Hisense Sero 7 Pro is a $149 tablet with Nexus 7 topping specs, we go hands-on

The Hisense Sero 7 Pro Android tablet, together with the entry-level Sero 7 LT slate, is the Chinese manufacturer’s first effort designed with the lucrative US market in mind. Priced at the highly acceptable $149.99, the Jelly Bean slate offers a better spec sheet than a Google Nexus 7 for noticeably less cash.

Like the Nexus 7, the Hisense Sero 7 Pro packs a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 SoC and a gig of RAM. There’s 8GB of built-in memory, which however can be further expanded via microSD card slot. The display is a 7” IPS unit with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. A 5MP snapper can found on the back of the Sero 7 Pro, as well as a front-facing unit for video calls. The connectivity suite is quite rich – it includes NFC, Bluetooth 3.0, microHDMI port, Wi-Fi, and microUSB port.

Hisense Sero 7 Pro live photos

The Hisense Sero 7 Pro is powered by a 4,000mAh battery. The manufacturer claims 10 hours of web browsing and 7 hours of video play on a single charge. The latter should be particularly enjoyable as the tablet packs stereo speakers.

The design of the newcomer is rather conservative. The overall build quality is impressive, especially considering the price tag. The back of the slate is finished in textured plastic, which looks like it will hold normal wear and tear well.

Out of the box, the Hisense Sero 7 Pro boots unmodified Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The slate features several preloaded apps such as NVIDIA Tegra Zone, VUDU HD movies and TV, etc.

Overall, the Hisense Sero 7 Pro offers a lot of tablet for the price. The slate is a good option for anyone looking for a device on a budget, without willing to sacrifice on functionality. The Sero 7 Pro is currently available in Walmart and a host of online retailers.