Communication devices have been found in Chinese made solar inverters
These have the potential to destabilase the power grid
It's unknown how many were found or the intent behind them
Rogue communication devices have been discovered in Chinese made solar inverters, devices which play a ‘critical role’ in renewable energy infrastructure, Reuters reports. This has prompted US energy officials to re-assess the risks of emerging technologies produced in China.
Power inverters are primarily produced in China, but used globally to connect solar panels and wind turbines to electricity grids, as well as being used in heat pumps, batteries, and electric vehicle chargers.
It’s reported that over the last nine months, some batteries bought from Chinese suppliers have been discovered with hidden communication devices like cellular radios - according to sources familiar with the matter.
TechRadar editors praise Aura's upfront pricing and simplicity. Aura also includes a password manager, VPN, and antivirus to make its security solution an even more compelling deal.
Experts have warned that communication devices could evade firewalls and switch inverters off remotely, posing a huge risk to power grids, as they could change settings, damage energy infrastructure, destabilize the grid, and cause widespread blackouts.
It’s not yet clear how many of these communication devices were found, nor the nature of the devices themselves - and the intent behind the planting of these is unknown. That being said, the US Department of Energy has confirmed it continually assesses risks associated “with emerging technologies and that there were significant challenges with manufacturers disclosing and documenting functionalities.”
This isn't the first time solar grids have been targeted - and security flaws leaving them vulnerable to being hijacked and even disabled. 46 vulnerabilities discovered by Forescout were found to allow hackers to deploy remote code execution, denial of service, device takeover, and access cloud platforms or sensitive information.
It seems likely, given recent events and rising geopolitical tensions, that the US will look to move production to domestic manufacturing plants for a more secure supply chain, It’s worth noting though, that Huawei is currently the world’s largest supplier of inverters, accounting for 29% of shipments around the world in 2022.
Folds up small, opens wide, Uperfect's Omega series is screen real estate on the go
3K OLED with 100% DCI-P3 makes this portable monitor a visual powerhouse
Uperfect’s hinge tech handles 30,000 folds with no creases, no shadows, just clean visuals
Uperfect recently announced its new Omega Series, a line of portable displays that includes the 22-inch Omega and the 17.3-inch Omega Mini.
These devices feature a foldable and flexible design, allowing them to compress into a compact 16-inch and 12.5-inch form factor, respectively, for easier storage.
The OLED panel can fold flat or bend at any angle up to 180°, thanks to a hinge system and flexible substrate capable of withstanding 30,000 folding cycles without developing creases or shadows, common issues in other foldable displays.
A good companion for mobile business
When unfolded, the device measures just 7mm thick and 14mm when folded, yet still delivers ample screen real estate with a 3K resolution.
The display supports a wide color gamut with 100% DCI-P3 coverage, a 100,000:1 contrast ratio, and a peak brightness of 500 cd/m².
It also features touchscreen functionality, supporting tap, swipe, and zoom inputs, along with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time.
Despite its slim profile, Uperfect has integrated built-in speakers, contributing to a clean, cable-free design. A magnetic stand is included, allowing users to adjust both viewing angles and height.
Targeted at business professionals, the monitor includes low blue light technology and offers a 178-degree viewing angle to reduce eye strain during extended use.
For connectivity, it includes both USB Type-C and Mini HDMI ports, enabling compatibility with a wide range of devices including laptops, game consoles, smartphones, and cameras. It is also fully compatible with macOS, making it a potential companion for Mac mini users.
This device could be ideal for mobile users looking to set up a large display on the go. However, with a price tag of $2,499.99, it’s hard to justify the cost, especially when even the most premium portable monitors are priced at less than half that amount.
For connectivity, it comes with a USB Type-C and Mini HDMI ports, enabling compatibility with a wide range of devices, including laptops, game consoles, smartphones, and cameras. It is also fully compatible with macOS devices, a potential choice for Mac mini users.
Some of the best Max shows have been showcased at the Warner Bros. Discovery Upfronts 2025, alongside what’s to come from across the media giant’s studios and networks.
There’s been plenty of new info across the board, with news on both shows and WBD streaming and broadcast platforms as the company bigwigs take to the stage.
With announcements coming thick and fast, the big news can be easy to miss, but here we break down the five most intriguing pieces of news from the day, featuring Westeros returns, baffling rebrands, new streaming services and more.
