This feature-rich mid-range LED LCD is okay tuned for movie evening, due to multi-HDR assist and a Hollywood-inspired picture processor. However its enchantment isn’t simply popcorn deep, due to a quick gaming efficiency and intuitive good platform.
Execs
- Multi-HDR assist with Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HLG
- Versatile Panasonic good TV platform
- Low enter lag
Cons
- Restricted deep black efficiency
- No Disney+
Key specs
- Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR and HDR10+
- My Residence Display screen v5.0 good platform
- Dolby Atmos audio
- Dimensions: 1297 x 759 x 65mm (whd)
The divinely slim Panasonic HX800 collection offers a leaping on level for multi-HDR assist in Japanese model’s 2020 edge-lit LED TV vary.
With each Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR10+ compatibility, coupled to the model’s HCX (Residence Cinema eXperience) picture processor, it’s aimed squarely at switch-on film followers.
It’s additionally deal slicker than many mid-rangers, due to a wise edge-lit design (carried over from final 12 months’s GX800 mannequin). May this be the 4K LED TV improve you’ve been ready for? We heaved the 58-inch mannequin onto our check bench to study extra.
Panasonic HX800 worth and availability
On the time of evaluate the 58-inch mannequin had an RRP of £999/€999. Exterior of the UK it’s also referred to as TX-58HX800E and TX-58HXW804. Should you search round, you’ll additionally discover an HX820 on the streets. This can be a retail unique, however for all intents and functions is identical because the mannequin reviewed right here.
Not your measurement? It’s additionally obtainable in 40-, 50- and 65-inch variations (TX-40HX800, TX-50HX800, TX-65HX800 respectively). Value for the 58-inch has fallen to round £700 forward of the 2021 TV vary coming to market.
Panasonic HX800 design — Enviably skinny due to edge-lighting, however HDMI quota low
- Slim aesthetic
- Massive and pointy distant
- HDMI 2.0 spec
This 58-incher might have a slight attain benefit over rival 55-inch fashions, however that doesn’t imply a considerably larger footprint. The panel is edge-lit, and for essentially the most half enviably skinny. The glass sits on prime of the bezel, slightly than inside it, which is a welcome design contact.
The provided distant management is an effective deal much less fancy – it’s an enormous pointy wand with devoted buttons for Netflix and Freeview Play.
In Panasonic’s TV hierarchy, the HX800 sits beneath the HX900 and HX940. The previous is seemingly a tad brighter, whereas the latter provides Native Dimming Clever Professional, which claims to approximate hundreds of native dimming zones.
The HX800 proves a simple to stay with. There’s no extensively positioned ft to fret about, because the display screen sits on a central pedestal stand.
Its mid-range nature is evidenced by its connectivity. We solely get three HDMI inputs, one in all which helps HDMI ARC. There’s additionally an optical digital audio output, two USBs and part AV inputs for legacy package.
The HDMI spec is unapologetically v2.0, however we do profit from ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), which routinely switches within the Recreation preset when a console is detected.
Wi-Fi is given ethical assist by Ethernet, and there’s Bluetooth too, with headphone pairing for private listening, useful for a late evening gaming session.
Panasonic HX800 options — Intuitive, straightforward to make use of good TV platform has all of your catch-up lined (simply don’t ask for Disney+)
- Simple to make use of good platform
- No Disney+ or Apple TV
- Lightning quick enter lag
Panasonic’s linked platform, My Residence Display screen, typically referred to simply as Residence, is now in its fifth iteration. Should you’re searching for a wise OS that does little greater than make it straightforward to stream stuff and join your gear, it’ll maintain loads of enchantment.
The Residence display screen is well customised, so you possibly can add a favorite streaming service to the default button trio of Apps, Units and Stay TV, or put a linked bodily system entrance and centre. This fuss-free method can simply be loved by relations merely searching for a simple life.
The Freeview Play tuner comes with all the primary TV catch-up providers built-in, and a lot of the key streaming giants are on-board, together with Netflix, Prime Video, Rakuten, YouTube and Britbox. The one apparent heavy hitter not on the desk is Disney+.
The set is definitely a superb gaming show. We measured enter lag at a lowly 10.2ms (1080/60), which implies joystick jockeys won’t discover their campaigns jeopardised.
Panasonic HX800 efficiency — This cinematic display screen ticks all the proper HDR containers
- Lush colors
- Not nice with blacks
- Satisfactory sonics
Image smart, the HX800 has so much to stay as much as. Final 12 months’s GX800 was a superb performer for the worth. Because it occurs, little has modified. There’s the identical sophistication to the HX800’s imagery, which belies its edge-lit LED specification.
Certainly, at instances it appears to be like extra like OLED than LCD – pink and blue primaries are deep and plush. Main Hollywood colourist Stefan Sonnenfeld has dealt with the ultimate tuning for the set, undoubtedly contributing to the filmic solidity to its photos.
The set’s HCX picture processor might not include any AI-enhanced image processing, but it surely stays an achieved picture engine. Native 4K usually appears to be like wonderful, with blistering ranges of element and texture, and it does a reliable job upscaling HD decision sources too.
Picture presents cowl the same old Dynamic, Regular, Cinema, True Cinema and Sport vary. We’d counsel True Cinema over common Cinema, because it has extra impression. We suspect most viewers will keep on with Regular, and for essentially the most half that’s truly essentially the most persistently pleasing image mode on supply.
Stream Dolby Imaginative and prescient content material from the Netflix app and also you’re provided Dolby Imaginative and prescient Vivid, Dolby Imaginative and prescient Vibrant and Dolby Imaginative and prescient Darkish HDR dealing with.
The display screen’s HDR efficiency largely apes its GX predecessor. We measured HDR peaks at round 450 nits (cdm2), utilizing the HDR Regular preset. That is brilliant sufficient to permit the TV to replicate the grading intent of creators, with out dragging down general image ranges to orchestrate specular pop. We discovered we achieved the perfect HDR efficiency with the adaptive backlight turned off.
Movement dealing with will be described as respectful, offered you retain the IFC (Clever Body Creation) setting on a decent leash. Minimal provides little in the best way of overt movement artefacts, however nonetheless holds element properly. Excellent news with fast-paced motion films and sports activities.
The HX800 isn’t constructed to supply something rather more than satisfactory sonics, however in that regard it hits the spot. With 2 x 10W amplification, there’s welly to spare. For immersive audio, you’ll wish to bitstream out to some correct Dolby Atmos {hardware}.
You should purchase the Panasonic TX-58HX800 if…
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You desire a TV film nights
Should you’re searching for a refined LED LCD with cinematic aptitude, then the HX800 ought to be proper up your road. Nice element efficiency, color dealing with and accommodating HDR assist make for a mid-ranger with a contact of sophistication.
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You one thing somewhat larger than 55-inches
The HX800 sits in that center floor the place it’s sufficiently big to aptly show your film assortment, however not too sufficiently big that it may possibly’t match
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You desire a massive(ish) display screen for gaming
Whereas the Pana doesn’t have the most recent in gaming applied sciences, its gaming efficiency is pretty nippy.
You shouldn’t purchase the Panasonic TX-58HX800 if…
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You ask for a greater black degree efficiency out of your TVs
It’s picture efficiency is in the end constrained by the truth that it’s an edge-lit LED LCD, and it actually doesn’t do deep black.
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You need extra smarts
The Panasonic HX800 provides respectable smarts, however when you’re after Disney+ (and even Apple TV), both get a streaming stick or look elsewhere.
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You need the most recent gaming options
There’s not one of the PS5/Xbox Collection X baiting options right here, so if that’s in your thoughts, look elsewhere.