Panasonic TX-P42G20 / TX-P42G20B review

Panasonic reinvents its NeoPDP wheel to storming effect

Panasonic Viera TX-P42G20
The Panasonic Viera TX-P42G20 packs both Freeview HD and Freesat HD tuners

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tx-p42g20 remote control

There's no denying that the P42G20's sound is nowhere near as accomplished as its pictures. It's just average, no more, no less, with a slightly compressed mid range and lack of bass - both familiar flat TV complaints - being its biggest shortcomings.

Value

If you're a fan of films, then you should be seriously chuffed to find Panasonic bringing in so much film-friendly technology on such an affordable TV. Seriously, it feels like there's stuff going on here that would previously only have been found on Panasonic's megabucks professional plasma screens. Let's not forget, either, those unique twin HD tuners.

Ease of use

Panasonic's TV remote controls have long been paragons of simplicity and ergonomics, and for the most part, this hasn't changed with the P42G20 - despite its remote now having to accommodate far more multimedia functionality than used to be the case. Our only significant moan is that the main menu button has perhaps become a little too tucked away for comfort.

The P42G20's GUI, meanwhile, now looks a little dated compared with what the likes of Sony, Samsung and especially LG are doing. But it's deceptively simple for the most part, except for one or two slightly illogical sub-menu allocations.

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John Archer
AV Technology Contributor

John has been writing about home entertainment technology for more than two decades - an especially impressive feat considering he still claims to only be 35 years old (yeah, right). In that time he’s reviewed hundreds if not thousands of TVs, projectors and speakers, and spent frankly far too long sitting by himself in a dark room.