Panasonic Z85 Series E1PNTV55Z85APRB 55"

When it was available at $799, you got one of the best HDR experiences in our database (96th percentile) and legit 120Hz gaming chops. Picture quality overall is average, but that OLED contrast still wows. The built-in speakers are a pleasant surprise, and setup is a breeze. Unfortunately, it's now out of stock across all vendors.

Let's talk numbers. HDR performance here is top of the charts, landing in the 96th percentile. That means support for every major format is covered, and the intelligent sensing (Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive) actually works to adjust the picture to your room. Gaming isn't far behind, scoring an 85th percentile thanks to a true 120Hz refresh rate, VRR, and both AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility. The Game Control Board overlay is a nice touch, making it dead simple to tweak settings on the fly.

But the picture quality composite score is a head-scratcher at just the 36th percentile, well below average. The HCX Pro AI Processor MKII delivers accurate colors, but the panel doesn't get very bright, and motion handling can feel a touch soft compared to Sony's or LG's processing. Audio is a bright spot, with the 2.1-channel 50W system and built-in subwoofer ranking in the 90th percentile — dialogue is crisp, and the Dolby Atmos virtual surround is genuinely impressive for built-in speakers.

Stack it against the LG C5, and you're giving up maybe 20% more peak brightness and snappier upscaling. The Sony BRAVIA XR A95L costs far more but delivers a more cinematic, accurate picture that cinephiles will appreciate. On the LED side, the TCL QM7K or Hisense U8 get way brighter and have quicker smart interfaces, but you lose those perfect OLED blacks. The Samsung Neo QLED QN990F sits in a different tier entirely with its massive 75-inch screen and blinding brightness. This Panasonic carved out a smart niche as the gamer's budget OLED with format support that rivaled the priciest sets, but with stock dried up, the competitive landscape has moved on.

The Z85A used to undercut most brand-name OLEDs by a hundred bucks or more at $799, nearly half the price of an LG C5. For that money you got elite HDR handling, top-tier gaming features, and audio that punched above its class. Some corners were cut in pure picture refinement, but the price-to-performance ratio was stellar. Now that it's unavailable, the value equation is moot unless you can track down remaining inventory.

The Panasonic Z85A was priced at $799, which immediately caught attention for a 55-inch OLED. In our database, it shines in HDR support and gaming features, but the overall picture quality score is a bit of a letdown. You get Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, and a 120Hz panel with full HDMI 2.1 VRR, so for gamers and format junkies, this thing is a treat. But pure picture processing and brightness don't quite keep pace with the best OLEDs out there.

We see strong social proof with 820 reviews averaging 4.4 stars, and most buyers were pleased with the straightforward setup and audio punch. The Fire TV smart platform is middle of the road, but that hardly matters when the core TV does so much right. The catch now is availability: this model is out of stock across all vendors, so finding one may be the biggest hurdle.

Skip this one if you demand the brightest HDR highlights or the most accurate, cinematic picture processing. The Z85A's picture quality falls below the OLED average, so cinephiles will be happier spending more on an LG C5 or Sony BRAVIA XR A95L. And if you hate even a hint of smart TV lag, you'll want a faster platform or an external streamer. Also skip it if you need a TV right now: it's out of stock everywhere, and alternatives like the TCL QM7K or Hisense U8 are readily available.

If your TV time is split between gaming and movie nights, and you don't have a sun-drenched living room, the Panasonic 55Z85AP was a killer deal. The HDR and gaming features are genuinely top-tier, and the built-in audio saves you from an immediate soundbar purchase. It won't beat the picture quality of a premium Sony or LG OLED, but it got 85% of the way there for a lot less cash. The problem now is finding one: it's out of stock everywhere, so your best bet is hunting for open-box or used units.