Televisions have come a long way since Philo Taylor Farnsworth engineered a working unit in 1927. Sadly, it was never replicated commercially. In many ways, televisions have remained as a "dumb" display device for decades. It doesn't "think" per se. And it does little else but display whatever content it's fed - be it TV broadcast signals or videos from external peripherals. But televisions have evolved since. Popularly known as Smart TVs, television makers are now marketing their wares like they're wondrous screens made to do magic. Question is, can they? And what makes a TV smart? Is a 3D display a Smart TV as well?

With our buying guide, we hope to quell these doubts and perhaps enlighten you on some of the things you should prepare for before buying one. Different Smart TV brands offer varying traits, like their navigational features for instance. Recent innovations from makers like Samsung and LG have also integrated their displays with intuitive voice and gesture controls, but they serve the same "smart" purpose predominantly, like offering you internet services, videos, apps, and so forth. So the real question isn't about which TV is smarter, but how you can make the most out of your experience with the Smart TV set. And more importantly, are you prepared for one? Check out the jump links to the right to dive into the details.

• What Is A Smart TV?
  
  
• Network Connectivity & Usage
  
  
• Different Smart TV Platforms
  
  
• Smart TV Buying Tips
  
  
• A Video Walk Through of Smart TVs