Starring David Corenswet as Supes, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, the new movie is an entirely new take on the Big Blue Boy Scout, although with all the multiverse shenanigans happening across superhero cinema lately, we wouldn't rule out some connection to the supposedly dead DCEU.
The latest trailer showcases much of what we’ve seen before, including the Fortress of Solitude and the big screen debut of super-cainine Krypto and further showcases the themes Gunn seems to be playing with around Kal-El’s status as an immigrant and vigilante.
Gunn has absolutely nailed every superhero story he’s turned his hand to thus far, and I'll be there as a new dawn breaks on DC’s cinematic offerings on July 11.
2. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms pushed to 2026
(Image credit: HBO)
It's bad news for fans of the Song of Ice and Fire saga as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has its release window moved to 2026.
Based on George R. R. Martin’s The Hedge Knight novella, the new show follows the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and s squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) as they travel the fictional land in the time between Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon.
Widely expected to land this year, the third Westeros-set show will instead arrive in “winter” 2026, leaving us sweet summer children hoping that winter is coming sooner rather than later.
3. TNT's High Value Target leads network TV lineup
(Image credit: Apple TV Plus)
WBD also announced a whole host of shows due to land across their networks in the coming year, among which is High Value Target, formerly known as Debriefing the President.
The series, based on John Nixon’s book detailing the interrogation of Saddam Hussein, stars Joel Kinnaman as Nixon, a CIA analyst who became the first American to positively identify the dictator in the wake of his capture.
Other new shows teased during the Upfront included Guy’s Flavortown Games hosted by Guy Fieri, HGTV’s Renovating the Bachelor Mansion and Discovery’s ludicrously titled Shark Week special Dancing With Sharks. Murder doc They Know What They Did winks to narrator Jennifer Love Hewitt’s soon-to-be-returning slasher franchise, while TLC’s 90 Day franchise continues to expand with 90 Day: Hunt for Love.
Returning shows include Rick and Morty, Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking and My Adventures with Superman, while Max hit The Pitt will receive a linear broadcast on TNT ahead of its second season.
4. Max rebrands back to HBO Max
(Image credit: HBO Max)
Perhaps the most surprising piece of news coming out of the upfronts was the announcement that WBD’s flagship streaming service would be adding the HBO moniker back into its name.
The streamer initially went by HBO Max when it was launched in 2020, trading on the reputation HBO had as the home of the best US TV had to offer. In 2023, WBD dropped the prefix, rebranding the streamer to simply, Max, moving away from the focus on prestige TV and introducing more varied programming, even going so far as to drop some of HBO’s biggest hits, such as Westworld, from its library.
But now those three letters are due a comeback, with the service once again set to be known as HBO Max after a relaunch this summer. Seemingly realising that a quality over quantity approach might be the way forward, WBD said: “No consumer today is saying they want more content, but most consumers are saying they want better content.” This seems to imply a shift for WBD, with the readdition of HBO to the name implying a refocus to the sort of prestige television that made the network be able to boldly state “It’s not TV. It’s HBO” in the first place.
5. CNN unveils new streaming service
(Image credit: CNN)
Following the ill fated CNN+, the news network are once again entering the streaming world with a brand new service set to arrive in the fall.
After an initial US launch, the platform will be available globally with CEO Mark Thompson call it “the first true new streaming service.” The streamer will also bundle CNN.com, which recently went behind a paywall, and will include live channels, news feeds and exclusive programming.
Current cable and satellite subscribers will be able to access the service at no extra cost, and CNN will, for now at least, continue to have a presence on Max after its rebrand.
If you've ever wondered why you'd want a bezel-less display, LG Display just provided a visual and eye-opening answer.
The display technology company, which supplies panels to, among others, LG Electronics, is busy showing off a raft of screen technologies at SID Display Week in San Jose, California. Among them are a 4,000-nit, next-gen OLED (it uses Tandem RGB elements to achieve this brightness), Blue Phosphorescent OLED, stretchable displays, and this new Micro LED architecture.
Using a pair of 22-inch Micro LED screens, LG Display showed how they could operate separately or be slid together to make one, visually seamless ultra-wide display.
