UPDATE 6/9/2024
Today a software update arrived.
Unfortunately, I hadn't realized that Panasonic had proceeded with TIVO.
My TV ultimately got TIVO OS.
The appearance and colors of the channel information have changed.
The main menu has become a jumble of content suggestions from various platforms.
We now have more apps, but the actual TV menu and device settings have been mixed up in a jumble of suggestions (movies, series, etc.)
There are YT, Netflix, Prime, Ertflix, DW, Euronews, and now we also have Disney+ (but not Cosmote TV), and it might be better for the smart longevity of the device, but I find the menu awful.
I hope the TV's capabilities for Dolby Vision, Atmos, 4K HDR have been preserved.
I will return after I see the further functionality...
INITIAL REVIEW
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It concerns the 43'' dimension.
If you are a gamer, it simply wasn't made for you.
Purchased for 289 euros and used for 2 days.
MENU:
Decent with many settings. I think it could be a bit simpler.
REMOTE CONTROL:
It's not smart. It's old-fashioned, very sturdy, has buttons with numbers for the channels.
It picks up from everywhere, no matter how you hold it.
I like it this way.
The special button for Netflix is very close to the multi-button with the arrows and can be accidentally pressed.
TV:
I live in an easy area, so I can't have an opinion on whether it has a very sensitive receiver.
It changes channels relatively quickly.
SD 3'' - HD 4'' (until the image arrives)
On HD channels, the picture is very good.
The tab for each channel could be displayed better, especially the details of the program you are watching.
-BUG!
I generally notice that the EPG lags a bit. When you turn on the TV after a few hours, the program takes a few minutes to update, and until that happens, the time is wrong. Annoying!
IMAGE:
Very, very good in 4K and very good in 1080.
As is natural for the type of screen, the black is not absolute like on an OLED. The backlighting is visible at night without lighting. However, it is uniform.
With the default settings and enhancements, the colors are very good, but the contrast and brightness are excessive. Especially in bright scenes.
It has different custom image settings for the TV and others for YouTube/Netflix, etc.
-BUG!
Even though I turned off almost all enhancements and set it according to my preferences, every time you change the channel, for 1-2 seconds the image becomes quite more intense and bright, and then it goes to what I have set. The same happens when we have scene changes with bright scenes. Annoying if you are watching in low light at night.
The image on YouTube is quite more intense, and when you have 1080 content and above, it is very good in detail.
On NETFLIX/Prime Video, the app finds and activates image enhancements like Dolby and HDR according to the title, to the point that it makes the image very intense but very, very detailed. Because I am sensitive to high brightness on screens, I had to make other image adjustments to make it much softer.
Overall, the upscaler from 1080 to 4K seems to do a good job. Naturally, the SD channels at this size are frankly terrible.
VIEWING ANGLES:
Quite to very good. (let's not forget - It's not OLED)
It was placed with its base on a relatively low piece of furniture.
So I don't know how it will look from below if it's placed high on the wall, like some businesses do in the waiting area. And you can see it standing and from the side. There is a reduction in brightness, but there is no phenomenon of everything looking completely washed out or gray. I hope the photos help.
SOUND:
Acceptable without anything really standing out. Definitely better than very cheap TVs up to 200 euros. It has various settings for Dolby etc. I turned off Dolby and set the profile to "natural." With thin TVs, what more can the small speakers give... You can't even understand simple stereo... Of course, for enthusiasts, it can be combined with a sound system that decodes Dolby Atmos, with suitable content from NETFLIX etc., and then it can show its real capabilities. - The audio inputs and outputs could be more convenient. For example, when someone sets the output to "TV," it provides sound to the 3.5mm jack, but with a fixed level. This doesn't help if someone wants to connect a small subwoofer.
STREAMING:
The apps are generally few. COSMOTE TV, DISNEY+ IS NOT AVAILABLE.
Tested with ERTFLIX, Youtube, Netflix (4k), Prime Video (4k), and Amazon music. The apps work quite quickly. Their loading, as well as the transition and loading of a video, is quick and without issues. The picture, as I mentioned above, is very detailed, sometimes even impressive. Comparing the picture from the native apps to the Sony X800II Blu-ray via HDMI, the picture is significantly clearer in detail, and much more intense in contrast and color. On NETFLIX and Prime Video with good titles, the screen delivers.
STREAMING from the mobile:
There is also what they call Wireless Display. You select it from the sources. On my phone, it pairs as "Screen Sharing," and when connected, an icon appears in the bar with the title "Wifi Direct." For some reason, pairing does not work through the YouTube app. However, it works quite well with both YouTube and my own photos and videos. -BUG! I couldn't get the Wireless Display to work with a modern laptop running win11. In the wireless display search, the Panasonic appears normally. You select it on the computer, and the TV shows a message that it's connecting, but nothing further happens.
In conclusion:
At 289 euros, I think it's very VFM.
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