PICTURE QUALITY This model had excellent high-definition picture quality. It did an excellent job displaying the finest detail, though edges of objects in the image stood out too much because of over-enhancement. Color accuracy was very good, with images generally looking natural. Very good contrast--the difference between the darkest blacks and brightest whites--gave images convincing depth and dimension. The brightness level was good, making it a suitable choice for most rooms. Black levels are excellent, delivering very deep blacks that make images jump off the screen due to Panasonic's very effective "Adaptive Backlight Control," a local dimming feature designed to give greater depth and contrast to dark scenes. Any unwanted illumination side effects often introduced by such a feature were minimal so we left the feature on. With the feature off, black levels were still acceptable. (see "viewing angle" comments for other limitations on black level quality.) Images had an excellent level of detail without any enhancement. There was visible banding (unnatural contours) on scenes with subtly shaded light-to-dark areas, such as a sky during sunset, rather than smooth transitions. The deinterlacing and film mode operations were excellent on HD content; there was little or no trace of jaggies on the edges of objects for video and film-based 1080i video content, such as from cable.
VIEWING ANGLE This Panasonic has a moderate viewing angle overall, decent, but not quite as good as the better-performing LCD sets we've tested. The optimal seating position for best picture quality is directly in front of the TV. If your family is seated in chairs off to the side of the TV, they'll see decent but compromised image quality.
When we moved off to the sides the horizontal viewing angle was good; the picture showed a moderate loss of color so flesh tones looked washed out, along with a moderate color shift. Black levels brightened slightly, reducing contrast especially on dark scenes. When viewing the image from above or below eye level to the screen, the vertical viewing angle was excellent. The picture showed no change in color, contrast, and black level.
ULTRA HD PERFORMANCE This Panasonic UHD TV delivers full, but slightly compromised 4K picture detail, along with very good HD-to-UHD upconversion. All native 4K content we played on this model, including movies and test videos from our Sony FMP-X10 player (via HDMI connection), was presented with generally fine detail but images revealed some over-sharpening and a slight pastiness on fine texture. This was due to the TV's "Resolution Remaster" feature whose subtle effect was evident even though it was turned off in the menu; a quirk. When we went into the menu and turned the feature "on", then "off" again, the effect was deactivated and image fidelity was restored. But then turning the TV off and back on reactivated the feature by default so we left it as is. Hopefully a future software update will address this bug. This model also supports video streaming of 4K programs via both Netflix and YouTube (among other emerging sources) and picture quality just missed the mark. While streaming content generally looked clean and sharp, but again, the effects of the noted quirk were again present. Using the TV's USB port, we were able to play back 4K videos stored on a flash drive which were encoded in both the HEVC and VP9 formats, as well as MP4. High-resolution photos were displayed in full 4K detail taking full advantage of UHD's extra resolution, and we didn't see the processing issues noted with streaming. With regular HD content, the TV's HD-to-UHD up-conversion processing was very good, with edges along diagonals of image content showing very slight jaggies, just short of the best we've seen. All three of the TV's HDMI inputs comply with the latest HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 specifications that support play back for 4K video at 60Hz, and copy protection, a requirement for compatibility with emerging 4K movie play back devices such as a 4K Blu-ray player.
MOTION BLUR This Panasonic TV has good motion performance, with some blurring on our motion tests. Though this model includes Motion picture setting, a feature designed to reduce motion blur, we found it was only mildly effective.
SCREEN REFLECTIVITY Though not as mirror-like as on some LCDs, this screen surface is glossy and therefore susceptible to reflections from a nearby lamp or window. The screen is dark so it does a good job reducing glare from ambient light and maintains contrast even in a bright room.
SOUND QUALITY This TV has good sound quality; about average among the TVs we've tested. When watching a movie blockbuster, a concert, or TV show, it delivers decent performance but falls short of the better performers. With movies, dialog was generally clear and natural sounding, though a bit muffled, while remaining well balanced with respect to background music and other sounds. Bass extension was lacking, but treble was nicely detailed, while the overall sound was on the bright side, and a bit closed in. It has a good volume range so the TV should play sufficiently loud in typical room environments. Most will find this sound quality acceptable.
EASE OF USE Overall, we found the set easy to use. Setting up the TV for the first time was very easy, as was access to features and controls you'll probably adjust only once. Ease of access to features you typically use more often was very good. Also, the remote is very good, and the on-screen menu is very easy to navigate.
The remote's major function buttons were sufficiently large and have high-contrast labeling, making them easier to see and navigate.
STAND ASSEMBLY Mounting the support stand to the TV is fairly straightforward, requiring the assembly of a few parts before mounting.
INTERNET FEATURES This TV provides advanced Internet capability. Features include access to a library of applications via "Viera Market" and a full Web browser. Movie streaming services include: Netflix, Amazon, Vudu, YouTube, Pandora, TuneIn, Rhapsody.
CONNECTIONS This TV includes three HDMI inputs, one shared connection between the component and composite inputs (which means you can only use one type or the other at a time), optical digital audio out, three USB ports, an Ethernet port, and Wi-Fi. Wireless connectivity includes: DLNA network file sharing. The cable connections on the rear panel are recessed with side or bottom-facing ports, so wires don't protrude beyond the display's depth.
INCLUDED IN THE BOX The TV comes with: a printed user manual, an electronic manual in the TV's menu, a quick start guide, and a remote with batteries. ABOUT FIRMWARE VERSION: Our test results and picture settings are valid for the version of firmware indicated. If your TV's firmware differs from the one shown you either have an older or a newer version of firmware. Manufacturers may periodically upgrade the TV's firmware to enhance operation, fix bugs, or add features. Firmware upgrades may be downloadable directly to your TV via a wired or wireless network (if internet capable), USB port, or memory card, depending on your TV's capability. You can check your TV's firmware version, or upgrade to the latest firmware by pressing the menu button on your remote and navigating to the appropriate submenu, typically under settings. Consult the user manual or manufacturer's website if further guidance is needed.