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(Image credit: LG Display)
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(Image credit: LG Display)
In addition to a truly bezel-free design, Micro LED technology, according to LG Display, brings several other visual benefits. This non-organic, self-emissive technology offers pixel-level control and higher color accuracy and better ("perfect") blacks than other screen technologies.
Still, it's the "Zero Bezel" tech that opens up possibilities for modular displays that could be almost any shape or size. LG Display notes that these kinds of displays are especially useful in commercial scenarios, but could also be useful for making your own ultra-large desktop monitor.
Micro LED technology is also more attractive than OLED because of its lack of burn-in and longer lifespan. But, as we reported late last year, "production costs needed to be slashed by 90% to make Micro-LED competitive in today’s TV market."
We also noted, however, that LG looked like it might be "pulling back" on Micro LED investment. If these Zeo Bezel Micro LEDs are any indication, that couldn't be further from the truth.
Alibaba's ZeroSearch can generate training material for its AI
Cost savings of up to 88% are possible
The tech requires additional GPUs
Alibaba's Tongyi Lab has found a way to train AI search models without using real search engines, which it says can reduce search training costs by up to 88% compared to commercial APIs like Google.
In a paper entitled "Incentivize the Search Capability of LLMs without Searching," Alibaba explains how the development uses simulated AI-generated documents to mimic real search engine outputs.
Interestingly, Alibaba's researchers also note that using simulated documents can actually improve the quality of training, because "the quality of documents returned by search engines is often unpredictable" and risks introducing noise into the training process.
Alibaba will train AI search models on AI-generated documents
"The primary difference between a real search engine and a simulation LLM lies in the textual style of the returned content," the researchers wrote. ZeroSearch can also gradually degrade the quality of documents in order to simulate increasingly challenging retrieval scenarios.
Of course, the key benefit to this technology is the significant cost saving available. Training with ZeroSearch's 14B model costs around $70.80 per 64,000 queries, compared with around $586.70 via Google's APIs. Costs are even lower for the 7B and 3B models, at $35.40 and $17.70 per 64,000 queries, and yet all three of the ZeroSearch models and the Google API method take the same amount of time.
However, Alibaba acknowledged that one, two, or four A100 GPUs are required for its ZeroSearch method, compared with no GPU requirement via the Google API method, which could present a negative impact in terms of sustainability, like energy consumption and emissions.
"Our approach has certain limitations. Deploying the simulated search LLM requires access to GPU servers. While more cost-effective than commercial API usage, this introduces additional infrastructure costs," the researchers concluded.
Still, challenging the reliance on expensive and gated platforms like Google Search APIs and reducing the costs could help democratize AI development even further.
Google showcased several new security and privacy features it will release later this year. The announcements were made during The Android Show: I/O Edition on Tuesday, and the company said the new features will protect users from scams, fraud, and theft on Android. The new protections range from security layers while a user is on a call and improved privacy measures ...
At long last, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has arrived. The super-slim flagship was first teased at Galaxy Unpacked in January, but it’s now been officially revealed in a launch video posted to Samsung’s YouTube channel.
We’re reacting to the phone’s announcement in our Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge live blog, but below we’ve rounded up five things you need to know about the Galaxy S25 Edge, from its design specs to its durability credentials.
Surprise! It’s super slim
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The Galaxy S25 Edge measures just 5.8mm at its thinnest point(Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)
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The Galaxy S25 Edge (left) and Galaxy S25 Ultra (right)(Image credit: Future)
Naturally, given both its name and the official dummy units Samsung teased at Unpacked and Mobile World Congress, we knew the Edge was going to be slim – and now we know just how thin and light the phone really is.
The Galaxy S25 Edge measures just 5.8mm at its thinnest point, making it far and away the thinnest Galaxy S phone yet. The standard Galaxy S25 measures 7.2 mm, while the S25 Ultra is a comparatively chunky 8.2mm, so the Edge really does mark a step up in terms of design.
Even more impressive, though, is the phone’s weight. The S25 Edge weighs just 163g, which is almost identical to the standard Galaxy S25, but here you’re getting a much larger 6.7-inch AMOLED display. That’s the same size screen as you’ll find on the Galaxy S25 Plus, but the Edge is 14% lighter and 21% thinner than that particular model.
It doesn’t skimp on durability
The Galaxy S25 Edge is made of titanium and Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2(Image credit: Future)
The thinner you make a phone, the less durable it becomes, but Samsung has kitted out the S25 Edge with a slew of impressive durability specs.
