REVIEW


Screens shine brighter at CES 2023


Brightness, it seems, is the new TV technology battlefield, and there were some formidable panels on display at CES 2023, reports Steve May


8 I


t wasn’t just the Nevada sun that shone brightly at CES. TV manufacturers


in


every corner of the Las Vegas Convention Centre were shouting loud about leaps in luminosity. It seems the future’s so bright, we’ll all want to wear shades.


Panasonic used the show to unveil its next flagship


TV, the MZ2000. While it looks much like last year’s range topper, complete with a multiplicity of speakers to service Dolby Atmos content, it’s what lurks within that will excite high-end consumers. This Panasonic set is one of the first to utilise the new Micro Lens Array (MLA) OLED panel from LG Display. ERT had the opportunity to take a closer look, and can confirm it’s quite the bobby-dazzler… But there is a caveat. The MZ2000 will be


available in 55-, 65-, and 77-inch sizes, but only the smaller models use what Panasonic is dubbing its ‘Master OLED Ultimate’ module. The largest of the trio employs a 2022 vintage Master OLED Pro panel, and so doesn’t perform the same way. Still, the 55- and 65-inch models are bona fide stunners. The panel update results in a peak brightness increase of approximately 50 per cent, compared to last year’s models. That translates to HDR highlights of just under 1,500 nits, compared to 1,000 nits on the 2022 equivalent.


Other attractions of the MZ2000 include an updated iteration of Filmmaker mode, with ambient colour temperature sensing able to better cope with different lighting conditions. Colour tuning is by award-winning Hollywood colourist Stefan Sonnenfeld.


Panasonic is also stepping up support for gamers with the introduction of a new True Game mode, said to offer the most accurate colour performance for a game preset yet. Audio performance has also been improved, with a new Bass Booster.


Drop dead gorgeous


OLED rival LG is also upping its game in 2023, if the incoming G3 model is anything to go by. We went behind the scenes for a hands-on with this 2023 flagship TV, and can confirm the new model is indeed drop dead gorgeous. Bizarrely, LG refused to confirm if the G3 was


using LG Display’s 2023 MLA panel, although it clearly is.


Note that the brand is dropping the Gallery moniker for this top line model (apparently it was too clever) and is instead calling its flush rear design On-Wall. Not as catchy, but apt given the Zero Gap wall mount supplied.


When it comes to point of sale, there’s a big change to the LG web OS smart TV interface. This 2023 iteration has been simplified so that it no longer seems to scroll interminably. Instead there are just two pages to navigate, with contextual thumbnails when you hover above the various streaming apps.


LG is also parking its tank on Samsung’s lawn when it comes to audio. You know Q-Symphony from Samsung? Well, LG now has WOW Orchestra which does much the same thing when paired to a compatible LG soundbar.


A brightness boost Inevitably, OLED was a big TV talking point for Samsung. It unveiled two new QD-OLED models for 2023, the S90C and S95C, and they look to be considerably brighter than anything we’ve seen yet from an OLED TV. You can tell the Samsung S95C from the S90C by the big One Connect box on the back. It also has a more advanced sound system.


Both appear to use a second generation QD- OLED panel which delivers a huge brightness boost, up from 1,500 nits last year to 2,000 nits. The S95C is a class leader when it comes to dynamic impact and deep, vibrant hues. It should sell itself right off the shelf!


The S95C also has an advanced OTS+ sound system, with integrated height drivers for Dolby Atmos content. The model will be available in 55-, 65- and 77-inch screen sizes. As for Sony, it kept its powder dry at CES, with


no new tellies introduced; we’ll have to wait until February to find out what’s in store.


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