Hisense Sero 7 Pro

Though it may be several months old, the Nexus 7 still sets the standard for an excellent and inexpensive 7-inch tablet. So much so that every similar device that has followed it cannot escape its shadow.

The Hisense Sero 7 Pro is no exception. In and of itself, it has a fast quad-core processor and a respectable touch screen. And priced at $149 at Walmart stores, you don't have to break the bank to get this unit.

Yet, the Nexus 7 is still the more desirable option given its more compact build, superior performance, and value. True, you won't be able to purchase the 8GB version any longer and it doesn't come with a camera, but for an extra $50, you can double your internal storage space, and you'll still benefit from the fact that Google Edition products receive updates sooner than other Android device.

Design
Though the Hisense Sero 7 Pro is a solidly constructed device, its design isn't anything to write home about. It has an all-black look (save for its slate-gray rear), and softly rounded corners. Its dimpled, rubber-like backing is reminiscent of the Nexus 7, and given my small hands, it was comfortable typing with just my two thumbs while holding it in landscape.

Though its overall look is a bit drab, the Hisense's rubber-like backing lends a more durable feel.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

The top edge houses all of its ports, which include (from left to right) a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microSD card slot that's expandable up to 32GB and is covered by a small plastic cover, Micro-USB, and Mini-HDMI. On the right edge, you'll get a small sleep/power button and a volume rocker.

Above the display on the top-right corner is a 2-megapixel camera. You'll find the 5-megapixel camera with flash in the back, on the upper-left corner. Below that are two narrow slits on either side of the back panel for the audio speaker.

Weight in pounds	0.82	0.8	0.74
Width in inches (landscape)	7.87	7.7	7.8
Height in inches	4.95	4.6	4.7
Depth in inches	0.43	0.42	0.4
Side bezel width in inches (landscape/portrait)	0.93/0.63	0.87/0.56	0.8/0.49

In general, while the tablet is sturdy, and the durable feel of its rubber backing makes it a respectably built device, it doesn't score high marks for design. It doesn't look or feel as expensive as the HP Slate 7, and its notably larger and heavier than the Nexus 7.

Software features
The Sero 7 Pro runs the skinless version of Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean, so you won't get any third-party look overlaid on top of the UI. However, you will see a small screenshot hot key at the bottom of your screen (next to the hot keys for back, home, and recent apps), which is a bit uncommon. In addition, you'll get all your standard Google staples; some of which are Chrome, Gmail, Messenger, Google Play, and YouTube.

A few extra goodies include two retail apps for Walmart and Sam's Club; the music streaming and radio app, Pandora; Kingsoft Office, a mobile suite and productivity app; a gaming portal called TegraZone, which lets you purchase games that are optimized for the device's Nvidia processor; and TV Remote, which transforms your tablet into a remote when linked to a TV.

The device runs Android Jelly Bean and features a handful of preloaded apps, primarily those that Google normally provides. You can also see the white screenshot hot key at the very bottom.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

Lastly, you'll get an app called Vudu Movies and TV. Hisense makes a point to emphasize this app (it's on the box, and you'll see a big widget for it on your home screen after initial setup), but it looks like any other media portal. With Vudu, you can rent HD movies, watch TV shows, and view trailers without a monthly subscription fee.

Hardware features
Powering the Hisense Sero 7 Pro is a 1.3GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor from Nvidia and a 4,000mAh battery. Users will get 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 EDR, 8GB of internal storage, and 1GB of RAM. It also features NFC and Android Beam, GPS capabilities, and both a gyroscope and an accelerometer.