Like the S25 Ultra, the phone gets a titanium frame, but unlike the rest of the Galaxy S25 line, the Edge uses Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 (rather than Victus 2) on its rear panel. This is essentially Samsung’s answer to Apple’s Ceramic Shield on the iPhone, with ceramic crystals embedded into the glass itself to improve resistance against cracks and scratches.
Given its size and weight, this doesn’t necessarily mean the Edge will be more durable than its siblings, but it’s safe to expect comparable drop resistance across the S25 line.
As for water resistance, the Edge gets an IP68 rating, and the phone is available in three titanium-themed colors: Titanium Icyblue, Titanium Silver, and Titanium Jetblack.
Camera compromises
The Galaxy S25 Edge gets a 200MP wide lens and a 12MP ultra-wide on the back(Image credit: Future)
When it comes to cameras, the Edge gets a 200MP wide lens, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 12MP selfie camera.
The elephant in the room here is that there’s no telephoto camera to speak of, which is something you’ll find on every other S25 model. But by equipping the Edge with the same main camera as the S25 Ultra, Samsung has ensured that its latest flagship will still be a versatile shooter, offering a 2x optical-quality zoom (via sensor crop) and strong low-light performance.
The Edge also gets 8K video recording capabilities, and Samsung’s AI-powered ProVisual Engine is on hand to improve image quality, optimize the zoom, and provide various photo-editing features.
The same great power
The Galaxy S25 Edge (left) uses the same chipset as the Galaxy S25 Ultra (right)(Image credit: Future)
Onto performance, and the S25 Edge boasts the same chipset and RAM specs as the rest of the Galaxy S25 line. That means a For Galaxy version of the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, 12GB of RAM, and the full suite of Galaxy AI tools.
You’ll get Audio Eraser, Generative Edit, and Now Brief straight out of the box, and as we’ve come to expect, Samsung is committing to a market-leading seven years of OS and security updates for the Galaxy S25 Edge.
All-day battery life?
The USB-C port on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge(Image credit: Future)
The big question around the Galaxy S25 Edge was whether a super-slim design would come at the expense of battery life, and it’s hard to say at this stage whether that’s the case.
The Galaxy S25 Edge sports a 3,900mAh battery, which is pretty much identical to the battery in the standard S25. In testing, that phone lasted us well over a full day, but the battery in the Edge has to power a much larger 6.7-inch display.
Even so, Samsung is still promising all-day battery life from its new super-slim flagship, so we’ll need to put that claim to the test in our full review of the device.
As for charging, the Edge gets 25W wired, 15W wireless, and 7.5W reverse charging capabilities. Those are identical charging specs to the S25 and S25 Plus, so even if the phone’s battery is a touch smaller than we’d like, Samsung hasn’t compromised when it comes to charging speed.
With a starting price of $1,099.99 / £1,099, the Galaxy S25 Edge is far from a cheap phone, but it's certainly an attractive proposition for those who value style and portability above all else. Are you convinced by the Edge's unique mix of style and substance? Let us know in the comments.
Sonos adds AI Speech Enhancement option to the Arc Ultra
It's Sonos' first AI sound feature, with four levels of speech boost
It's been developed with a hearing charity to help people with hearing loss
Sonos has launched a new version of its Speech Enhancement tools for the Sonos Arc Ultra, which we rate as one of the best soundbars available.
You'll still find these tools on the Now Playing screen in the Sonos app, but instead of having just a couple of options, you'll now have four new modes (Low, Medium, High and Max), all powered by the company's first use of an AI sound-processing tool. They should be available today (May 12th) to all users.
The update launches today on Sonos Arc Ultra soundbars, but won't be available on any other Sonos soundbars because it requires a higher level of processing power, which the chip inside the Arc Ultra can provide, but the older soundbars can't.
The AI element is used to analyze the sound passing through the soundbar in real time, and separate out the 'speech' elements from the sound so they can be made more prominent in the mix without affecting the rest of the sound too much. I've heard it in action during a demo at Sonos' UK product development facility, and it's very impressive.
If you've used speech enhancement tools before, you're probably familiar with hearing the dynamic range of the sound, and especially the bass, suddenly get massively reduced in exchange for the speech elements getting pushed more forward.
