These are the 5 most important things to look for in a cheap TV so you don’t regret your purchase

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You’ve made up your mind: You’re buying a new TV, and it will not be expensive. Why? Because even a $350 TV is still $350.

Fortunately, cheap TVs have never been better, and good-enough TVs have never been cheaper. You just have to know what you’re looking for — otherwise you might end up with a TV that frustrates you more than it entertains you.

If you’re shopping for a new set and hoping to keep costs down, I’m here to help. These are the five features to look for when bargain-hunting in the TV aisle.

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1. 4K resolution

We live in the era of 4K. Even though the majority of what we watch — basic cable, local news and most YouTube videos — gets piped into our homes at below 4K resolution, it’s time to embrace ultra-high definition.

The reason for this is simple: Even if you don't care about fancy enhancements, any TV worth buying is a 4K TV. By insisting that you don't need 4K resolution, you're starting your TV-shopping journey with a severely limited pool of options. Plus, many of the cheapest TVs you can buy are 4K TVs — the days of it being a pricey upgrade are over.

Besides, streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu and Disney+ are regularly pumping out shows and movies in 4K resolution. If you do even a marginal amount of streaming, you're eventually going to want it.

There is a caveat to this. If you’re buying a 32-inch TV (say, for a kitchen or guest room), you probably don’t need 4K resolution. At that size, you’re far less likely to spot the difference, anyway.