Dolby Vision™ brings compatible UHD Blu-ray™ discs and 4K video streaming to life - with exceptional colour, contrast and brightness. Dynamic metadata, is used to adjust the HDR picture settings scene-by-scene – as the story unfolds, over dark and light sequences. File formats that are not supported by your Network Contents server (DLNA compatible server, etc.) cannot be played. The pixel pitch shows the distance from the centers of two neighboring pixels. In displays, which have a native resolution (the TFT ones, for example), the pixel pitch depends on the resolution and the size of the screen. Approximate height of the display. If the manufacturer does not provide such information, the height is calculated from the diagonal and the aspect ratio. There are significant benefits to having dynamic metadata support from (HDR10+ and Dolby Vision) on mid-brightness screens like the TX-50GX800. The screen is able to better manage high brightness and shadow detail, as images are optimised on a scene by scene basis.

However, the GX800’s HDR performance isn’t entirely straightforward. We measured HDR peak brightness just over 500 cd/m2 (aka nits) on a 10 per cent HDR white window, which is impressive for a set of this class. The catch is that it’s only achievable with the TV in Dynamic mode. HDR has less zing when viewed in Normal or Cinema modes. It also diminishes when measured with a 5% window, where it delivers around 400 cd/m2 (nits). Also new for 2022 is support for the Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode, which serves the same purpose as Panasonic’s ambient light picture optimising technology but specifically for Netflix content. On top of Prime Video, the GX800 also offers Netflix in 4K and Dolby Vision, and all of the UK’s core catch-up apps (BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4 and My5) are present and correct. Unfortunately, the only pay-as-you-go movie-streaming app on board is Rakuten, and this is not in 4K or HDR, despite the labelling suggesting otherwise.

The HCX Processor - This proessor is the brain inside this model. TV know-how are distilled into a picture processor, which deliver spectacular levels of contrast, clarity and truly accurate colour. So take your time to really understand the sort of product you’re looking for. Think about the sort of features that you need. Which ones are “nice-to-have” and which ones are absolutely critical. If you’re looking for a cheap option then don’t even consider the products that are all signing all dancing because you’ll be paying for features that you don’t need. Choose your retailer wisely As mentioned, the HX800 supports the four main HDR standards, namely HDR10, HDR10+, the broadcast-friendly HLG and Dolby Vision. For a TV of this price, that’s a rarity. The screen’s regular SDR HD performance is first rate too. This is significant as this will still represent the bulk of your viewing. LZ1500: Like the LZ2000, the 55in and 65in models of the LZ1500 feature a Master OLED Pro panel and Dynamic Cinema Surround Pro, though they miss out on Panasonic’s Luminance Booster technology and don’t have quite as impressive an audio system. The 48in and 42in variants have basic OLED configuration panels, less impressive speaker setups and different stands but will of course cost rather less.

The GX800 obviously has a fairly narrow contrast band to work with, and Dolby Vision makes the most of this, combining highlights and lowlights in a really balanced way and revealing fine details at both ends of the spectrum. Switching Dolby Vision off often results in a slightly brighter image, but it’s tonally flatter and a tad less insightful. The HX800 has a robust build and, because it’s edge-lit, it’s rather slender too. The edge lighting also makes the HX800 more economical to run, but there are some downsides. While it will look great for everyday viewing in most living rooms, the limitations of strip lighting might become more noticeable when watching in a darkened room. Every model in Panasonic’s 2022 OLED lineup uses the latest iteration of the company’s smart platform, My Home Screen 7.0. This supports every key streaming service and offers a new accessibility menu that provides access to voice control, audio description, dialogue enhancement and subtitles. The LX800 is the exception in the Panasonic range, and uses Android TV rather than My Home Screen. JZ2000: Powered by the HCX Pro AI Processor and with four HDMI inputs, two of which are 2.1 certified, the JZ2000 is last year’s top-of-the-range OLED. Its audio system is “Tuned by Technics” and it uses Panasonic’s premium Master OLED Pro panel. Related: What is Dolby Atmos? All you need to know Should I buy the Panasonic TX-50GX800 4K UHD TV?JZ1000: Here we lose the Master OLED Pro panel in favour of the more affordable Master OLED display but retain the HCX Pro AI chip and HDMI 2.1 support (VRR, 4K at 120Hz, ALLM and eARC) found on the premium OLEDs. Of course, all the HDR formats remain too: HDR10+, HDR10, HLG and DolbyVision IQ. Utilitarian' can also be applied to Panasonic’s TV operating system, called My Home Screen. The GX800 gets the 4.0 version, which is a little snappier in operation than those before it and allows for a certain amount of customisation, but still prioritises simplicity over snazziness. It’s easy to use but not a lot of fun. There is no HDMI 2.1 support via the three HDMI inputs, but there is ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) available for gaming and a measured input lag of 15ms, which makes the HX800 a possible choice as a gaming TV. The HCX is a proven processor and video processing and upscaling is very good on the HX800 with no issues visible in upscaled content from 576i, 1080i and 1080p sources. Jaggie suppression is also excellent with scaled images looking sharp without obvious edge enhancement or ringing to fine edges. Motion is also good with 24fps material with Intelligent Frame Creation (IFC) switched off, as correct pulldown is applied. Using IFC does introduce frame interpolation is varying amounts with the highest settings introducing false edges, fast items within the frame disappearing and other artefacts. You can experiment with IFC for things like football and fast-moving video content to improve image blur with smoothing and soap opera effect. The GX800 boasts Multi-HDR support, specifically, HDR10, HLG (broadcast HDR), HLG Photo, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. Watch the latter and your preset choice changes to Dolby Vision Vivid, Dolby Vision Bright and Dolby Vision Dark.