That's not the case with Sonos' new mode – powerful bass, the overall soundscape, and the more immersive Dolby Atmos elements are all maintained far better. That's for two reasons: one is that the speech is being enhanced separately to other parts, and the other is that it's a dynamic system that only activates when it detects that speech is likely to be drowned out by background noise.
It won't activate if dialogue is happening against a quiet background, or if there's no dialogue in the scene. And it's a system that works by degrees – it applies more processing in the busiest scenes, and less when the audio is not as chaotic.
(Image credit: Future)
How does it sound?
On the two lowest modes, dialogue is picked out more clearly with no major harm to the rest of the soundtrack, based on my demo.
On the High mode, the background was still maintained really well, but the speech started to sound a little more processed, and on Max I could hear the background getting its wings clipped a little, and some more artificiality to the speech – but the speech was extremely well picked out, and this mode is only really designed for the hard of hearing.
I mentioned that the mode was developed with the RNID, which involved Sonos consulting with sound research experts at the RNID, but also getting people with different types and levels of hearing loss to test the modes at different stages of development and provide feedback.
I spoke at length to the Sonos audio and AI architects who developed the new modes, as well as the RNID, but the key takeaway is that the collaboration led to Sonos putting more emphasis on retaining the immersive sound effects, and adding four levels of enhancement instead of the originally planned three.
Despite the RNID's involvement, the new mode isn't designed to be solely for the hard of hearing. It's still just called Speech Enhancement, as it is now, and it's not hidden away like an accessibility tool – sound is improved for everyone, and 'everyone' now better includes people with mild to moderate hearing loss. The Low and Medium modes can also just function for those of us who need a bit of extra clarity in busy scenes.
This isn't the first use of AI-powered speech separation I've seen – I've experienced it on Samsung TVs, and in a fun showcase from Philips TVs, where it was used to disable the commentary during sports but preserve the crowd sounds.
But it's interesting that this is the first use of AI sound processing from Sonos, and the four-year development process, including a year of refinement with the RNID, shows that Sonos has taken a thoughtful approach to how it's best used that isn't always apparent in other AI sound processing applications. Here's my piece interviewing Sonos' AI and audio developers with researchers from the RNID.
It's just a shame that it's exclusive to the Sonos Arc Ultra for now – though I'm sure that new versions of the Sonos Ray and Sonos Beam Gen 2 will be along before too long with the same upgraded chip to support the feature.
Part of what makes Apple’s iPad experience so compelling is the sheer versatility of the tablet. Back when I reviewed the new iPad Air with M3, I called out the multiple ways of using it: touch, Apple Pencil, or via a Magic Keyboard. It’s a pretty winning formula.
Here in the States, it was Small Business Week last week, and I had the chance to chat with Mandy Corcoran, a surface designer whose work has been used on products sold at Home Goods, TJMaxx, and Nordstrom Rack, to name a few.
Now, I love a good design in its own right, but the tech angle here lies deep as Corcoran – who goes by Amanda Grace Design – uses an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, and Procreate to do it all.
It all started in 2018 on Christmas morning, when her husband gave her an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, and as Corcoran says, “it changed everything.”
“I downloaded Procreate that day, and something just clicked,” she explained, noting that the Apple Pencil felt natural. After sketching digitally within Procreate, she had a realization that this would be a larger part of her life.
A drawing by TechRadar's own Lance Ulanoff on an iPad mini (2024) and Procreate(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Before jumping into design work, Corcoran was rooted in tech; she was a programmer, which she described as very logic-based – “it’s structure, flow, and problem-solving, which always appealed to my brain. When I found seamless pattern design in Procreate, it felt like a creative extension of that mindset.” And she got her start with drawing – pre iPad – using a Wacom Cintiq and Adobe Photoshop.
When she designs patterns with Procreate, Corcoran says it lets her use her “tech-brain” creatively. She explains that there is a mathematical precision to the creative and design process, as she needs to fit various designs together, figure out the right flow, and ultimately end up with something meaningful.
“For me, it’s all about giving people tools to unlock their creativity faster,” explains Corcoran on creating templates and patterns. She noted that when she first started, there weren’t many templates or charts to help with layout and eyeflow.
So, when she first began designing, she went on a deep dive within the app and ecosystem, learning every part of it. This helped her create her first course and become one of the first educators offering customizable pattern templates in 2023.
And her focus, or special sauce, is really all around surface design – creating the tools herself, but also offering courses to let others create with these tools and design their own.
It’s sort of an iPad ecosystem for design, and a well-brewing one at that. She explains it as, “I run a design business, create online courses, build templates, test brushes,” all on the iPad, and it’s one device where she can have everything live without worrying about if there’s enough power or speed.
The iPad Pro M4 with Apple Pencil(Image credit: Future)
Corcoran uses an iPad Pro, a 13-inch one with the M4 chip under the hood. In TechRadar’s testing, it performed incredibly well, letting you blaze through almost any task you’d want to on an iPad and running more intensive creative workflows without a hitch.
She has been a fan of the Apple Pencil, describing it as “an extension of your thinking.” Corcoran’s been using the Apple Pencil Pro with her iPad Pro, which offers a bit more functionality, including barrel roll support and squeeze functionality.
“As someone who loves creating systems, I really appreciate how hover, double tap, and now squeeze with Apple Pencil Pro give me shortcuts at my fingertips – without ever putting my pencil down. That’s huge,” explains Corcoran.
Using it all together within Procreate and other creative apps, it allows for more precision when creating a design, and when Corcoran is teaching, it’s an easier way to explain “how to move faster” and with more confidence.
It’s clear that iPad and Apple Pencil have been a key part of Corcoran’s career, allowing her to create her own business but also encouraging other folks to create and design on their own. “iPad and Apple Pencil have allowed me to build a creative career on my own terms – and that’s not something I take for granted.”
Further, she says that you don’t need to be an expert to get started with being creative on iPad, encouraging folks and TechRadar readers to “just open an app like Procreate, tap around, and start playing.”
Corcoran giving her Today at Apple Session in April 2025(Image credit: Paul Corcoran)
A few weeks back, on April 26, 2025, at the Apple Carnegie store in Washington, DC, Corcoran hosted a Today at Apple Session for 30 participants on creating within Procreate using patterns around a fruit theme. She described it as a full-circle moment, ultimately allowing her to teach what has been a life-changing process for her.
After creating countless patterns and designs – some now featured on products in major retailers – she left the crowd feeling inspired and confident.
“A few people told me afterward they’d never even realized how many things in their lives had patterns – and that this opened their eyes in a completely new way,” noted Corcoran.
Panasonic unveils its full 2025 TV range, with OLED, mini-LED and LED models
The lineup is led by the Panasonic Z95B OLED TV
The Z95B could be the brand's best OLED TV yet
Panasonic has revealed its 2025 TV lineup, which features several OLEDs and a wide range of LED models, including a mini-LED TV.
The latest OLED lineup has been trimmed down from last year for both the US and UK markets. It consists of the flagship Panasonic Z95B, successor to the Panasonic Z95A, one of the best TVs of 2024; the Panasonic Z90B, a mid-range model; and the entry-level Panasonic Z80B.
The LED lineup consists of the Panasonic W95B, a flagship mini-LED model; the Panasonic W85B, a model with premium features; the Panasonic W80A, a QLED set; the Panasonic W70A, an LED model; and the entry-level Panasonic W61A 4K LED TV.
The US lineup consists of the flagship Panasonic Z95B OLED, the flagship Panasonic W95B mini-LED, and the entry-level Panasonic W70A LED, which is exclusive to the US and sits between the W80A and W61A.
There are currently no confirmed prices or release dates for any of the above TVs, but once we have this information, we’ll be sure to let you know.
Most of Panasonic’s new TVs will use the Fire TV smart TV platform, except for the entry-level models, which will use TiVo. The Panasonic Z95B and Z90B OLEDs and the W95B mini-LED will support a new Prime Video Calibrated Mode, which was first introduced in Sony’s 2024 TVs and also appeared in last year’s Panasonic Z95A.
Another exciting new feature in the Panasonic Z95B and W95B TVs is Calman Ready, which allows users to easily calibrate their screens using Calman’s new AutoCal feature (set to arrive in a software update to the Calman Color Calibration software during the Summer).
