Panasonic VIERA G20 vs Panasonic VIERA S30

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VIERA G20 compared with VIERA S30

	PanasonicVIERA G20	PanasonicVIERA S30
Overview
Released
Released	2010	2011
Display
Panel
Panel	Plasma	Plasma
Panel detail
Panel detail	Panasonic's UK TX-P42G20B, TX-P46G20B and TX-P50G20B manual specifies native Full HD NeoPDP plasma panels. The marketed 600 Hz sub-field drive is not the native image refresh rate, which remains unpublished.	Panasonic's exact UK 42-inch and 50-inch manuals identify Full HD plasma panels. The 600 Hz sub-field processing claim is not a native frame refresh rate.
Resolution
Resolution	1920 × 1080 (Full HD)	1920 × 1080 (Full HD)
HDR formats
HDR formats	None	None
Picture processing
Picture processing	Panasonic's second-generation NeoPDP panel, Intelligent Frame Creation, Resolution Enhancer and advanced white-balance, gamma and colour-management controls. The THX picture mode is certified; the 600 Hz sub-field drive is marketing for the panel drive rather than native frame refresh.	True Cinema mode and Intelligent Frame Creation. Unlike the G30, the S30 has no user-accessible white-balance, gamma or colour-management controls.
Picture modes
Picture modes	Dynamic, Normal, Cinema, THX, Game and Photo where input-appropriate; ISFccc setup unlocks Professional 1 and 2 with per-input calibration settings.	Dynamic, Normal, Cinema, True Cinema and Game modes described in the UK manual.
Motion handling
Motion handling	HDTVTest measured 900 lines of motion resolution with Intelligent Frame Creation off and 1080 with it on, but saw some ball shimmer during sports. It found 1080p/24 playback free of telecine judder. These are measurements of the reviewed 42-inch set, not a native refresh specification.	The two full reviews report fast gaming response on their 42-inch UK review samples, while noting some 50 Hz artefacts and slight brightness fluctuations. These observations have not been verified on the 50-inch size.
Sizes
Sizes
Sizes	42, 46, 50″	42, 50″
Largest size
Largest size	50″	50″
Gaming
HDMI ports
HDMI ports	4 (0 HDMI 2.1 at 4K 120 Hz+)	3 (0 HDMI 2.1 at 4K 120 Hz+)
Variable refresh rate
Variable refresh rate	None	None
HDMI detail
HDMI detail	Four HDMI Type A inputs; HDMI2 supports Audio Return Channel under HDMI 1.4, and all support VIERA Link HDAVI Control 5. Two RGB SCART inputs, component video and D-sub PC input also appear in the UK manual.	Three HDMI Type A inputs, with HDMI2 supporting Audio Return Channel. The exact 42-inch UK manual also lists one RGB SCART, component and composite inputs.
Smart TV and sound
Smart TV platform
Smart TV platform	VIERA CAST	VIERA Connect
Speakers
Speakers	20 W	20 W
Speaker detail
Speaker detail	Two 120 × 35 mm, 6-ohm speakers with 10 W + 10 W output.	The 42-inch UK manual specifies two 160 × 40 mm speakers rated 10 W + 10 W. The 50-inch speaker construction was not verified separately.
Audio features
Audio features	Optical PCM/Dolby Digital output, analogue RCA stereo output and 3.5 mm headphone socket; HDMI2 supports ordinary ARC, not eARC.	The 42-inch UK manual lists analogue stereo, optical digital audio and a 3.5 mm headphone socket.
Casting
Casting	DLNA media playback and VIERA CAST internet services; optional DY-WL10E-K wireless LAN adaptor, with no built-in Wi-Fi claimed.	VIERA Connect and DLNA over Ethernet; optional wireless LAN adaptor.
Software updates
Software updates	Broadcast and network service updates described in the UK manual; VIERA CAST app availability may have changed since release.	–
TV tuners
TV tuners	UK Freesat HD DVB-S/S2 satellite, Freeview HD DVB-T2 terrestrial, DVB-T and PAL I analogue UHF tuners.	UK Freeview HD DVB-T2, DVB-T and PAL I analogue terrestrial tuning; no satellite tuner.
USB
USB	Two USB 2.0 ports for media and encrypted TV recording to a registered external USB hard drive; SD card slot also supports media.	Two USB 2.0 ports and SD card slot. The 42-inch UK manual describes media playback; no USB hard-drive recording claim is made here.
Ethernet
Ethernet	RJ45 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX for Freesat, DLNA and VIERA CAST network services.	RJ45 Ethernet for VIERA Connect and DLNA services.
Optical audio out
Optical audio out	Optical PCM and Dolby Digital output.	The 42-inch UK manual lists optical PCM, Dolby Digital and DTS output.
Design and power
Size
Size	Panasonic TV-only dimensions, width × height × depth: 42-inch 1029 × 654 × 82 mm, 20.5 kg; 46-inch 1132 × 722 × 82 mm, 24 kg; 50-inch 1218 × 769 × 82 mm, 26 kg. With supplied pedestal: 1029 × 693 × 308 mm, 23.5 kg; 1132 × 761 × 335 mm, 27 kg; 1218 × 808 × 335 mm, 29 kg respectively.	The exact TX-P42S30B manual gives 1023 × 637 × 93 mm and 20 kg TV-only, or 1023 × 671 × 288 mm and 23 kg with pedestal. The 50-inch dimensions are omitted pending a verified exact figure.
Stand
Stand	Pedestal supplied; optional TY-WK4P1RW wall bracket.	Rectangular pedestal supplied.
Power use
Power use	Panasonic rated power consumption: 290 W (42-inch), 300 W (46-inch), 335 W (50-inch); standby 0.40 W without monitor-output recording or 32 W with it.	Panasonic rates the TX-P42S30B at 255 W, with 0.30 W standby or 16 W with monitor-out recording. The 50-inch figure is omitted pending verification.
Colours
Colours	Gloss black bezel with a dark-blue appearance under some lighting, as HDTVTest observed.	–
In the box
In the box	N2QAYB000490 remote, two R6 batteries, pedestal, cable clamper, mains lead, two ferrite cores, instructions and registration leaflet. HDTVTest reported UK retailer warehouse arrivals and online orders on 26 February 2010; contemporary coverage said shipments would begin in March. Exact first delivery month is unverified, so released uses year precision.	The 42-inch UK manual lists remote control, two batteries, pedestal and mains lead. Panasonic's UK 2011 tuner list identifies the separate TX-P42S30B and TX-P50S30B; an exact first-sale month has not been verified.