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HiSense Sero 8 Pro Review: iPad-Like Design, Tesco Hudl Pricing

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HiSense Sero 8 Pro Review: iPad-Like Design, Tesco Hudl Pricing

The HiSense Sero 8 Pro delivers Apple-like design on a budget… but there are some pretty hefty caveats

HiSense might not be all that well known in this part of the world, but in Australia and parts of Asia it’s an up-and-coming maker of smartphones and tablets. The Sero 8 Pro is its latest offering and seeks to combine entry-level pricing with decent specs and design. 

It also looks a lot like an iPad, which will no doubt help shift a few units for those who admire Apple’s work. However, at just £99 it’s a lot cheaper than the iPad – and most other Android slates, for that matter. What corners have been cut to reach that price, and is this pretender worth bothering with? We’re about to find out.

HiSense Sero 8 Pro review: Design & Display

The Sero 8 Pro is a lovely looking piece of kit, despite the £99 price tag. The casing is made entirely from metal and this gives the device a weighty presence. The model we reviewed was blue, but the Sero 8 Pro comes in other colours as well. 

All of the inputs and ports are located on the top edge of the tablet. You’ll find a power button, 3.5mm headphone socket, Micro-USB port and MicroSD card slot. There’s no volume rocker anywhere on the device; instead, you’ll have to use on-screen controls – an odd choice, to be sure.

The Sero 8 Pro’s 8-inch screen is arguably its crowning glory. The IPS panel has a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels and an aspect ratio which is close to that of the iPad. It’s pitched as a “Retina” screen, and to be fair, it’s a close match to the display on Apple’s tablet. Detail is fantastic, as is colour replication and contrast. This is one of the best tablet screens we’ve seen in ages, and to find it on a device which costs less than £100 is nothing short of amazing.

HiSense Sero 8 Pro review: Software & User Experience

The screen may be astonishing, but elsewhere the Sero 8 Pro is less impressive. It’s running Android 4.4.4, which places it behind the curve when it comes to software updates. The ARM Rockchip chipset inside this low-cost challenger is quad-core and clocked at 1.6GHz, but is only accompanied by 2GB of RAM. Pushing all of those pixels is clearly too much for this tech, and as a result you’ll encounter bottlenecks when there are loads of processes happening in tandem. Switching between applications is also sluggish. It’s not a deal breaker – for the most part, the Sero 8 Pro is perfectly useable – but it’s far from the smooth experience you’d see on other, more expensive offerings.

HiSense has wisely kept UI customization to a minimum here, with the interface looking very much like stock Android. There are some minor changes – there’s no app drawer, for example, and all of your apps are on the home screen, just like they would be on an iPad. Viewster’s on-demand movie player is also pre-installed and supplies some pretty terrible content. Removing the Viewster widget – as well as the HiSense social widget, which piggy-backs off Instagram – is one of the first tasks you’ll want to undertake when you liberate the tablet from its packaging.

HiSense Sero 8 Pro review: Memory & Camera

There’s 16GB of memory inside the Sero 8 Pro, but you only have access to just under 11GB of that total. The inclusion of a MicroSD card slot means you can add to this amount if needed, up to a limit of 32GB.

The 8 megapixel camera is a total write-off, supplying terrible photos. Definition is disappointing and images are fuzzy and have an unwelcome blue-ish tint on them. Few people legitimately use their tablets for photography so it’s not a massive issue. The 2 megapixel front-facing snapper is good enough for Skype calls and the like, but little else.

HiSense Sero 8 Pro review: Conclusion

Any tablet which costs less than £100 has to come with some drawbacks, and that’s especially true of the Sero 8 Pro. The amazing screen is the high point, and the build quality is also above-average. However, the processor struggles to keep pace with the rest of the package, the camera is a waste of time and the software is outdated. Still, for £99 it’s hard to grumble – especially when the display is this good.

Review unit kindly provided by Ebuyer

Typical Price: 
£99.00
Pros: 
Amazing screen, Great build quality, MicroSD card slot


Reviews

Damien McFerran

Cons: 
Android 4.4, Processor is sluggish, No volume buttons, Terrible camera
Verdict: 
The Sero 8 Pro has some serious issues, but for the price it’s still worth a look, especially if you’re after a good display


12:35, 21 Jul 2015

The HiSense Sero 8 Pro provides Apple-like layout on the cheap... however there are a few lovely hefty caveats

HiSense is probably not all that widely recognized on this a part of the arena, however in Australia and portions of Asia it is an up-and-coming maker of smartphones and pills. The Sero 8 Pro is its up to date providing and seeks to mix access-degree pricing with respectable specifications and layout. 

