Panasonic and Hisense reveal exciting TV tech at CES 2022

LG, Samsung and Sony shout loudest, but smaller TV brands still have plenty to show off at CES

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare by email Panasonic showed off its top-end OLED TV ranges at CES, while Hisense revealed a searingly bright Mini LED TV. The 77-inch LZ2000 is the first time Panasonic has gone bigger than 65 inches with one of its TVs in recent years (don’t worry, there are smaller models, too). It also introduced some changes that should make a big difference to audio and the way you hear TVs. Hisense is focusing heavily on brightness and trying to push every last candela of light from its 2022 ranges. Keep reading for more details on Panasonic and Hisense’s CES reveals.

Panasonic’s top-of-the-range OLED for 2022 is packed with tantalising selling points. Tweaked display, more speakers and better software for gamers: Panasonic has ticked a lot of boxes.

It’s also bigger than ever before. Generally, Panasonic TVs stop at 65 inches. But the LZ2000 will have a 77-inch option for anyone with plenty of money and plenty of space.

Tuned in Hollywood

‘Tuned in Hollywood’ is Panasonic’s shorthand for a number of features and complicated TV terms designed to make the picture look true to how a filmmaker intended it.

Hollywood colourist Stefan Sonnenfeld works in post-production on films to help the picture sing. Panasonic employs him to work his magic on the LZ2000 and help the colours feel natural and vibrant.

The LZ2000 has a light sensor to measure the brightness of the room and adjust the picture accordingly. This works with the Auto AI mode, which changes the picture settings based on the content you’re watching.

The example Panasonic gives is the different viewing experience you want when watching a film versus a game of football. You don’t necessarily want motion smoothing on a film, but it can be useful to have for sport. Having the TV automatically switch these features on and off would be useful.

Directional sound

TV manufacturers love to say their TVs create a surround sound effect and we’d love to say they are telling the truth. Sadly, we rarely get much sense of directional sound beyond stereo separation, which is audio splitting to come from the left and right of the screen.

The LZ2000 has a better chance of pulling of a surround sound effect than most, though. It has speakers dotted all over the place to send sound in different directions.

Some point upwards to create that overhead sound that works well with Dolby Atmos sound processing. There’s also front-firing speakers (which aren’t as common as you might think as most TV speakers point down) and some pointing to the side, to hopefully wrap the audio around you.

A great way of solving the simulated surround sound issue is not to simulate it at all and Panasonic has done just about everything it can beyond putting speakers behind you.