2025 has been an exciting year for OLED TVs. Not only did we see an interesting new iteration on the technology in the form of LG’s fourth-generation OLED panel, we’ve also been blessed with a wide selection of OLED TVs to choose from. With OLED TVs being cheaper than ever, you’re more likely to find one that works for you.
All of this was true before Panasonic stealth-launched a 77-inch OLED TV just a few short weeks ago. The Panasonic Z8BA is the newest addition to the brand’s relatively slim TV catalogue, sitting just below the flagship Panasonic Z95B.
But while the Z95B comes in 55-, 65- and 77-inch sizes — all of which are outfitted with LG’s stunning fourth-generation OLED display — the recently debuted Z8BA only comes in a 77-inch version, and it doesn’t get to reap the benefits of LG’s newer, brighter panel. I was hoping it would be one of the best OLED TVs of the year, but instead, I’m ready to point you in the direction of its rivals. Here's why.
Panasonic Z8BA: performance compared
The Z8BA isn’t a bad TV by any stretch of the imagination. As an OLED TV, you’re getting a certain standard of performance that you simply can’t tap into with a traditional LED display.
This includes perfect black levels, pixel-level dimming (which eliminates light bloom) and wider viewing angles than what you’ll get with even the best Mini-LED TVs on shelves. (That last benefit is especially nice to have at the 77-inch size point.)
And, if we compare some of the Z8BA’s performance metrics to its closest competitors — the LG C5 and the Samsung S90F — you can see just how fierce a rival it actually is.
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Panasonic Z8BA | LG C5 | Samsung S90F |
|---|---|---|---|
SDR Brightness (10%, in nits) | 103 | 335 | 520 |
HDR Brightness (10%, in nits) | 1,035 | 1,165 | 1,155 |
Rec. 2020 Gamut Coverage | 75.48% | 76.18% | 89.03% |
Delta-E (lower is better) | 3.2 | 1.3 | 2.1 |
The S90F and its quantum dot-enhanced display leads the charge when it comes to overall color volume, but this chart tells the story of a trio of OLED TVs that, for the most part, are very similar.
A different story takes shape when you consider the fact that the Panasonic Z8BA is currently $2,499 and not on sale. Meanwhile, the 77-inch version of the Samsung S90F is just $1,998 at Amazon. The 77-inch LG C5 is $1,996 at Amazon, too, so both are about $500 less than the Z8BA.
There's always the chance that the Z8BA could crash in price once the holiday shopping season really kicks off in just under two weeks, but it's also likely that the mid-range OLEDs from LG and Samsung drop further in price, too.
Even if you set aside the current gap in price between the Z8BA and its closest competitors, there's another reason why some people might want to steer clear of the Z8BA: its built-in smart platform.
The Panasonic Z8BA is a Fire TV
Unfortunately, the Z8BA arrives with my least-favorite smart platform built right into the whole experience. Amazon Fire TV might be a great choice for a certain type of user, but I am not one of them.
It's worth mentioning that Fire TV offers a useful backdrop for folks whose homes are already outfitted with an array of Alexa-backed devices. There's an entire dashboard dedicated to smart home management, and it's hard to deny the usefulness of these features if you're already well-versed in Alexa-speak.
Amazon Fire TV might be a great choice for a certain type of user, but I am not one of them.
For me, though, it all comes down to the crowded, somewhat-confusing layout of Fire TV. I'm not that much more of a fan of LG's webOS or Samsung's Tizen OS, but I nevertheless prefer them over Fire TV.
For all of these reasons, I recommend that those in the market for a 77-inch OLED TV turn their attention to the 77-inch LG C5. It's not only one of the best-value OLED TVs at this size point, it's also the most versatile.
The Samsung S90F is an excellent pick, too. As mentioned, it's right around the same exact price as the 77-inch C5, and its quantum-dot display allows for brighter, purer color. This goes a long way while watching HDR movies and playing HDR games.
The C5 comes with Dolby Vision support, however, while the S90F does not. For what it's worth, I also find the user experience to be breezier with the C5 and LG's webOS-based software.
If the Z8BA has thoroughly piqued your interest, I highly recommend waiting a few more weeks to see how Black Friday and Cyber Monday affect its sale price. If I was a betting person, I'd surely put down a few bucks on the Z8BA getting a bit of a discount during the sales event.
If it doesn't, well, there's always the 77-inch C5 OLED or the Samsung S90F to fill that space above the mantle.
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