Panasonic's Fire TV upgrade offers a better way to watch Netflix and Disney+

09 January 2024 , 07:15

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Meet the new TVs from Panasonic (Image: PANASONIC)

Panasonic has announced new flagship TVs at the CES technology show in Las Vegas but they have a twist that makes them more exciting than just a brighter and faster display. The new TVs feature Amazon’s Fire TV built-in, which not only means access to all the apps and services delivered by Fire TV but it means a significantly better and more familiar interface too.

A personalised home screen brings together streaming services like Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video, along with apps, live channels and customised recommendations.

It suggests Panasonic is happy with its excellent picture tech and exceptionally bright display but when it comes to what you see when you turn the TV on, Fire TV can deliver a more user-friendly experience and simplified content discovery.

Panasonic's President and CEO, Akira Toyoshima, said: "With such vast options, the real challenge becomes pinpointing exactly what you want to watch. Therefore, our new mission goes beyond just providing great picture and sound. It’s about simplifying the process of content discovery, ensuring it's not just easy but delightful."

With the Fire TV integration comes a smart home management system too, including a smart home dashboard so you can turn on your Alexa-compatible lights and far-field voice control with Alexa for turning on music and searching for content without lifting a finger. The Fire TV Ambient Experience is supported too, effectively turning your flagship TV into a huge photo gallery, or a calendar with customisable Alexa widgets.

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The Panasonic Z95A and Z93A are among several 4K OLED TVs announced at CES supporting 144Hz for gaming too. This is irrelevant for console gamers as currently the PS5 and Xbox Series X only offer up to 120Hz but for the PC gamers out there with high end machines, the Panasonic TVs are a couple of the first in the world to offer this support with an improved "Game Mode Extreme" to boot.

As you might expect, the Panasonic Z95A (65-inch and 55-inch) and Z93A (77-inch) - have a new HCX Pro AI Processor MKII, a brighter panel and lashings of AI which should make them some of the most impressive 4K OLED TVs you'll be able to buy in 2024.

Panasonic isn't the only firm that has unveiled new TVs at CES. Samsung revealed its new Neo QLED tellies that get clever AI to improve the picture and sound.

Not to be outdone, LG has also shown off its clever transparent screen which makes it a little more pleasing to the eye when not being used.

Britta O’Boyle