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Though the world around us seems to get dumber by the day, TVs just keep getting smarter. A few years ago all a TV needed to be dubbed “smart” was an Internet connection. That doesn’t cut it anymore. Now it needs to have built-in apps, be easy-to-use and — if it’s vying for the honor roll — voice control.

Nearly all new TVs have some smart features, but a few stand out. And good news: prices are coming down on the high-end models — though you’ll still end up spending $2,000 or more for the best.

Head Of The Class

LG E8 OLED (OLED65E7P)

If you’re a picture snob, The LG E8 is for you. Available in 65-inch ($3,200) and 55-inch ($2,300) versions, delivers ooh-and-ahh inspiring blacks and color depth thanks to its organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology. It deftly handles high dynamic range (HDR) content for greater detail and displays 4K resolution with excellent depth. Plus it’s crazy thin (inspiring more oohs and ahhs).

Powering that pretty picture is LG’s WebOS, which is fast and easy to use. It offers Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Video and Music, and a few other apps. If you’re a fan of more niche apps, you may be out of luck (or need to add a streaming stick).

If you can’t stomach spending $2,300-plus on a new set, check out the LG B8 — for $1,600 (55-inch model) you get similar quality.

Buy the LG E8 OLED on Amazon.com

Speak Up

Sony's Master Series Z9F television. Photo: Sony

What’s smarter than smart? A voice assistant baked in to a TV. Sony’s Master Series Z9F marries hands-free Google Assistant with jaw-dropping picture quality. Say “Hey Google” and what you want to watch, and Google Assistant serves it up. The ZF9 — starting at $3,500 for the 65-inch model — uses LCD technology and supports 4K, HDR, and all the latest standards you’d expect from a top-of-the line TV today. It uses Android TV, which runs a ton of apps, and the latest version of Android TV improves on somewhat lackluster previous generations.

Samsung’s Q8F ($2,300 for the 65-inch model) offers amazing picture quality thanks to its QLED tech — a variation on LCD that rivals OLED — and it includes the company’s Bixby voice assistant. Haven’t heard of it? You’re not alone, since it doesn’t have the cachet of Siri or Alexa. But it can do the job almost as well as it’s more famous virtual siblings.

Buy the Sony XBR65Z9F 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart BRAVIA LED TV on Amazon.com

Buy the Samsung QN65Q8F Flat 65” QLED 4K UHD 8 Series Smart TV on Amazon.com

Smart Savings

You don’t have to take out a student loan to get a smart TV. The beauty of the TCL Roku TV — available in sizes for 43 inches to 65 inches and starting at $430 — is that when you turn it on, you’re already looking at the Roku home screen, saving you that step. With a bunch of models and configurations, you can find a size and resolution that matches you (do yourself a favor and get one that handles 4K). You can load up any Roku channel, so you certainly won’t be limited when it comes to things to watch.

Vizio’s P Series isn’t quite as cheap as the TCL Roku TV — the 55-inch model starts around $699 — but it has better picture quality and its SmartCast platform acts like a built-in Chromecast. Using your phone to cast video to the TV isn’t as convenient as having an integrated Roku, but if you’re picky about your picture quality it’s a sweet combo.

Buy the TCL 65S517 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart LED TV on Amazon

Buy the (VIZIO) RED P-Series 55” Class 4K HDR Smart TV on Amazon

Smarten Up

While these smart TV models are the brightest of the bunch, there are plenty more to choose from, at all prices and sizes. Smart TVs streamline your entertainment experience by eliminating the need for a separate streaming box or stick and make watching movies and TV much more enjoyable than huddling around a laptop. Don’t be dumb — get yourself one of these TVs.

Michael Gowan impatiently waits for somebody—anybody!—to stream the complete Moonlighting series. You can follow him on Twitter @zebgowan.