It additionally seems so much like an iPad, as a way to indisputably lend a hand shift a couple of devices for many who appreciate Apple's paintings. However, at simply £99 it is a lot less expensive than the iPad - and so much different Android slates, for that topic. What corners were minimize to succeed in that worth, and is that this pretender value bothering with? We're approximately to determine.

HiSense Sero 8 Pro evaluation: Design & Display

The Sero 8 Pro is a phenomenal taking a look piece of equipment, in spite of the £99 price ticket. The casing is made totally from steel and this provides the tool a weighty presence. The type we reviewed used to be blue, however the Sero 8 Pro is available in different colors as smartly. 

All of the inputs and ports are situated at the most sensible edge of the tablet. You'll discover a energy button, 3.5mm headphone socket, Micro-USB port and MicroSD card slot. There's no quantity rocker any place at the tool; as an alternative, you will have to use on-monitor controls - an unusual selection, to make certain.

The Sero 8 Pro's 8-inch display is arguably its finishing touch. The IPS panel has a solution of 2048 x 1536 pixels and a facet ratio that is with reference to that of the iPad. It's pitched as a "Retina" display, and to be truthful, it is a shut fit to the show on Apple's tablet. Detail is implausible, as is color replication and distinction. This is among the very best tablet monitors we have noticed in a while, and to seek out it on a tool which prices not up to £100 is little short of superb.

HiSense Sero 8 Pro evaluate: Software & User Experience

The display could also be impressive, however somewhere else the Sero 8 Pro is much less spectacular. It's operating Android 4.4.4, which puts it at the back of the curve in terms of tool updates. The ARM Rockchip chipset inside of this low-value challenger is quad-center and clocked at 1.6GHz, however is best followed by way of 2GB of RAM. Pushing all of the ones pixels is obviously an excessive amount of for this tech, and in consequence you'll be able to come upon bottlenecks while there are lots of procedures taking place in tandem. Switching among programs could also be slow. It's now not a deal breaker - for probably the most phase, the Sero 8 Pro is completely useable - however it is some distance from the graceful revel in you would see on different, costlier services.

HiSense has correctly stored UI customization to a minimal right here, with the interface taking a look very similar to inventory Android. There are a few minor adjustments - there is not any app drawer, as an example, and your whole apps are at the house monitor, identical to they might be on an iPad. Viewster's on-call for film participant could also be pre-put in and provides a few lovely bad content material. Removing the Viewster widget - in addition to the HiSense social widget, which piggy-backs off Instagram - is among the first duties you will want to adopt while you unlock the tablet from its packaging.

HiSense Sero 8 Pro assessment: Memory & Camera

There's 16GB of reminiscence within the Sero 8 Pro, however you handiest have get right of entry to to only beneath 11GB of that overall. The inclusion of a MicroSD card slot method you'll be able to upload to this quantity if wanted, as much as a restrict of 32GB.

The 8 megapixel digital camera is a complete write-off, offering bad pictures. Definition is disappointing and photographs are fuzzy and feature an unwelcome blue-ish tint on them. Few other folks legitimately use their drugs for images so it is not a major factor. The 2 megapixel entrance-dealing with snapper is just right sufficient for Skype calls and so forth, however little else.

HiSense Sero 8 Pro assessment: Conclusion

Any tablet which prices not up to £100 has to return with a few drawbacks, and that is the reason very true of the Sero 8 Pro. The superb display is the top aspect, and the construct high quality could also be above-moderate. However, the processor struggles to stay % with the remainder of the package deal, the digital camera is a waste of time and the device is out of date. Still, for £99 it is onerous to grouse – particularly while the show is that this just right.

Review unit kindly supplied via Ebuyer

Typical Price: 
£99.00
Pros: 
Amazing monitor, Great construct high quality, MicroSD card slot
Reviews Damien McFerran
Cons: 
Android 4.4, Processor is slow, No quantity buttons, Terrible digital camera
Verdict: 
The Sero 8 Pro has a few critical problems, however for the fee it's nonetheless value a glance, particularly when you're after a just right show
12:35, 21 Jul 2015
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