Skip to main content
DEAL WATCH: Keurig K-Express | 22% off $69.99

Keurig has changed the face of coffee, and snagging one of these for less than $70 is a solid deal. Read Review

BUY NOW
  • Introduction

  • Design

  • Smart TV Features

  • Picture Quality

  • Conclusion

  • Science Introduction

  • Color

  • Contrast

  • Other Tests

  • Introduction
  • Design
  • Smart TV Features
  • Picture Quality
  • Conclusion
  • Science Introduction
  • Color
  • Contrast
  • Other Tests

Introduction

In other words, don't expect any surprises. The U5 is one of those entry-level TVs that's bereft of 3D tech and internet capability, and does its singular job rather poorly. At an MSRP of $599, it would be an unwise purchase.

Design

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The U5 is an uninspired fingerprint magnet.

The U5 has that ubiquitous TV appearance that became such a common sight over the last five years: a grey screen wrapped in a bezel of shiny black plastic; a centered, rectangular base that's attached by a thin neck (to give the appearance of a seamless product); control buttons and connectivity options that are tucked away behind the TV in the attempt to give the front a clean, modern appearance. This design scheme is terribly uninspired, and the majority of the TV's exterior is that kind of reflective black plastic that can prove distracting at times. It's also particularly susceptible to fingerprints.

The U5 does not have the diversity of connectivity options you'll find amongst high-end or even mid-range HDTVs.

If you're looking for a reliable home theater hub, the U5 does not have the diversity of connectivity options you'll find amongst high-end or even mid-range HDTVs. All-in-all, the U5 offers up three HDMI inputs, a VGA input for a PC connection (with a headphone jack for PC audio), a coaxial jack for your antenna or cable box, and a shared set of inputs for component or composite (AV) devices. This isn't a massive selection, but it's enough for a basic set-up, and is standard for a TV in this price range. The U5 comes with a Panasonic remote control and two AA batteries, and is very easy to put together and get powered on right out of the box.

{{photo_gallery "Design Landing Page Photo", "Front Tour Image", "Back Tour Image", "Sides Tour Image", "Connectivity Tour Image 1", "Connectivity Tour Image 2", "Connectivity Extra Photo", "Stand Photo", "Controls Photo", "Remote Control Photo"}}

Smart TV Features

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

Panasonic has a solid entry-level menu interface.

As an entry-level TV, the U5 doesn’t have any smart or 3D features. It does have a fully fleshed-out menu, replete with options for adjusting picture, sound, or the TV’s internal clockery to your heart’s desire. The menu is easy to navigate using the TV’s standard remote and does a good job of hiding away more advanced adjustment settings, such as color temperature or audio EQ, in sub-menus. This gives the appearance of less, yet with plenty to tinker with beneath the surface.

The U5 produces surprisingly quality audio.

There's nothing here that's gasp-worthy, but if you so desire, the U5's 16-watt speaker output can play music for a party or gathering, as it produces surprisingly quality audio. For an entry-level TV, this U5 delivers a clear and well-balanced sound that fills a small to medium-sized room nicely. Unfortunately, its USB picture playback is marred by picture quality problems.

{{photo_gallery "Software and Internet Landing Page Photo", "Internet Features 1 Photo", "Internet Features 2 Photo", "Internet Features 3 Photo", "Browser 1 Photo", "Browser 2 Photo", "Browser 3 Photo", "Apps 1 Photo", "Apps 2 Photo", "Apps 3 Photo", "Local Media Playback 1 Photo", "Local Media Playback 2 Photo", "Menu Main Photo", "Menu 2 Photo"}}

Picture Quality

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The U5 has only one job to do, and we're sending it a pink slip.

The Panasonic Viera TC-L42U5 may seem like a decent deal at an MSRP of $599, but its picture quality will leave you wishing you'd spent a little more. In short, the U5's picture is distractingly underwhelming. It displays in 1080p, but is marred by an overly warm color temperature, so all content—no matter where you're sourcing from—is going to show up with a mild, but unacceptable, red-orange tint that pollutes certain shades of grey. Shadows in the picture should be colorless, of course.

Everything from a snow-covered mountain to the depths of the cosmos will suffer from this poor contrast performance.

On top of this, the U5 tested with a below-average contrast ratio. Contrast ratio determines how convincing blacks and whites are during viewing. The further apart they are in brightness, the more they'll look like real blacks and whites. This is where the U5 fails: Its blacks are not dark enough and its whites are not that bright. Everything from a snow-covered mountain to the depths of the cosmos will suffer from this poor contrast performance.

Conclusion

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The bottom line: This TV is not worth your money.

With so many superior options offered by Panasonic, there isn't a good enough reason to purchase the U5. Panasonic's 2012 line-up has revealed that the company's strengths still lie in producing plasma TVs with highly accurate color, rich contrast, and the same ease-of-use as the LCD models. For two- or three-hundred more dollars, you could purchase one of the company's high-quality plasma TVs, such as the U50 (MSRP $899) or the XT50 (MSRP $799).

Science Introduction

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The Panasonic Viera TC-L42U5 performed poorly on most tests. It fared decently within the realms of audio quality, viewing angle, and motion, but that was all. The most important aspects of a TV's televisual prowess are how it handles color and how it handles contrast (blacks and whites). The U5 isn't a smart TV and doesn't utilize 3D technology; it only does one thing, and doesn't do it very well.

Color

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

A multitude of color problems plague the U5's picture, no matter the content.

Panasonic's U5 suffered some noteworthy color problems. Its color curves, which represent the spectrum of colors and shades it can produce, were bumpy and inconsistent. This means that neighboring hues transition to and from one another in a very blocky, distracting fashion. Its color gamut also missed all four points of the rec. 709 standard—the international ideal for TV color accuracy. More on how we test color performance.

The U5 has an overly warm color temperature.

The U5's biggest drawback, however, is in the area of color temperature. Color temperature describes the intensity and level of white found in the production of greys, reds, greens, and blues. The U5 has an overly warm color temperature, which means areas that should be a neutral white or grey are instead tinted with red and orange, ruining the realism of shadows, clouds, and three-piece suits alike. Even if it had a perfect color gamut, which it doesn't, these temperature errors would still be a problem; at best, they're a distraction, and at worst, they make the U5 unwatchable. More on how we test color temperature.

{{photo_gallery "Science Section 1 Images"}}

Contrast

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

Tepid black levels and dim whites produce a below average contrast ratio.

Next to the three entry-level LCDs we pulled for comparison, the U5 was absolutely crushed. We expect good contrast from Panasonic, since the company typically makes high-quality plasma TVs. But this entry-level LCD didn’t fare well at all, as its contrast ratio was unable to achieve even a 1000:1 ratio. This is a very poor result, though to be fair, it doesn’t mean the TV is unwatchable. It just doesn't come close to imitating the true black of a yawning cave or the brightness of sunlight reflecting off of snow. More on how we test contrast.

{{photo_gallery "Science Section 2 Images"}}

Other Tests

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

{{photo_gallery "Other Tests Images"}}

Meet the tester

Lee Neikirk

Lee Neikirk

Former Editor, Home Theater

@Koanshark

Lee was Reviewed's point person for most television and home theater products from 2012 until early 2022. Lee received Level II certification in TV calibration from the Imaging Science Foundation in 2013. As Editor of the Home Theater vertical, Lee oversaw reviews of TVs, monitors, soundbars, and Bluetooth speakers. He also reviewed headphones, and has a background in music performance.

See all of Lee Neikirk's reviews

Checking our work.

Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.

Shoot us an email

Up next