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Last Updated on March 29, 2020
With a large-scale shift toward mobile devices in recent years, it’s no surprise to see a slew of tech companies testing the waters with new phone and tablet releases. Hisense is just such a company.
Known more for televisions and appliances than for mobile devices, the manufacturer struck a lucrative deal with WalMart to provide an exclusive pair of products aimed at budget-minded consumers. The results, overall, are about what you’d expect from such an arrangement.
Hands-On Impressions
Aesthetically, the Sero 7 tablets look pretty good compared to tablets with similar price tags. Both devices feature a backing with a vaguely coppery color that looks pleasingly distinctive.
The Sero LT has a smooth, matte finish, while the Sero Pro features a nicely textured design. At 7.8-by-4.95-by-0.43 inches and 12.7 ounces, neither tablet is going to be mistaken for an expensive, ultra-thin device. They’re comfortable enough, though, and the construction quality isn’t as bad as some other devices in the same range.
Tablet Tour
The overall layout for both devices is identical. Most of the action is focused along the top edge of the device, with mini-HDMI and micro-USB ports, a microSD card slot with rubber covering, a standard 3.5-millimeter headphone jack and a power button.
The volume rocker is just around the corner on the right edge, and a pair of stereo speakers are about an inch above the bottom edge on the back. Compared to tablets like the HP Slate 7, which uses sturdy aluminum buttons, the Hisense Sero 7’s flimsy plastic buttons are a bit disappointing.
Resolving the Details
The first of several differences between the Sero 7 Pro and LT models surfaces with the display. The Sero LT employs a 1024-by-600 pixel display that’s only slightly better than the HP Slate 7, which is hardly a compliment.
Similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 3 7.0, the display isn’t offensively bad, but colors are somewhat muted and the lack of resolution is clearly visible. Meanwhile, the 1,280-by-800 pixel display of the Sero 7 Pro tablet compares well to most of the other options in its price range. The panel stacks up well with the ASUS MeMo Pad HD 7, and even manages better brightness and black levels.
It may not be a Nexus 7, but the display is more than solid for the price range.
Under the Hood
In comparison to tablets with bigger price tags, budget devices must necessarily cut a few corners. This often comes in the form of hardware and performance. In the case of the Hisense Sero 7 LT, that means a complete lack of any Bluetooth, NFC or GPS functionality.
The tablet does feature a 1.6-gigahertz dual-core processor and one gigabyte of RAM, which delivers decent performance for most routine tasks. The Sero 7 Pro, meanwhile, restores the features cut in the Sero 7 LT and boasts a 1.3-gigahertz quad-core Tegra 3 processor.
It’s a bit dated, but it delivers very solid performance for the price.
Tablet Roundup
The Hisense Sero 7 LT is not a great tablet, but it holds up very well considering its tiny price tag. It musters up enough power to handle routine tasks with relative ease, and it does so while looking pretty stylish.
The lack of extra features is disappointing, but corners naturally have to be cut somewhere. All things considered, it’s tough to find a better bargain than the Sero LT. The Sero 7 Pro more directly compares to tablets like the HP Slate 7, Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 and ASUS MeMo Pad HD7.
While each tablet does certain things well, the Sero 7 Pro offers a total package that few others can match. Its display is every bit as good as that found on ASUS’ MeMo Pad, and its performance is at least as good as any of its competitors.
Better tablets can certainly be had for a larger investment, but the Hisense Sero 7 Pro is a solid option for the budget-minded consumer.