Should you buy the Panasonic HZ980 OLED TV? That's a relevant question, considering that the model was announced in mid-2020 and we were largely surprised. As a cheaper alternative to the HZ1000, HZ1500 and HZ2000 OLEDs, it's sure to turn heads, and those of you looking for an affordable OLED TV will no doubt want to know if dropping the charge still delivers an experience. quality. Starting at just $1,699, it's on par with other 55-inch OLEDs, like the LG CX ($1,799), but it puts Panasonic's line of premium TVs within reach of more buyers than they do. 'before. We're told Panasonic wants to make sure the image quality its packages are known for "is available through different stages across the range" with a "variety of specs and price points." If you lower the specification, of course, you'll probably see a drop in quality, although very little has been sacrificed for this new OLED set. Plot? You should be. Here's everything you need to know about the Panasonic HZ980 OLED TV before you buy it.
Price and availability Panasonic HZ980 OLED
The Panasonic HZ980 OLED is the cheapest 2020 OLED Panasonic has to offer, priced at just €1,699 for a 55-inch size, with a 65-inch model due later this year. By comparison, the 1000-inch HZ55 retails for €1,999, which is a notable €300 reduction over Panasonic's second-cheapest OLED. You'll find Panasonic TVs for sale in the UK, Europe and Canada (but not the US) - Australia tends to buy new TVs within a few months from other territories. (Panasonic AU doesn't list 2020 OLEDs on its website yet.)
Design and Specifications OLED Panasonic HZ980
So how is the HZ980? The short answer: like the HZ1000. While the HZ980 offers a £300 saving over its sister model, you get much of the same package in terms of visual design and internal specs. The HZ980 features Panasonic's impressive HCX Intelligent Pro processor and is virtually guaranteed to deliver the high-quality movie images of other devices in the 2020 lineup (however, this won't be on par with the HZ2000, which uses a custom OLED panel). for quite dramatic results). As usual for Panasonic, the HZ980 supports Universal HDR, which means you'll get HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and HLG, as well as an HLG photo mode for viewing HDR photos from cameras. Panasonic. You also get Dolby Vision IQ, which calibrates the DV output in response to the ambient light level in the room, one of the most notable new additions to Panasonic's 2020 lineup. There are only two real differences that set the HZ980 apart from its peers. One is the TV mount, while the HZ1000, HZ1500 and HZ2000 models have a swivel mount, allowing you to easily adjust the direction you face the screen, the HZ980 has a static mount. This means that you will have to move the entire TV if you want to face it elsewhere. The other difference refers to the management of the movements of the set. The HZ980 uses a more basic version of the Smooth Motion Drive Pro technology found in the HZ1000 and above, and makes do with Smooth Motion Drive. It may sound the same, but given the huge savings on the HZ980's RRP, we'd expect there to be a small but noticeable difference in motion handling quality. This could result in a slight shake, where objects appear to change location instead of smoothly following the scene; Getting it right is important for fast-paced sports broadcasts, as well as car chases and fight choreography. so often found in the blockbusters that Panasonic expects. seeing you A similar example might be the entry-level LG B9 OLED, which requires a bit of processing to undercut the C-series' more impressive OLED. It's still a great picture, but there's a bit more video noise to be seen. in dark scenes, the B7's a2 Gen 9 processor struggles to maintain detail and motion smoothness as well as the a9 iteration used in the CX. In terms of audio. You also get the same 30W Dolby Atmos speaker system as the HZ1000, though that's still a low cut from the 80W system implemented in the HZ1500 or the massive Atmos speaker on top of the HZ2000.
![El soporte giratorio HZ1500 no se encuentra aquí]()
The swivel mount for the HZ1500 will not be found here (Image credit: TheComparison)
Panasonic HZ980 OLED: should you buy it?
The Panasonic HZ980 OLED certainly looks like a smart buy, especially if you're not concerned with the swivel mount used on the taller models. That's a good €300 cheaper than the HZ1000 at 55-inches, which is a bigger saving than we expected with the same panel, processor, and speaker system. It's unclear what difference motion handling degradation makes, though, and Panasonic held back from offering review units, saying the HZ980 wasn't a priority model for them this year. It's probably safe to say that motion management won't be as advanced, and you should keep that in mind when shopping for a centerpiece for your home theater system. However, considering the overall quality of Panasonic's OLED lineup, with the HZ1000, HZ1500 and HZ2000 getting five-star reviews over the old TechRadar, we'd say you can buy with confidence. Discover the entire Panasonic OLED range here: