▷The review of Panasonic HZ1000, the OLED with Filmmaker Mode 🥇

Panasonic HZ1000 review

Panasonic HZ1000 it is not the top of the range of 2020. Above it we find the OLED HZ2000 and HZ1500 but, to be honest, it does not have much to envy to its older brothers: it supports HDR10 + and Dolby Vision, it is equipped with Filmmaker Mode and uses a light sensor to adapt the contents when viewed in a bright environment. How does all this translate into everyday use? We talk about it in this review.

A classic design

With its 27 kg Panasonic HZ1000 is certainly not a featherweight. On the other hand, however the build quality is really good and the TV, in its simplicity, is really well finished. In fact, we do not have a particularly innovative design: the base is circular and really massive, the edges are really reduced to a minimum, with the slightly thicker lower strip that houses the status LED and the Panasonic writing, and the back provides an extremely thin and a thicker one that houses all the electronics. On the front instead we have the OLED panel, in our case from 55 inches but also available in the 65 ″ variant. In short, everything is as you expect it but every detail is taken care of to ensure solidity and the ability to adapt to any environment.

The available inputs are several: we have 4 HDMI (one of them with eARC support), 2 USB 2.0 and 1 USB 3.0, 1 Ethernet, 1 digital audio output, the 3,5mm jack and an analog AV input. To this of course we add Bluetooth and WiFi, essential to use the smart features of this TV.

Complete the picture the remote control, made of plastic and rather standard. There is no backlight and a possible microphone for voice search is missing. On the other hand we have a button dedicated to Netflix and the MyApp button to associate any application you want to open quickly. Finally, the button is very convenient Picture which allows you to quickly select the most suitable mode, including Filmmaker Mode.

The operating system is still its weak point

Over the years we have had the opportunity to test several Panasonic TVs that have always stood out for the incredible image quality offered but which have always mounted an incomplete and inconsistent operating system.
Things got better today: graphically there is more harmony and continuity, with menus that resemble each other and that use colors, fonts and styles that are much more consistent and captivating. All accompanied by a remarkable fluidity and no annoying slowdown.

The review of Panasonic HZ1000, the OLED with Filmmaker Mode However, two important elements continue to be missing. On the one hand, in fact the UI is still not very contemporary, especially when compared to LG's WebOS or Samsung's Tizen; on the other hand we have available a limited number of applications compared to what the competition offers. Sure, we have Netflix, Prime Video, RaiPlay, Infinity, DAZN, Chili and Rakuten but there is no Disney + yet (now six months after its launch) and not even support for Apple TV +.
It is clear that not everyone will miss these platforms but it is equally evident that their absence could force you to use some other system to be able to use them. We, for example, have joined the Panasonic HZ1000 with the Fire TV Stick from Amazon, so that we have everything we need on this TV.
In our opinion, the Japanese company should really invest in a new, modern and attractive interface. A consideration that also applies to the Panasonic TV Remote app which is still rather old-fashioned.

Finally, it should be noted support for voice assistants (Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant) which works really well but still forces you to go through a rather cumbersome procedure to be able to enable this feature.

Panasonic TX-55HZ1000E TV 55" 4K UHD Smart OLED Master HDR...

1399,00

1.716,00 EUR Buy on Amazon

Panasonic HZ1000 review: how it looks and how it feels

Panasonic has always accustomed us to have a number of useful presets which make work easier even for the less experienced. In short, just a few clicks are enough to switch from Normal to Dynamic, Cinema, True Cinema and Sport modes. All this to adapt the TV to your needs and different contents.
And if you are already familiar with the calibration of televisions or with the system of the Japanese company, you could put your hand to it tide of available parameters: brightness, contrast, color, tint, sharpness and color temperature are at your fingertips. Obviously know that all this is not necessary: the result is excellent from the first unboxing.

However, there are two features we would like to focus on. The first is the one already mentioned Filmmaker Fashion.
If the term comes new to you, let's take a step back. Filmmaker Mode is the mode created in collaboration with the UHD Alliance with the intention of bringing the color, contrast, frame rate and original aspect ratio of films to home televisions. One click to have at home a feature film that reflects the director's will and is not distorted by the producer's settings.
The result will surprise you.
The contents change in an evident way allowing you to finally see the films as they were conceived.
We then have a plus: a sensor that analyzes the lighting conditions and automatically changes the parameters pto offer you a true-to-original viewing experience even when the room is brightly lit. Virtually nothing will change for you: everything happens automatically to maintain the same performance in every situation.
The same thing happens with Dolby Vision IQ, the second feature we want to emphasize. The sensor in fact behaves in a similar way with Dolby Vision contents, thus compensating for the ambient brightness.

Leaving aside the more advanced features, we still have a truly excellent product in our hands. The images are detailed, the colors are perfect and the HDR support is universal. This means it is compatible with HDR10, HDR10 +, Dolby Vision, HLG and HDR photo. And all of these formats give you above average content.
Il processore HCX Pro does an excellent job even when it comes to upscaling with detailed and defect-free images.

The review of Panasonic HZ1000, the OLED with Filmmaker Mode Finally we arrive atAudio, entrusted to two 15W speakers and with support for Dolby Atmos. Our suggestion is to rely on an external system, also because a TV of this range deserves at least a soundbar.
Without additional help you will still have a very high volume and a satisfying yield but nothing transcendental.

Panasonic HZ1000 review: buy it or not?

Panasonic HZ1000, in the 55 ″ variant, it is on sale in 1.999 euro ed is definitely an OLED to consider. The image quality is very high, the Filmmaker Mode is implemented in an excellent way and there is room for customization if you want to calibrate the TV yourself. A little flaw on the "smart" front, thanks to an operating system to be reviewed and the absence of some applications, but never mind: if you aim for quality it is really an interesting product.