Panasonic just launched the Z8BA, a 77-inch OLED TV that promises a high-end viewing experience without a high-end price tag. Available for pre-order now at $2,499 at Amazon and shipping mid-November, the Z8BA is being pitched as a more affordable alternative to Panasonic’s flagship Z95B, which we previously deemed the best all-around TV in 2025.

With streaming, gaming, and even broadcast tech packed in, the Z8BA is clearly aimed at people who want a serious OLED TV but don’t want to spend $4,000 or more. So how does it actually stack up?

At its core, the Z8BA uses Panasonic’s “Master OLED Pro Cinema Size” panel. That’s a fancy way of saying it’s a high-quality OLED EX panel sourced from LG Display. It’s not the same ultra-bright Tandem RGB panel used in the Z95B, but it’s still capable of excellent brightness and color, and supports Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, and more.

It’s also powered by the HCX Pro AI Processor MK II, the same engine found in the flagship Z95B. That chip handles everything from upscaling and motion smoothing to HDR tone mapping and AI-enhanced picture remastering. If you’ve seen the Z95B in action, you know how good Panasonic’s processing can be. While the Z8BA isn’t quite as bright, it still offers impressive cinematic image quality, especially with Filmmaker Mode and True Game Mode in the mix.

Instead of using Panasonic’s own smart platform, the Z8BA goes all-in with Fire TV built in. You get a familiar, content-forward interface with all the apps you’d expect—Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, you name it. Alexa is baked in too, so you can search, launch apps, or control smart home gear with your voice.

You’ll also find Netflix Calibrated Mode, plus room-sensing features that adjust brightness and contrast automatically. Whether you’re watching in a bright room or dim lighting, the TV fine-tunes the picture using Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive to make sure things don’t look too dark or blown out.

If you’re into gaming, the Z8BA doesn’t cut corners. It supports 144Hz refresh rates, HDMI 2.1, VRR, ALLM, and is compatible with NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium. That means smoother gameplay and lower input lag, two things any competitive gamer will care about.

There’s also a True Game Mode for more accurate colors in games, plus audio presets for RPGs and FPS games. If you’re the kind of person who wants to hear every footstep or line of dialogue clearly, those sound tweaks could be a real benefit.

You even get an on-screen Game Control Board, which is a dashboard of your game settings, and you can link it to a custom button on the remote.

Most TVs in this price range need a soundbar to sound good. But Panasonic went the extra mile here. The Z8BA includes a 5.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos speaker system, tuned by Technics. That means front, side, and upward-firing speakers, along with a built-in 20W subwoofer and passive radiators. Total output? 170 watts.

You can even tweak the sound direction of the front speakers to better suit your seating position. Not many TVs at this price let you do that.

If you’re the kind of viewer who wants your TV dialed in just right, the Z8BA supports Calman and ISFccc calibration tools. That allows for deep color tuning, including 3D LUTs and multipoint grayscale adjustments. Whether you're a video editor or just super picky about color, the Z8BA can be fine-tuned to your liking, or by a pro if you hire one.

Beyond streaming, the Z8BA includes both ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0 tuners, which means it’s compatible with NEXTGEN TV. If your local stations support it, you’ll be able to watch over-the-air 4K content with improved sound and interactive features, all for free, once you hook up an antenna.

So, how does the Z8BA measure up to the competition?

• LG 77-inch C5 OLED – $1,896.99 at Amazon (currently discounted from $2,146.99): LG’s C-series is a popular go-to for good reason. The C5 OLED offers great HDR performance, excellent color accuracy, and a solid 144Hz refresh rate for gaming. It also supports Dolby Vision, VRR, and FreeSync. However, while it handles brightness better than past generations, it may not have the same pro-level calibration tools or built-in ATSC 3.0 tuner that the Panasonic Z8BA includes. Bottom line: Great value and performance, but fewer pro features.
• Samsung 77-inch S85F OLED – $1,897.99 at Amazon (was $2,797.99): Samsung’s entry-level OLED for 2025 uses QD-OLED tech for deep blacks and vibrant colors. It performs well in dark rooms and has great gaming features, including HDMI 2.1 and high refresh rates. But unlike Panasonic, Samsung still doesn’t support Dolby Vision (only HDR10+), and the included Tizen OS isn’t as content-forward as Fire TV. Bottom line: Strong visual performer, but lacks Dolby Vision and some smart perks.
• Sony Bravia 8 77-inch OLED – $2,598.00 at Amazon: Sony’s Bravia 8 OLED is known for its refined picture processing and excellent motion handling, making it a favorite for film buffs. But its peak brightness is a bit behind some rivals, and while it includes Google TV, it doesn’t support HDR10+—only Dolby Vision and HDR10. Bottom line: Cinematic performance, but at a higher price and without some gaming or HDR flexibility.
• Panasonic Z8BA 77-inch OLED – $2,499.99 at Amazon: Panasonic is clearly trying to split the difference: you get high-end processing, wide HDR support (including both Dolby Vision and HDR10+), a top-notch sound system, a 144Hz refresh rate, and a Fire TV interface that’s loaded with streaming options. Add in the ATSC 3.0 tuner and calibration tools, and it becomes clear this TV is punching above its weight—at least for some buyers. Bottom line: Higher price than LG or Samsung at the moment, but offers more pro features and versatility.

So, should you buy it? If you're someone who cares about picture accuracy, gaming performance, and audio quality, the Z8BA hits a pretty compelling middle ground. It’s not quite flagship-level like the Z95B—Panasonic’s ultra-bright, cinema-calibrated beast—but it borrows many of its tools and tricks.

It’s also great for cord-cutters thanks to NEXTGEN TV support and Fire TV integration. If you're replacing an older 65-inch screen and want to go big without spending $4K, the Z8BA might feel like a sweet spot, especially if the price drops closer to $2,000 during the holidays.

That said, if you're shopping strictly on price, the LG C5 and Samsung S85F offer similar core performance for several hundred dollars less. And if you lean more toward Sony’s picture processing and don’t mind spending more, the Bravia 8 has its own appeal.

Panasonic’s return to the U.S. OLED market with the Z8BA is one of the more interesting moves in 2025. While the Z95B still stands tall as our pick for the best all-around TV of the year, the Z8BA offers much of its DNA at a significantly lower price.

Is it the perfect 77-inch OLED for everyone? Probably not. But if you're looking for a well-rounded package with serious gaming chops, strong smart features, wide HDR format support, and a killer audio system, this one deserves to be on your shortlist.

You can pre-order the Panasonic 77-inch Z8BA OLED TV today at Amazon. If you’re eyeing the flagship Z95B instead, that model’s also available on Amazon in 55-, 65-, and 77-inch sizes.