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Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Wordle hints and answers, Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #490) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• CARGO
• BOULDER
• CLAW
• HAMMER
• ANVIL
• HORN
• CALIFORNIA
• COYOTE
• EGG
• STIRRUP
• DRUM
• TNT
• CAPRI
• HOOF
• HONOR
• NAIL

NYT Connections today (game #490) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• Yellow: Hard body part
• Green: Meep meep!
• Blue: You wear them
• Purple: blank [What a ball would do on a slope]

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #490) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: MADE OF KERATIN
• GREEN: ROAD RUNNER CARTOON STAPLES
• BLUE: KINDS OF PANTS
• PURPLE: ___ ROLL

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #490) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #490, are…

• YELLOW: MADE OF KERATIN CLAW, HOOF, HORN, NAIL
• GREEN: ROAD RUNNER CARTOON STAPLES ANVIL, BOULDER, COYOTE, TNT
• BLUE: KINDS OF PANTS CAPRI, CARGO, HAMMER, STIRRUP
• PURPLE: ___ ROLL CALIFORNIA, DRUM, EGG, HONOR

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 mistake

There are days when the NYT's difficulty ratings for Connections make no sense to me. Purple today is one of the 'blank' varieties, where you have to find the missing word that unites the four answers. These are typically the hardest, and always form (as far as I know) the purple group. But there's no way that today __ ROLL was tougher than the green ROAD RUNNER CARTOON STAPLES or blue KINDS OF PANTS group.

I solved them all, but only thanks to a love of Road Runner that dates back 40-odd years. I doubt everyone will be so lucky. And I would have had no chance of solving the blue group, because I've never heard of HAMMER PANTS or STIRRUP PANTS. Am I out of touch? Quite possibly…

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, 12 October, game #489)

• YELLOW: DRAPED ACCESSORIES SCARF, SHAWL, STOLE, WRAP
• GREEN: TOLERATE BEAR, STAND, SWALLOW, TAKE
• BLUE: BIRD ONOMATOPOEIA COO, GOBBLE, HONK, HOOT
• PURPLE: STARTS OF CELL PHONE MAKERS APP, GOO, MOTOR, SAM

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now nearly 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #993) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #993) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #993) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #993) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #993) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• U

• N

• T

• P

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #993) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #993, are…

• UNFIT
• NYMPH
• THUMB
• PUREE

A combination of some uncommon (and uncommonly spelled) words and a relative dearth of vowels combine here to make this a tricky Quordle. On the latter point, NYMPH doesn't have any and THUMB only one, and while PUREE has three, the repeated Es rather counteract the fact that theoretically they might make it easier.

For my game, I was hampered a little by the fact that my three set start words, STARE, DOILY and PUNCH, don't contain F, M or B, meaning I needed to track them down too and required an extra guess beyond my minimum (which would be seven) in order to solve them all.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Daily Sequence today (game #993) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #993, are…

• BASIS
• HOTLY
• BOXER
• FROTH

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #992, Saturday 12 October: SAUCY, UNDUE, EGRET, HELLO
• Quordle #991, Friday 11 October: RINSE, ANIME, PUSHY, ZEBRA
• Quordle #990, Thursday 10 October: UNTIL, MARSH, METAL, WINDY
• Quordle #989, Wednesday 9 October: TRIAL, HUSKY, DOWNY, TRADE
• Quordle #988, Tuesday 8 October: TROUT, HATER, BARGE, DOZEN
• Quordle #987, Monday 7 October: CAULK, HALVE, APING, HEATH
• Quordle #986, Sunday 6 October: FUDGE, TENOR, BEGAT, ROUSE
• Quordle #985, Saturday 5 October: ELECT, CROAK, FRISK, JAUNT
• Quordle #984, Friday 4 October: ELFIN, GRAIL, PATIO, RECAP
• Quordle #983, Thursday 3 October: TENTH, REMIT, CURVE, TOAST
• Quordle #982, Wednesday 2 October: ARGUE, CRANE, TOKEN, PRINT
• Quordle #981, Tuesday 1 October: FRILL, MADLY, GRANT, NYLON
• Quordle #980, Monday 30 September: CRUSH, TARDY, TEACH, STUMP
• Quordle #979, Sunday 29 September: SERIF, BORNE, WRITE, SLEEK
• Quordle #978, Saturday 28 September: BUSHY, CIVIC, SNOUT, EQUIP
• Quordle #977, Friday 27 September: GUEST, CHASM, ROOST, BASAL
• Quordle #976, Thursday 26 September: STAGE, VOGUE, CLUMP, HEATH
• Quordle #975, Wednesday 25 September: UMBRA, DADDY, GLAZE, PRANK
• Quordle #974, Tuesday 24 September: SPACE, INNER, SPAWN, BEGAT
• Quordle #973, Monday 23 September: GUILT, STERN, ANNEX, FIELD

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #224) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Time to get cozy

NYT Strands today (game #224) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• FAST
• SALE
• FISH
• FISHES
• DILL
• CRAG

NYT Strands today (game #224) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Wrap up warm

NYT Strands today (game #224) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First: top, 3rd column

Last: bottom, 4th column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #224) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #224, are…

• VEST
• SWEATER
• FLANNEL
• FLEECE
• CARDIGAN
• SCARF
• SPANGRAM: FALLFASHION

• My rating: Easy
• My score: 1 hint

I needed the near-obligatory one hint to get started today, with the theme clue of 'Time to get cozy' not giving me quite enough info to be able to work out that the answers were all examples of FALLFASHION as the spangram would have it.

Once I had that, it wasn't too bad, although my idea of fall fashion (autumn fashion where I am in the UK) is more t-shirt and hoodie than CARDIGAN, FLEECE or FLANNEL. But they were all relatively easy to find, and I doubt many people will struggle today.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, 12 October, game #223)

• PORKY
• BUGS
• GRANNY
• DAFFY
• FOXY
• FOGHORN
• PETUNIA
• SPANGRAM: CHARACTERS

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

There aren't a ton of internet providers in Hawaii, but the Aloha state has a few decent options. Here are our top picks of the best internet providers in Hawaii.

Put your houseplants in these special spots if you want to see them flourish.

Anker Nano USB-C Wall Charger (30W) review

The Anker Nano USB-C Wall Charger (30W) is an elegant, compact charging plug, ideal for getting your devices back to 100% in a pinch.

Something that makes the charger stand out is its neat design. It has striped, textured edges as well as a glossy top, making it easy on the eye. Not only that, but there are three color options, including Shell White, Black Stone and Ice Lake Blue – much more interesting than the plain white or black options I’ve become accustomed to, even when reviewing some of the best Android phone chargers and best iPhone chargers.

This charger isn’t just a looker though; it’s super-practical. It's very compact, making it ideal for slipping into a small bag or pocket. And if you do carry this charger in your pocket, you can live without the worry of it stabbing into your leg, thanks to its foldable prongs.

But what matters more than anything is charging speeds. So, how does the Anker Nano USB-C Wall Charger fare? As you’d expect, very well. I started charging my Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 when it was at 0% and managed to get back to 100% in just 80 minutes. This charger’s total output power of 30W means it’s powerful enough to activate super-fast charging on phones that support this – including the Z Flip 4.

As is the case with most of these charging plugs, there’s no cable included here. As this plug has a USB-C port only, you’ll need a USB-C to USB-C/Lightning (or appropriate alternative) in your possession. That’s worth bearing in mind if you only have USB-A to USB-C / Lightning cables and you’re looking for an ultra-cheap charging solution.

With that said, this is still a well-priced charger, coming in at $18.99 / £19.99 (about AU$30). There are a few cheaper alternatives out there from the likes of IKEA, but build-quality-wise, these won’t compare.

So, if you’re on the lookout for a small, stylish, speedy charger, the Anker Nano USB-C Wall Charger is a truly great option that’s well worth purchasing.

(Image credit: Future) Anker Nano USB-C Wall Charger (30W) review: Price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Anker Nano USB-C Wall Charger (30W)? Buy it if…

You need to juice up your device quickly
Need super-fast charging? You’re in luck, because the Anker Nano USB-C Wall Charger is sure to get you back to 100% battery in no time. For example, when charging my Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, I was able to fully recharge the device in 80 minutes, which is exactly what I’d expect with super-fast charging active.

You want a charger with a bit more personality
Sure, this charger isn’t gonna blow your mind with a groundbreaking design, but even the fact it comes in multiple colors sets it apart slightly. That’s right, you can get it in Shell White, Black Stone or Ice Lake Blue, with all colorways featuring quality, textured outer casing. That’s a touch more exciting than a plain ‘ol chunky white charger, don’t you think?

Don't buy it if…

You want the cheapest option available
In truth, there are some less pricey chargers out there than this that still offer enough power for fast- or super-fast charging. Don’t get me wrong, though: this is by no means a super-expensive product, and its build quality helps to justify the additional cost.

You’d like to charge multiple devices at once
The Anker Nano USB-C Wall Charger is limited to one USB-C charging port only, so you might want to try an alternative for charging multiple devices at once. For instance, the UGreen USB-C 40W charger has two ports – ideal for getting some extra hours out of two devices when you’re on the go.

Anker Nano USB-C Wall Charger (30W): Also consider

UGreen Nexode Mini 30W
The UGreen Nexode Mini 30W is pretty similar to this Anker plug. Of course, it has the same maximum power output, but it can also be purchased in multiple colorways and has a super-compact, foldable design. It's not quite as elegant, in my view, but it does have a slightly lower list price, making it a worthy single-port charger competitor.View Deal

The ubiquitous convenience store owed its recent revenue drops to inflation, declining cigarette sales and a shift in palates toward fresh food and specialty drinks.

(Image credit: Angela Weiss)

Why pay for an internet service you’re not using? Here’s how you can pause or put a hold on your internet connection with many of the top providers.

South Korean memory giant SK Hynix has announced it has begun the mass production of the world’s first 12-layer HBM3E, featuring a total memory capacity of 36GB, a huge increase from the previous 24GB capacity in the 8-layer configuration.

This new design was made possible by reducing the thickness of each DRAM chip by 40%, allowing more layers to be stacked while maintaining the same overall size. The company plans to start volume shipments by the end of 2024.

The HBM3E memory supports a bandwidth of 9600 MT/s, translating to an effective speed of 1.22 TB/s if used in an eight-stack configuration. The improvement makes it ideal for handling LLMs and AI workloads that require both speed and high capacity. The ability to process more data at faster rates enables AI models to run more efficiently.

Nvidia and AMD hardware

For advanced memory stacking, SK Hynix employs innovative packaging technologies, including Through Silicon Via (TSV) and the Mass Reflow Molded Underfill (MR-MUF) process. These methods are essential for maintaining the structural integrity and heat dissipation required for stable, high-performance operation in the new HBM3E. The improvements in heat dissipation performance are particularly important for maintaining reliability during intensive AI processing tasks.

In addition to its increased speed and capacity, the HBM3E is designed to offer enhanced stability, with SK Hynix’s proprietary packaging processes ensuring minimal warpage during stacking. The company’s MR-MUF technology allows for better management of internal pressure, reducing the chances of mechanical failures and ensuring long-term durability.

Early sampling for this 12-layer HBM3E product began in March 2024, with Nvidia’s Blackwell Ultra GPUs and AMD’s Instinct MI325X accelerators expected to be among the first to use this enhanced memory, taking advantage of up to 288GB of HBM3E to support complex AI computations. SK Hynix recently rejected a $374 million advanced payment from an unknown company to ensure it could provide Nvidia with enough HMB for its in-demand AI hardware.

“SK Hynix has once again broken through technological limits demonstrating our industry leadership in AI memory,” said Justin Kim, President (Head of AI Infra) at SK Hynix. “We will continue our position as the No.1 global AI memory provider as we steadily prepare next-generation memory products to overcome the challenges of the AI era.”

More from TechRadar Pro

• SK Hynix and Kioxia could build lucrative HBM chips for Nvidia and AMD
• SK Hynix teams up with TSMC to advance HBM development
• A glimpse at what the future of memory and storage could look like

Hiking gear is often specialized and personal, but that doesn't mean you can't find a great gift for the hiker in your life. We've done the hard work for you and rounded up the best gifts for hikers, based on years of personal hiking experience.

When we reviewed the Nvidia Shield TV Pro back in 2021, we said that it was the best streaming box on the market at the time. It's still a great streamer thanks to its flexibility and power, but it's been a little neglected. However, Nvidia has issued an update at last – the first such update since 2023. If you're encountering bugs or glitches that are taking the shine off your Shield, this new update should hopefully address them.

The new updates are detailed in a post on the Nvidia website, but the short version is that it enhances the Match Frame Rate, fixes a GeForce Now crash bug and addresses some irritating video and audio issues.

What's new in the Nvidia Shield TV update

As before, the system is based on Android 11 – and this update is a hotfix rather than a new version, so don't expect any new features.

Here's the list of the changes in this new update, the 9.1.1+ Hotfix:

• Match Frame Rate (beta) enhancement
• Resolves issue with SHIELD drive filling up
• Fixes the issue of No audio heard when headset is connected to controller and DAP is on
• Resolves issue of Geforce now crash after launch
• Ability to clear HDMI 1.4 flag via factory reset
• Fixed video distortion on "RGB 8-bit Rec.709" display mode
• Resolved USB HDD/Flash drive showing corrupted after hotplug
• NAS folder info shows 0 B and not the actual capacity
• Mounted storages aren't listed after upgrade
• Fixes occasional crashes in DRM apps

The support document also notes some important caveats. If you want to install Disney Plus from the Play store you'll need to do it before applying this update, as once installed you won't be able to add or update the Play store version of the app; the Hotfix isn't Google certified; and there's no way to reverse installation.

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Former President Barack Obama bluntly told Black men this week that they need to get over it if they "just aren't feeling the idea of having a woman as president."

(Image credit: Andrea Ellen Reed for NPR)

Now that the iPhone 16 launch is behind us, we can start thinking about the iPhone 17 – and a fresh rumor suggests that the most expensive Pro Max model will be the only handset in the series making the jump to 12GB of RAM.

This comes from reliable tipsters Yeux1122 and @Jukanlosreve, and it's said to be "more likely" that the iPhone 17 Pro Max gets 12GB while the iPhone 17 Pro sticks to 8GB (which is what's inside all of the current 2024 models).

According to this leak, Samsung is hitting issues with its memory module production line, and that means there's not going to be enough components to fit inside the millions of iPhone 17 Pros Apple wants to order, as well as the iPhone 17 Pro Max phones.

This isn't a completely new rumor, either: well-respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously said that 12GB of RAM would be an iPhone 17 Pro Max exclusive, though he didn't go into detail about the reasoning behind it.

AI and RAM

Recently, I stated that the RAM in the iPhone 17 Pro lineup would be increased to 12GB. However, yeux1122 claims that only the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have 12GB of RAM. I intend to ‘speculate’ on the reason for this. 1/5https://t.co/45X3SVlrRJOctober 12, 2024

We're still quite a way out from the launch of the iPhone 17 range of course, which should turn up in September if Apple sticks to its usual schedule. It's always possible that plans will change between then and now.

However, we know that RAM – which gives devices thinking room – is important for powering Apple Intelligence, so it may be that the iPhone 17 Pro Max outperforms the other handsets in the series when it comes to AI tasks.

The 8GB of RAM across the board on the iPhone 16 phones is a brand new upgrade: you may remember that the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Plus had 6GB of RAM on board, though the Pro models both have 8GB (and therefore support Apple Intelligence).

It's still early days for iPhone 17 rumors, but we've heard quite a few of them already – not least that the iPhone 16 Plus will be replaced by a new iPhone 17 Air when the time comes, which will apparently make use of a thinner form factor.

You might also like...

• The iPhone 17 Pro could have yet another new button
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We've just reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and we're very impressed: they deliver great-sounding audio quality, top-notch ANC and a premium, though derivative, design. But there's always room for improvement, and there are often little irritations that only emerge after a product launch. Which is why Samsung has created a free software update just a few weeks after launch.

The update was spotted by Sammobile, which reported that according to Samsung's rather terse release notes the updates "improve the stability of the Bluetooth connection and sound". The update is also available for the non-Pro Buds 3.

How to get the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro software update

This is an over-the-air update so it should be available now: the firmware version is R530XXU0AXJ1 for the Buds 3 and R630XXU0AXJ1 for the Buds 3 Pro.

Whichever version of the Buds 3 you have, the installation process should be pretty painless and should happen automatically. If it doesn't, make sure your Buds are charged, open the Galaxy Wearable app on your phone, go to Earbuds Settings and look for Earbuds Software Update. You should now see an option to Download and Install. The update file is just over 7MB so it shouldn't take too long.

It'll be interesting to see if the promised audio changes to a pair we rank among the best wireless earbuds are noticeable: at our most nit-picky in our Buds 3 Pro review we said that the treble was perhaps a little too high compared to the bass, and the middle frequencies could be a little more prominent.

But if the update hasn't changed any of that it's no biggie: unlike the AirPods Pro 2, which the Buds 3 Pro share many similarities to, Samsung's buds enable you to adjust individual EQ bands to shape the sound to your own preference.

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Geothermal heat pumps are energy efficient, but they're expensive. Is this technology the "Tesla of heat pumps"?

Panasonic Z95A: Two-minute review

The Panasonic Z95A is the company’s flagship OLED TV, sitting above the company’s mid-range Z90A and entry-level Z85A in the company’s 2024 OLED lineup. There are two big changes for Panasonic TVs this year. The first is that the company has switched from its own My Home Screen smart TV interface to Amazon Fire TV. The second is that Panasonic has re-entered the US TV market, though the selection of models and screen sizes is more limited in the US than in the UK and Europe.

The Panasonic Z95A arrives stateside exclusively in a 65-inch screen size, though a 55-inch model is also available in the UK. Pricing is set at $3,100 / £3,899, putting the Z95A very much in the premium TV camp, but if you have the cash, its performance and features rank it among the best OLED TVs.

The Z95A’s 'Master OLED Ultimate' display panel uses the same micro lens array (MLA) tech found in the flagship LG G4 OLED TV and features a new HCX Pro AI Processor MK II to enhance HDR tone mapping, color accuracy, detail, and motion handling. Images on the Z95A are bright, with strong contrast and rich color – it looks every part the premium TV.

Sound is also a standout Z95A feature. It has a 5.1.2-channel 160W speaker system with front and side-firing speakers, along with up-firing ones to deliver Dolby Atmos height effects. The Z95A’s sound is powerful and immersive enough that you could easily get away without using one of the best soundbars, and there’s also a clever and effective Sound Focus mode to ensure people sitting off-center still get great sound. It's probably the best TV for sound if money is no object. Packing in so many speakers adds to the TV’s bulk, but its design is otherwise appealing and it sits on a sturdy circular stand that can swivel in either direction.

The Z95A’s Fire TV interface isn’t the best smart TV platform, because it’s edged out by more sophisticated systems like LG’s webOS and more streamlined ones like Roku, but it gets the job done for streaming and features a new Ambient Experience that displays a wide range of pre-installed images when the TV is in sleep mode and also lets you upload your own images as well as create new ones using AI. There are plentiful settings to dial in the TV’s picture and sound – perhaps too many depending on your level of patience for tweaking.

Gaming is well represented on the Z95A, which has two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz, VRR (including Nvidia G-Sync and AMD Freesync Premium), and Dolby Vision Gaming (up to 144Hz). A Game Control Board menu overlay lets you make quick gaming-related settings, and it can be assigned to the remote control’s My App button for easy pop-up access.

The Panasonic Z95A earns its high price compared to even the best TVs, and if you want a single unit that delivers elite sound as well as pictures, it's hard to beat. But the magnificent Samsung S95D is available for a lot less, so you need to want its particular mix of sound and visuals.

Panasonic Z95A review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Release date: 4 September 2024 
• 65-inch: $3,100 / £3,899
• 55-inch: NA / £2,999

Panasonic’s Z95A is the company’s flagship OLED TV for 2024. It is available in 55- and 65-inch screen sizes in the UK and 65 inches in the US. Panasonic TVs are not sold in Australia.

The Z95A series sits above the company’s Z85A series, which is available in 55- and 65-inch screen sizes in both the US and the UK, with the 65-inch model priced at $1,799 / £2,499. 

As a flagship OLED TV sold in both the US and the UK, the Z95A’s key competitors are the Samsung S95D ($3,399 / £3,399) and LG G4  ($3,399 / £3,299) – however, both those TVs are available for much less than their asking price now. You can find them both for around $2,600 / £2,600, so they offer a big saving compared to the Z95A.

Panasonic Z95A review: Specs Panasonic Z95A review: Benchmark results Panasonic Z95A review: Features

The Z95A has two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support. (Image credit: Future)

• MLA OLED panel and HCX Pro AI Processor MK II
• Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ adaptive HDR
• Two HDMI 2.1 inputs with 4K 144Hz support

The Panasonic Z95A features a 'Master OLED Ultimate' display panel equipped with the same brightness boosting micro lens array (MLA) tech used in LG’s G4 OLED TV, along with a heat-management configuration developed in-house by Panasonic engineers. It also has Panasonic’s new HCX Pro AI Processor MK II, which uses dynamic 3D LUTs (Look-Up Tables) to display accurate colors in bright and dark images and a 4K Fine Remaster and Smooth Motion Drive Pro feature to enhance detail and motion clarity.

The Z95A has comprehensive HDR support, with Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, and HLG all accounted for. In the US, this is the only OLED TV range to offer both advanced HDR formats (in the UK, Philips does as well). A Filmmaker Mode with intelligent sensing optimizes that picture mode for a range of room lighting conditions using the TV’s built-in sensors, and there’s also a Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode that’s meant to accurate display programs streamed from Netflix.

Sound quality is given special attention on the Z95A, which features '360 Soundscape Pro tuned by Technics.' This basically is a built-in 5.1.2-channel 160W speaker system with a dedicated center speaker and up-firing drivers for Dolby Atmos height effects. There are extensive settings for tuning the Z95A’s sound, and it has a beam-forming feature that lets you direct the TV’s sound output with Pinpoint, Area, Spot, and Ambient modes.

For its new TVs, the Z95A included, Panasonic has swapped its unloved My Home Screen smart TV platform for Amazon’s Fire TV. This uses a Voice Remote with Alexa for control, and it now features the Fire TV Ambient Experience, which lets you add various information widgets to the TV’s ambient mode screensaver, and even create your own custom images using generative AI.

Gaming is also a highlight of the Z95A, which supports 4K 144Hz, VRR (including Nvidia G-Sync and AMD Freesync Premium), and Dolby Vision Gaming (up to 144Hz) and also has a Game Control Board pop-up menu for making quick gaming-related settings. The Z95A only has two HDMI 2.1 inputs, however, which is less than the four HDMI 2.1 ports we look for on the best gaming TVs.

• Features Score: 4.5/5

Panasonic Z95A review: Picture quality

The Z95A's picture is bright enough for viewing in well-lit rooms and it has an anti-reflection screen. (Image credit: Future)

• High brightness for an OLED TV
• Excellent overall picture quality
• Anti-reflection screen

With an OLED MLA panel similar to the one used in the LG G4 OLED TV, I expected the Panasonic Z95A to have similarly high brightness and my measurements proved that. Brightness on a 10% HDR white window pattern in Filmmaker Mode was 1,495 nits and a full-screen pattern measured 221.8 nits. Those numbers match what we measured on the G4, though they fall a bit short of the Samsung S95D’s 1,688 nits and 318 nits in the same picture mode.

In other measurements, the Z95A’s UHDA-P3 color gamut coverage in Filmmaker Mode was 97.0 and its BT.2022 coverage was 72.5%. Again, those results match what we measured on the LG G4, though the Samsung S95D with its QD-OLED display panel managed full P3 coverage and an impressive 87.9% BT.2020 coverage. Grayscale and color accuracy  (see “How I tested” section for details) in the same mode were 3.3 and 1.7, respectively – again matching the G4’s performance.

The Z95A did a good job upconverting standard-definition broadcast TV channels, and high-definition ones looked super-clean and finely detailed. The TV’s anti-reflection screen also effectively reduced glare from overhead lights in my room when I had them switched on. With sports such as football, the Z95A displayed punchy colors and crisp-looking highlights, though I preferred the TV’s Normal picture preset here rather than Filmmaker Mode, which looked comparatively muted with non-HDR content including broadcast TV.

One note about Filmmaker Mode on the Z95A: The intelligent sensing feature it uses automatically turns on the TV’s ambient light sensor for adjusting picture brightness based on room lighting. For this reason, I preferred to use the True Cinema preset when available, which has similar settings to Filmmaker Mode minus the intelligent sensing.

Another picture mode worth discussing is Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode, which needs to be enabled in the TV’s picture setup menu. When streaming Ripley from Netflix, I strongly preferred the TV’s Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode to its Dolby Vision Dark mode, which compressed highlight and shadow detail to a degree. Otherwise, I used Dolby Vision Dark for viewing most programs with Dolby Vision HDR, making tweaks to the Black Level and Black Expansion adjustments in the Brightness menu to optimize pictures.

The Z95A’s bold, detailed color reproduction is beautiful for movies such as I Saw the TV Glow, which regularly uses a neon-like color palette in dark, nighttime scenes. Watching one such scene where smoke billows out from an ice cream truck, the bright green of the truck and the lurid purple smoke looked vivid and intense.

Motion handling is also impressive on Panasonic’s top OLED TV. When I watched a scene from No Time to Die where James Bond traverses a rocky hilltop cemetery, there was only a faint level of judder visible as the camera tracked his motion, and details in the landscape remained intact. And the same thing held for sports, with a Bills vs Ravens football game looking completely solid and blur-free.

As you’d expect from a flagship OLED TV, blacks looked deep and there was a high level of shadow detail visible in dark images from shows like The Penguin on Max. As mentioned above, I found myself regularly making adjustments to the TV’s advanced brightness settings to dial this in just right, but even without making black-level tweaks, shadows generally were well-defined. 

• Picture quality score: 5/5

Panasonic Z95A review: Sound quality

The Z95A's Sound Focus interface. (Image credit: Future)

• 5.1.2-channel 160W speaker system
• Effective Dolby Atmos presentation 
• Sound Focus mode

Panasonic calls the Z95A’s built-in speaker system '360 Soundscape Pro tuned by Technics.' This is a 5.1.2-channel 160W array that uses dedicated left, center, right and side-firing speakers, along with a pair of up-firing drivers for Dolby Atmos height effects and a built-in subwoofer plus two passive bass radiators. A subwoofer output jack is also provided on the TV if you want make a hard-wired connection to an external sub.

Packing that many speakers into the TV’s frame adds to its depth and height, with a thick grille running beneath the full width of the screen where the front speaker array is located. And while it increases the TV’s bulk, the benefit to the Z95A’s audio hardware is that it can play loud and clear enough that you can easily do without a soundbar. 

Dialogue is consistently clear, and Atmos soundtracks have a true sense of spaciousness, with sound effects such as rain falling in a scene from I Saw the TV Glow literally sounding like they were falling from the ceiling. Bass depth and impact is very good for a TV, and it noticeably improved after running Space Tune, a feature that uses the mic built into the remote control to analyze your room’s acoustics and adjust the sound accordingly.

Along with Space Tune, another key audio feature is Sound Focus, which lets you adjust the direction of the sound for off-center seating. There are four settings, Pinpoint, Area, Spot and Ambient, which each one providing a different range of soundfield width. To test it out, I selected Pinpoint and adjusted it to align with a seating position at the far end of my sofa, and the TV’s sound clearly shifted 30 degrees over from the center. Impressive!

• Sound quality score: 5/5

Panasonic Z95A review: Design

The Z95A's circular swiveling stand. (Image credit: Future)

• Sturdy, swiveling stand
• Wide array of input and control ports
• Flimsy remote control

OLED TVs typically have a thin form factor, but at 2.7 inches (69mm),  the Z95A’s frame is necessarily deep owing to its built-in 5.1.2-channel speaker array, and there is a wide grille running along the bottom of the screen where the TV’s front-firing speakers are located. It’s balanced on a sturdy, swiveling stand, which is a great feature if you want to position the TV’s screen to accommodate different seating situations.

The Z95A has an impressive array of input and control ports. There are four HDMI ports (including two HDMI 2.1), optical digital and 3.5mm headphone/subwoofer audio outputs, two powered USB, and an antenna input for the TV’s ATSC 3.0 digital TV tuner (US-only). On the control side, it has an Ethernet port and IR blaster output.

Panasonic’s remote control is disappointing given the Z95A’s otherwise premium build quality (and price!). It’s the same type you’d get with any cheap Amazon Fire TV set, with a thin plastic case, limited button array, and no backlighting. Its main feature is a blue button at the top to summon Alexa for voice commands, which, to be fair, is a key feature of the Fire TV smart TV platform.

• Design score: 4/5

Panasonic Z95A review: Smart TV and menus

Panasonic has switched to the Amazon Fire TV smart interface for its 2024 TVs. (Image credit: Future)

• Amazon Fire TV is great for streaming service support
• Fire TV Ambient Experience with AI image generation
• Extensive picture and sound adjustments

Amazon’s Fire TV smart TV interface hasn’t changed much since we reviewed the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED. The home screen is divided up into a top panel with ads, mostly for shows on Amazon’s Prime Video and Freevee free TV platforms and other streaming services, while a grid of recommended movies and TV shows takes up the bottom half. In between is a horizontal bar with a row of apps that you can customize, along with Inputs, My Stuff, Search, and Live tabs.

When on the Live screen, you’ll find a wealth of options, including news channels and other live TV programs that are free to stream. You can also select a grid format that displays a cable TV-style time-based guide that can be populated with programs available on local broadcast TV channels when using an antenna.

The Fire TV Ambient Experience is a recent addition, and it’s one of the platform’s most appealing features. When the TV hasn’t been in use for a certain period of time (you can specify how long in the setup menu) it will display a curated range of images and artworks, or your personal photos (via the Fire TV Photos app after uploading using the Amazon Photos app on your phone). You can add weather, news, sticky notes, and other widgets to the Ambient screen, and even create your own images using AI. Be careful with this, however: I prompted Amazon’s AI with “clowns juggling pineapples on a soccer field,” and the terrifying image it generated cannot be unseen.

One area where Fire TV on the Panasonic goes well beyond Amazon’s own TVs is the picture and sound settings, which can be accessed by pressing a gear icon button on the remote control. There are extensive picture presets, including numerous ones to adjust HDR tone mapping and black detail in dark images. The same goes for sound settings, which include a range of Sound Field Creation options, Space Tune room EQ, and the Sound Focus mode described above in the Sound Quality section. If anything, there may be too many options provided for tweaking the TV’s picture and sound.

• Smart TV & menus score: 4/5

Panasonic Z95A review: Gaming

The Z95A's Game Control Board pop-up menu. (Image credit: Future)

• Two HDMI 2.1 ports
• Game Control Board menu
• 12.6ms input lag

The Panasonic Z95A provides two HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K 144Hz, VRR (including Nvidia G-Sync and AMD Freesync Premium), and Dolby Vision gaming (up to 144Hz). While we generally look for four HDMI 2.1 ports on high-end TVs to accommodate multiple gaming consoles plus a soundbar connection, the Z9A’s excellent built-in sound makes its limited HDMI 2.1 port count less of an issue.

A nice gaming feature on the Z95A is its Game Control Board pop-up menu. This can be activated via the setup menu when in Game mode (it can also be assigned to the remote control’s My App button), allowing you to make gaming-related picture adjustments such as Dark Visibility.

The Z95A’s input lag as measured with a Leo Bodnar 4K Input Lag meter was 12.6ms. That’s a perfectly good result, although the best TVs for gaming typically yield a result under 10ms.

• Gaming score: 4/5

Panasonic Z95A review: Value

Panasonic's remote control is notably flimsy for a premium-priced TV. (Image credit: Future)

• Priced higher than premium OLED competition in practice
• Good mid-range OLEDs available for much less
• Great performance and features enhance the value

At $3,100 / £3,899 for the 65-inch model, the Panasonic Z95A sits at the premium end of the TV price spectrum, beyond even the LG G4 and Samsung S95D due to their price cuts.

You can now buy a mid-range 65-inch OLED TV such as the LG C4 for around $1,699, and it will also have great picture quality plus a better overall set of gaming features. Paying more for a flagship OLED TV such as the Z95A will get you better picture brightness, however, and that’s going to make a difference when viewing in rooms with a high level of ambient lighting, and it also gives 4K movies with HDR a more dynamic look.

Ultimately, the Z95A ranks the same for value as its flagship OLED competitors. Like them, it has powerful built-in audio for a TV – but here it's further cut above the rest – and when you combine that with its top-notch picture quality and features, it’s a sound investment if you can afford it.

• Value score: 4/5 

Should I buy the Panasonic Z95A?

The Z95A's Live TV grid guide. (Image credit: Future) Buy it if... Don't buy it if… Panasonic Z95A review: Also consider... How I tested the Panasonic Z95A

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested over the course of two weeks
• Measurements were made using Calman color calibration software
• A full calibration was made before proceeding with subjective tests

When I test TVs, I first first spend a few days or even weeks using it for casual viewing to assess the out-of-box picture presets and get familiar with its smart TV menu and picture adjustments. I next select the most accurate preset (usually Filmmaker Mode, Movie or Cinema) and measure grayscale and color accuracy using Portrait Displays’ Calman color calibration software. The resulting measurements provide Delta-E values (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what’s shown on-screen) for each category, and allow for an assessment of the TV’s overall accuracy.

Along with those tests, I make measurements of peak light output (recorded in nits) for both standard high definition and 4K high dynamic range using 10% and 100% white window patterns. Coverage of DCI-P3 and BT.2020 color space is also measured, with the results providing a sense of how faithfully the TV can render the extended color range in ultra high-definition sources.

I used the Calman ISF workflow, along with the TV’s advanced picture menu settings, to calibrate the image for best accuracy after I'd assessed its out-of-the-box performance. I also watched a range of reference scenes on 4K Blu-ray discs to assess the TV’s performance, and 4K HDR shows streamed from Max, Netflix, and other services.

You can read an in-depth overview of how we test TVs at TechRadar for more information.

• First reviewed: October 2024
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