Naturally, this audio prowess disappears when there’s a lot going on in the mix, as TV speakers such as these are far too simple and small to keep up. The only real sacrifice is that the mid-range is fairly unexciting. There’s not much depth to voices and given that dialogue is a pretty large part of most films, it’s quite noticeable and stops this TV from scoring full marks on sound. Verdict Android TV simplifies your entertainment experience. Access 400,000+ movies and shows in one place. Ask Google to control your TV with your voice. And cast your photos, videos, and music from devices to your TV easily with Chromecast built-in. The MZ2000 features the next level of picture tech in the Micro Lens Array OLED panel, which aims to offer high amounts of HDR peak brightness when combined with Panasonic’s own bespoke multi-layer heat management solution. The step up in peak brightness is said to be up to 150% more compared to the 2022 OLEDs. The 77-inch model does not feature the same OLED panel as the other sizes.LZ800: The LZ800 is Panasonic’s cheapest OLED in 2022 and as such, is the least well-specced. The panel is of the basic OLED variety, while Cinema Surround replaces Cinema Surround Pro. HDMI 2.1 features are still supported, however, as are Dolby Atmos, Filmmaker mode, Dolby Vision IQ and Auto AI picture processing. Electronics brands and leading movie directors created Filmmaker Mode. A single button sets the film's colour-palette, contrast, aspect ratio and frame rate as the director envisaged. The picture automatically adjusts even if light levels change We spend our first couple of hours with the GX800 with the Spider-Man: Homecoming 4K Blu-ray spinning, switching the TV’s Dolby Vision feature on and off to compare the picture performance. Having it switched on clearly produces the subtler, more nuanced image. According to Panasonic, the flagship LZ2000 will be around 40% brighter than last year’s model as a result. Like last year, the LZ2000 and LZ1500 sport “Master OLED Pro” panels on screen sizes 55in and up. The LZ1000 and larger LZ980 models use a less advanced “Master OLED” panel, while the 42in and 48in LZ1500 and LZ980, along with all LZ800 models, make do with a basic OLED configuration. Auto AI picture mode LX800: The only LCD TV announced for a UK release, the LX800 swaps out the My Home Screen OS for Android TV. The experience is geared towards smart operation, with Chromecast built-in and Google’s voice assistant accessible directly from the TV’s remote. The speaker units have been upgraded from last year’s model so should be able to take better advantage of the set’s support for Dolby Atmos. The 43in and 50in models miss out on Panasonic’s HDR Cinema Display panel found on the larger screen sizes.

There are various panel technologies. Each has its own specific features - viewing angles, color reproduction, response time, brightness/contrast, production cost, etc. The image quality depends directly on the type of the display panel used. Things start to get particularly interesting when you drill down into the picture presets, as they have a large bearing on the performance of the set. Want to switch from watching TV to gaming? No problem, just select Game Mode* using the TV remote. It reduces input lag - so the on-screen action reacts instantly to your commands. Taking you from the sofa into the world of the game.Classically minimal in the time honoured Panasonic tradition, the TX-50GX800 isn’t without visual interest. The LCD panel sits atop the surrounding bezel, creating a distinctive glass-on-frame look, while a central stand makes it easy to accommodate on conventional AV furniture. Panasonic is going big on OLED screens in 2023, with five in total announced at the event. That includes the MZ2000, MZ1500, MZ980, MZ800, and MZ700, with the entry-level models featuring Android TV OS as their interface. Whites are pure and colours are excellently judged, with skin tones a particular highlight, and while the GX800's slightly soft approach means images are a little less three-dimensional than they can be, detail levels are superb. By supporting all HDR (High Dynamic Range) formats our premium TVs assure best possible performance - regardless of picture source. Brightness and colour are optimised scene-by-scene; whether the source is Dolby Vision, HLG, HDR10 or the HDR10+Adaptive format.