound. For that reason, you could consider using this TV without a soundbar, though the built-in speakers aren’t necessarily a match for the best Dolby Atmos soundbar systems with separate rear-channel speakers and a subwoofer.

An argument could be made that the Z95B is a lesser gaming TV than the Samsung S95F and LG G5, both of which feature four HDMI 2.1 ports, lower input lag, and cloud-based gaming from apps including Xbox. But the Z95B’s lower HDMI 2.1 port count won’t be an issue if you’re using its built-in speakers, and as a Fire TV, there is Amazon’s Luna cloud gaming app, which features popular games like Fortnite.

Should I buy the Panasonic Z95B?

(Image credit: Future)Swipe to scroll horizontallyPanasonic Z95B

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

A fine selection of features led by sound processing modes for room tuning and off-center seating accommodation

4.5 / 5

Picture quality

Capable of high brightness for an OLED, but many of the TV’s preset picture modes favor a more subtle, balanced, and accurate images

5 / 5

Sound quality

Powerful built-in 5.1.2-channel speakers distinguish the Z95B from other TVs and is good enough that a soundbar isn’t exactly needed

5 / 5

Design

A slightly bulky form factor due to its built-in speakers, but otherwise a sleek design with a swiveling pedestal stand. Remote control could use work

4 / 5

Smart TV and menus

Amazon Fire TV isn’t the best smart TV platform, but it does the job for streaming and Amazon subscribers and Alexa users will find it useful

4 / 5

Gaming

A good set of gaming features and solid overall gaming performance

4 / 5

Value

A very good value compared to other premium OLED TVs, and its value is enhanced by its excellent built-in sound

4.5 / 5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Panasonic Z95B: Also consider…

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0

Panasonic Z95B

LG G5

Samsung S95F

Sony Bravia 8 II

List price (65-inch)

$3,399 / £2,999

$3,399 / £3,299 / AU$5,299

$2,699 / £2,699 / AU$4,299

$3,499 / £2,999 / AU$4,999

Screen type

Primary Tandem RGB OLED

Primary Tandem RGB OLED

QD-OLED

QD-OLED

Refresh rate

144Hz

165Hz

165Hz

120Hz

HDR support

Dolby Vision/HDR10+/HLG

Dolby Vision/HDR10/HLG

HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

DolbyVision/HDR10/HLG

Smart TV

Fire TV

webOS

Tizen

Google TV

HDMI ports

4 (2 x HDMI 2.1)

4x HDMI 2.1

4 x HDMI 2.1

4 (2x HDMI 2.1)

How I tested the Panasonic Z95B

Measuring a 10% HDR white window pattern during testing (Image credit: Future)

  • I spent about 15 viewing hours in total, measuring and evaluating
  • Measurements were made using Calman color calibration software
  • A full calibration was made before proceeding with subjective tests

When I test TVs, I first spend a few days or even weeks using it for casual viewing to assess the out-of-the-box picture presets and get familiar with its smart TV menu and picture adjustments. I next select the most accurate preset (usually Filmmaker Mode, Movie or Cinema) and measure grayscale and color accuracy using Portrait Displays’ Calman color calibration software. The resulting measurements provide Delta-E values (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what’s shown on-screen) for each category, and allow for an assessment of the TV’s overall accuracy.

Along with those tests, I make measurements of peak and fullscreen light output (recorded in nits) for both standard high-definition and 4K high dynamic range using 10% and 100% white window patterns. Coverage of UHDA-P3 and BT.2020 color space is also measured, with the results providing a sense of how faithfully the TV can render the extended color range in ultra high-definition sources.

For the Panasonic Z95B, I used the Calman ISF workflow, along with the TV’s advanced picture menu settings, to calibrate the image for best accuracy. I also watched a range of reference scenes on 4K Blu-ray discs to assess the TV’s performance, along with 4K HDR shows streamed from HBO Max, Netflix, Apple TV+, and other services.



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