Hisense Intros Sero 7 Pro Tablet, $149 Nexus 7 Replica?

If you're looking to get a tablet but you're worried about breaking the bank, you'll be glad to know that two new affordable tablets just hit the stores. Walmart is exclusively selling the Hisense Sero 7 LT and Pro d tablets that resemble the Nexus 7.

The two 7-inch Android tablets feature specs found in most tablets and are priced to sell. The tablets enter the market to compete with other affordable tablets such as the Google Nexus 7 and Amazon's Kindle Fire.

The Sero 7 Pro runs on 1.3 GHz NVIDIA's quad-core Tegra 3 processor with 1GB RAM and 8GB of internal storage and comes with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Although the hardware specs are almost identical to the Nexus 7, there's a built-in micro SD slot to add additional storage, something the Nexus 7 doesn't have.

The Sero 7 Pro's 7-inch HD IPS display features a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels and there's also a built in 2-megapixel front camera and a 5-megapixel rear camera. Bluetooth 3.0, NFC, USB and a Mini-HDMI port make up some of the additional specs the Sero 7 Pro has to offer. The Mini-HDMI port is yet another bonus feature that the Sero 7 Pro has over the Nexus 7 and prices at $149, the Sero 7 Pro costs less than the $200 Nexus 7. Hisense promises 10 hours of battery life thanks to the NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor.

"Tegra 3's quad-core processor and fifth battery saver core deliver outstanding performance and amazing battery life," NVIDIA's vice president of Sales and Marketing for the Americas, John Lonergan said in a press release.

The specs on the Sero 7 LT are more low-end compared to the Pro version, but at $99, who can complain? It has a 1.6 GHz dual-core CPU, 1 GB RAM and 4GB of internal storage with a micro SD slot to add up to an additional 32GB. The 7-inch display features a resolution of 1024 x 600 and also uses IPS technology like the Pro version. There's also built in Wi-Fi, Mini HD and Micro USB ports on the Sero 7 LT and it runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The Sero 7 LT would be good starter tablet for kids at just $99 compared to a $329 iPad Mini.

Based in China, Hisense manufactures a variety of products including refrigerators, air conditioners televisions, set-top boxes and mobile phones. Hisense has 13 factories in China and additional factories set up in Hungary, South Africa, Egypt and France. An OEM manufacturer, some products made by Hisense are sold under other brand names, unrelated to Hisense.

Founded in 1969, Hisense is now venturing into a new platform with the introduction of two affordable portable tablets that offer competitive specs.

"Our new Hisense Sero 7 tablets provide Walmart customers with an attractive, robust and highly powerful entertainment, communication and productivity tool," Vice President of Marketing, Hisense USA, Jonathan Frank said.

Sero 7 Pro Specifications as per Hisense: