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Panasonic VIERA AX902 vs Samsung UHD KU6400

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

PanasonicVIERA AX902SamsungUHD KU6400
Overview
Released20142016
Display
PanelLED LCDLED LCD
Panel detailPanasonic specifies an LED LCD panel with Local Dimming Ultra. AVForums identifies the reviewed 55-inch panel as IPS with full-array direct backlighting and 128 zones; that zone count is not claimed for the 65-inch size. Panasonic's 3000 Hz Backlight Scanning claim is not a native refresh rate.Flat LCD with LED backlight; VA panel on the 40-inch Digital Foundry and Tweakers review units. Panel type is not assigned to the other sizes.
Resolution3840 × 2160 (4K)3840 × 2160 (4K)
HDR formatsNoneHDR10
Peak brightness–Digital Foundry measured 400 nits peak brightness on its 40-inch sample; Tweakers measured 380 cd/m² at maximum backlight on its 40-inch sample. These are review measurements, not maker ratings.
Picture processingStudio Master Drive, Local Dimming Ultra, Studio Master Colour, 4K Pure Direct and Intelligent Frame Creation Pro. The 55-inch zone count is reported by AVForums, not the UK manual.Active Crystal Colour, UHD Dimming, Contrast Enhancer and Auto Motion Plus. The maker's PQI 1500 and Motion Rate 100 labels are not native panel refresh rates; native Hz is left unpublished.
Picture modesDynamic, Normal, Cinema, THX Cinema, THX Bright Room, True Cinema, Monitor, Custom, Professional 1 and Professional 2; BT.1886 gamma is available.–
Motion handlingHDTVTest found clear motion with Intelligent Frame Creation enabled but mild 24p judder; AVForums preferred turning interpolation off for films.–
Viewing angleThe reviewed 55-inch IPS panel retained contrast and colour better off-axis than many contemporary VA LCDs according to HDTVTest.–
Sizes
Sizes55, 65″40, 43, 49, 55, 65″
Largest size65″65″
Gaming
HDMI ports4 (0 HDMI 2.1 at 4K 120 Hz+)3 (0 HDMI 2.1 at 4K 120 Hz+)
Variable refresh rateNoneNone
Auto low latency mode–No
HDMI detailFour HDMI inputs support 4K and 3D; HDMI2 supports ordinary Audio Return Channel. The UK manual also lists DisplayPort for 4K, one SCART, component and composite inputs, CI+ and an SD card slot. HDTVTest confirmed full HDMI 2.0 bandwidth and HDCP 2.2 on the reviewed 55-inch unit.Three HDMI inputs with ARC and HDMI-CEC. Tweakers confirmed HDMI 2.0 and 4K 60 Hz PC input on its 40-inch European sample; enable HDMI UHD Color for full chroma text reproduction.
Input lagAVForums measured 90 ms in Game mode on the 55-inch set; HDTVTest measured 87 ms on its separate 55-inch sample.21 ms in Game Mode on the 40-inch Tweakers sample. Digital Foundry lists 21 ms in its specifications table but 19 ms in its text; the conflicting figures are not combined.
Game features–Manual Game Mode; no variable refresh or automatic low-latency switching.
Smart TV and sound
Smart TV platformmy Home ScreenTizen
ProcessorQuad Core Pro5UHD Up-Scaling picture engine
Speakers18 W20 W, 2.0 channels
eARC–No
Wi-FiBuilt-in dual-band IEEE 802.11a/b/g/nBuilt-in Wi-Fi
BluetoothBluetooth 3.0 for accessories–
Speaker detailPanasonic specifies 4 W + 4 W stereo drivers and a 10 W woofer.Two-channel down-firing bass-reflex speakers with 20 W total output.
Audio features3.5 mm headphone socket and Bluetooth accessory support.Dolby Digital Plus, DTS, Multiroom Link, TV SoundConnect and Bluetooth headset support.
Software updates–Tizen smart TV platform; original app availability is not guaranteed today.
CastingPanasonic's my Home Screen platform supports network media, TV Anywhere, screen mirroring and streaming apps; service availability varies over time.–
TV tunersUK DVB-S/S2 Freesat, DVB-T/T2 Freeview HD and PAL I analogue tuners; two satellite dish inputs.Samsung's UK API lists DVB-T2 for 40 inches and DVB-T2/C/S2 for the larger sizes. Its regional app and tuner entries differ, so satellite support is not assumed for the 40-inch model.
USBTwo USB 2.0 ports and one USB 3.0 port support media and recording to a registered drive; SD card slot.Two USB ports with media playback, recording and time shift.
EthernetRJ45 10/100/1000 Ethernet for network services and local sharing.Ethernet LAN port.
Optical audio outFibre-optic PCM, Dolby Digital and DTS output.Optical digital audio output. Digital Foundry describes a headphone output, while Tweakers reports no 3.5 mm socket; no analogue headphone output is assigned.
Design and power
SizeTV only: 55-inch 1238 × 741 × 59 mm and 26 kg; 65-inch 1457 × 864 × 60 mm and 35 kg. With pedestal: 55-inch 1238 × 740 × 283 mm and 40 kg; 65-inch 1457 × 863 × 356 mm and 52 kg.Width × height × depth without stands, from the UK manual: 40-inch 905.7 × 520.6 × 54.6 mm; 43-inch 968.8 × 565.2 × 55.4 mm; 49-inch 1101.4 × 639.7 × 55.2 mm; 55-inch 1237.2 × 716.1 × 55.2 mm; 65-inch 1458.1 × 841.4 × 54.9 mm. Configuration weights exclude stands.
StandSupplied rear-weighted pedestal. Panasonic lists 400 × 400 mm wall mounting holes.Fixed stand with no swivel. The UK manual overrides conflicting online table dimensions for 40 inches and with-stand height/depth for 55 inches. With-stand weights are 11.5, 12.7, 17.1, 19.6 and 26.8 kg respectively.
Power usePanasonic product fiche on-mode average: 210 W for 55 inches and 229 W for 65 inches; 0.30 W standby and off mode for both.–
Energy classC for UK 55-inch and B for UK 65-inch under the historical Panasonic product fiche.–
ColoursBlack glass front with silver edge trim.–
In the boxStandard and touchpad remotes, two pairs of passive 3D glasses, pedestal, mains lead and instructions. Panasonic's 2014 UK model list and manual confirm 55- and 65-inch AX902B sets; the distinct 85-inch TX-85X942B is excluded. Exact first-sale month remains unconfirmed; contemporary UK coverage places availability in November 2014.Samsung Smart Remote, batteries, power cable, manual and analogue breakout cable; additional remote wording varies by size in the maker tables.

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