2024-01-13 00:48:30
Panasonic may not be the most well-known brand when it comes to enticing TV offerings, but its new 2024 lineup may sway consumers with a Fire TV built right into the display.
The company is collaborating with Amazon to bring to market the world’s first OLED TVs with a built-in Fire Stick, allowing users to instantly access their favorite content directly on the TV.
Both Amazon and Panasonic announced the deal in separate press releases highlighting the two flagship OLED devices, the Z95A and Z93A, as the first set of OLED displays with Fire TV integration.
Neither company has yet hinted at pricing or availability, but the OLEDs pack some serious firepower in terms of specs, leveraging 3D surround sound, Dolby Vision IQTM Precision and a 144Hz refresh rate.
Panasonic TV lighter for the future
The first OLED TVs to feature built-in Fire TV will be Panasonic’s Z95A and Z93A, the company’s two flagship OLED offerings for 2024. They will leverage a new HCX Pro AI Processor MK II chip along with two new panels in both TVs, the Master OLED Ultimate in the Z95A and the Master OLED Pro Cinema in the Z93A.
The Z95A will be available in 65 inches and 55 inches, while the Z93A will only be available in 77 inches. They will be the world’s first OLED devices not only with built-in Fire TV, but also leveraging a 144Hz refresh rate with a load of extra gaming-focused features for cinematic gameplay on the big screen.
Amazon Fire TV built into both OLEDs offers Fire TV Ambient, which turns the TV into a work of art when it’s off, and full Alexa integration for far-field voice controls. In addition, both TVs will have Apple AirPlay and Apple Home support for users who don’t want to be locked into using Amazon tools.
Beyond using a built-in Fire TV, both OLEDs will also come with several features seen in Panasonic’s proprietary operating system, chief among them the Penta Tuner, which allows the user to access alternative broadcasts such as cable, antenna and satellite TV. And with a home network and Internet access, the televisions can be placed almost anywhere without the need for an antenna socket.
The partnership between Amazon and Panasonic will result in even more TVs coming to market in the future leveraging Fire TV, although there is no further information on what these TVs will look like and when to expect them.
It’s also unclear if these new OLED TVs will be available in the US, as an Amazon representative tells Digital Trends that they will be offered “to customers worldwide” and more details on pricing and availability will be announced “soon.”
Quick specs for games
The Z95A and Z93A don’t leave gamers out of the equation either. Both OLED TVs have a 144Hz refresh rate via HDMI 2.1 and VRR. Several other game-based improvements, such as support for Dolby Vision Gaming up to 144Hz and True Game Mode for refined white balance and color accuracy, should help gamers stay immersed in the on-screen action.
They shouldn’t be lacking in the sound department either, as Technics Audio (of Panasonic) helped develop the OLED’s 360 Soundscape Pro speaker system, which packs a set of multi-directional speakers that offer 3D surround sound thanks to Dolby Atmos support. .
The Panasonic Z95A and Z93A OLED devices also support Dolby Vision IQ Precision Detail, a feature designed to dynamically adjust light settings across the display for optimal viewing. The Z95A in particular will have an advanced Micro Lens Array (MLA) screen, first introduced in Panasonic’s 2023 OLED, which will also feature higher brightness potential.
Neither Amazon nor Panasonic has stated when the displays will hit shelves or what the prices might look like, but it will be interesting to see how these new OLEDs fare in the market and if they can live up to the hype.
#worlds #OLED #Fire #coming #Panasonic