OLED TVs
Panasonic Z95B
(Image credit: Future)
Available in 55, 65 and 77-inch sizes, the Panasonic Z95B features the same Primary Tandem RGB, or ‘four-stack’, OLED panel used in the LG G5, one of this year’s best OLED TVs. It also uses a new ThermalFlow cooling system that Panasonic says increases panel efficiency, resulting in higher brightness and better overall picture quality. The Z95B will support Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats and use the HCX AI Processor MKII.
Similar to its predecessor, the Panasonic Z95A, one of the best TVs for sound, the Z95B has a 5.1.2-channel speaker array. Panasonic has upgraded this sound system, however, moving the virtual positioning of the rear channels and boosting the size of the side and up-firing speakers.
Elsewhere, the Z95B is packed with gaming features including 4K 144Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync supported), ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming. Its game control board (part of Game Master Extreme) has also received new features, including a 60Hz refresh mode designed for older consoles. There will still only be two HDMI 2.1 ports.
Finally, the Z95B gets a design update via a fabric material for the front speaker array and surround frame. The corners have also been rounded to give it a more uniform appearance compared to previous generations.
Panasonic Z90B & Z80B
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Panasonic Z90B OLED TV(Image credit: Future)
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Panasonic Z80B OLED TV(Image credit: Future)
The Panasonic Z90B will be available in 42, 48, 55, 65 and 77-inch sizes. It will support Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range and provide many of the same features as the flagship Panasonic Z95B, including the same HCX AI Processor MKII.
Audio features include Dynamic Theater Sound Pro with a built-in 30W subwoofer and Dolby Atmos support . The Z90 B is also well equipped for gaming, with 4K 144Hz, AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync VRR and ALLM, as well as Panasonic’s Game Control Board. Once again, there will only be two HDMI 2.1 ports.
Finally, the Panasonic Z80B is the entry-level model in the OLED lineup, and will be available in 48, 55 and 65-inch sizes. It will support both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ and use the step-down HCX Processor. It has Panasonic Surround Sound Pro and Dolby Atmos audio, and for gaming supports 4K 120Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium) and ALLM.
Mini-LED and LED TVs
Panasonic W95B
(Image credit: Future)
The Panasonic W95B is Panasonic’s only mini-LED TV for 2025 and will be available in 55, 65, and 75-inch sizes, plus a new 85-inch size. It will use the same HCX AI Processor MKII as the OLED TVs and support Dolby Vision and HDR10+, along with improved Hybrid Tone Mapping for better backlight control over its predecessor, the Panasonic W95A.
For audio, the W95B will support Dynamic Theater Surround and Dolby Atmos. Gaming features include 4K 144Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium included), and ALLM, as well as Panasonic’s Game Control Board.
Panasonic W85B, W80A, W70A and W61A
The W85B is a QLED TV that will be available in 43, 50, 55 and 65-inch sizes and use the HCX Processor. It will support Dolby Vision and HDR10+, Surround Sound Pro for audio and, 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM as well as Game Mode Extreme for gaming.
The Panasonic W80A and W70A carry over from 2024. The W80A uses a QLED panel, is available in 43, 50, 55 and 65-inch sizes, and supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos. Gaming features include 4K 120Hz, VRR, ALLM, and Game Mode Plus.
The W70 is an LED model available in 43, 50, 55 and 65-inch sizes. It supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+ and 4K 60Hz, VRR, and ALLM for gaming.
Finally, the entry-level W61A LED TV will be available in 43, 50, 55 and 65-inch sizes. It will use TiVo as its smart TV platform and support 4K 60Hz and ALLM for gaming.
Panasonic Z95B: a potential TV of the year?
(Image credit: Future)
The Panasonic Z95A was an impressive TV when we reviewed it in 2024, thanks to its dynamic sound, gorgeous picture quality, and improved smart TV platform. Its successor, the Z95B, looks set to be even more impressive.
It will use the new Primary Tandem RGB OLED panel for higher brightness and bolder colors, and has a fine-tuned speaker system and new cooling system to improve peak brightness. Plus, it has a sleeker and more uniform design, which I found to be more visually appealing when I saw it in person.
The flagship OLED market will be a real battleground in 2025, with the excellent, five-star LG G5 currently setting the bar. But both the Samsung S95F and Sony Bravia 8 II also looked to be real contenders when we saw them earlier this year. The Panasonic Z95B is set to take the fight to all of these TVs, and if the price is right, it could be a TV of the Year candidate.
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