Skip the Hisense and TCL--don't encourage throw-away culture.
After heavily debating spending significantly more to get the very best in image quality (OLED), I ended up "settling" on a mini-LED as long as it was from a reputable brand. Panasonic was always one of the highest-regarded TV brands, and based on professional reviews, it was clear they maintained that status even to today. Yes, there are some highly-rated Hisense and TCL TVs out there, but those weren't on my radar because I know from experience that they're not built to last. Panasonic, on the other hand, has a solid reputation for longevity. --- PICTURE: 9/10 Image quality is outstanding. It's technically not the brightest TV out there (by a long shot), but it's plenty bright enough for all but the very brightest rooms, and there's so much more to a TV than how bright a white screen can get. For one, the contrast is outstanding. While the blacks aren't OLED-perfect, it's incredible how close it gets. More importantly, you have to actively search for evidence of blooming/haloing. In ordinary non-scrutinizing viewing, you could be fooled into thinking it IS an OLED. The processing is where Panasonic shines. They've nailed everything from the calibration to motion and frame generation (which, on low and mid settings really cleans things up without inducing much of the "soap-opera effect"). The Panasonic exhibits an overall grace that most other brands (the exception being Sony and, to an extent, Vizio) seem to lack. The one caveat that I think is worth mentioning is that the screen is fairly reflective. Mine is being used in a small home theater which is almost always dark, so it's of virtually no consequence to me, but in a bright living room, it might be suboptimal. I've heard that its closest competitor (Sony Bravia 7) is pretty much just as reflective, however, so I can't say for sure how it compares to the industry average. Just something to note and research if it concerns you. SOUND: 8/10 Sound quality is quite good... for a TV (at least on the 85" model). I'd say it rivals budget soundbars up to around $150. If you're not planning to spend more than that on a soundbar (or even better, dedicated amp + speakers), I'd say just use the TV speakers. They're totally adequate for casual use. OS: 7/10 The elephant in the room is the FireTV OS. Personally, as someone who uses FireTVs, I thought it was a plus. I can absolutely understand why people who don't use FireTV don't want that. But I've used Android/Google TVs and I don't think they're any better or worse. All TV OSs are becoming more and more ad-heavy. It's the unfortunate reality, and no doubt why such fancy high-quality TVs can be so affordable. One important note to improve your experience: disaable automatic previews. I've heard it repeated (even by professionals) that ads on the homescreen automatically play with sound and that it can't be disabled. That is false. While the TV is set up by default to behave this way, it's easy to change this in the settings (it's under 'Featured Content' if I recall correctly). You'll still see the same banners, but they're much easier to ignore when they're not flashing and playing audio. SETTINGS & ADJUSTABILITY: 9/10 I was impressed with the settings that you can adjust with this. While you can easily choose one of the presets and be happy with it, it also allows you to get surprisingly detailed with adjustments. It's comfortably above average in my experience. BUILD QUALITY: 9/10 This feels like a robust TV that will last. As I've mentioned earlier, with the influx of Chinese TVs like Hisense and TCL undercutting competitors and said competitors lowering their quality to compete at lower price points, I fear the TV market will fall victim to disposable culture at some point like so many other industries already have. TVs used to be a once-a-decade purchase for anyone who didn't demand the very latest. From what I've seen and read, Hisense and TCL TVs can only be expected to last a few years before something either fails or wears out. I strongly encourage people to buy TVs from reputable companies with a track record of long-lasting products. Sony and Panasonic at the higher end and Vizio at the lower/midrange. Of course, since this is a new TV, I can't really say how long it'll last. Only time will tell. But I really like my odds. VALUE: 8.5/10 Value is a bit hard to gauge because I've noticed the price has fluctuated quite a bit. I bought mine on a steep sale and consequently I'd say the value was an easy outstanding 10/10. At MSRP, however, I think it'd be more like 7/10. --- In summation, while I was originally set on getting an OLED, I'm actually very happy that I 'settled' on a mini-LED, and I'm very happy with the Panasonic. It's a quality TV that I fully expect to last a good decade or more. Read more