Review: HANNspree SD7021

Written on Jan 5, 2009 by Adama Brown and filed under HANNspree, Reviews

The HANNspree SD7021 is a 7″ budget frame that is entirely about being low-cost. You won’t find many features here and the frame cuts costs further by using a low resolution display. But a 7″ frame with a retail of $40 might be appealing enough to some.

HANNspree SD7021Specs

• 7″ display (480×234 pixels)
• 16:9 aspect ratio
• SD, MS, USB sources
• 8MB internal memory

Like its bigger sibling the SD80M4MB, the SD7021 comes with a simple one-part rotating stand, USB and SD card options, and a rotation sensor to automatically switch between portrait and landscape modes.

Unlike the SD80, the SD7021 has almost no features beyond the basics: no speaker (circular grille notwithstanding), remote, CF card slot, or any of the other stuff beyond basic picture playback and desk-clock functionality. This does mean that unlike the easy, remote-driven navigation on the SD80, you need to use the buttons

Video playback and a remote control weren’t the only corners the SD7021 cut to hit it’s price point. The 7-inch LCD is lower than normal resolution, just 480 x 234 pixels compared to 800 x 480 on its bigger brother and 800 x 600 on other similarly sized frames. 

The low resolution screen is simply a killer. From a distance it’s passable, but up close it looks pretty rough. Sharpness and clarity are lost, and the brightness of the photos is substantially decreased. (To correct for this, you’ll need to go into the internal menus and bump up the brightness at least 5 notches.) Even the menus look dotty and unappealing.

I used the same set of photos, on the same SD card, to test out the SD7021 as I’d used on the more larger and more robust Hannspree SD80 frame. It’s no competition. While some people might look at both frames and think that the SD7021 would be a deal at this price point, the bare facts are that the added clarity is more than worth the extra cash of a better frame, even apart from any added features.

The other issue is that it’s widescreen. That means images will need to be edited for this frame or they’ll be cropped or zommed in on, altering their appearance on the frame. We’d prefer to see standard aspect ratios in most frames, even more so in this value-oriented class.

Truthfully, I don’t really have a lot of other issues with the SD7021. The design is simple and reasonably robust, the frame is simple and attractive, albeit high-gloss and as such very prone to catching fingerprints. 

For the most value-oriented digital frame buyer, it’s hard to find a frame at this price that’s 7″, so on a pure price per inch basis, HANNspree probably accomplished their mission. The retail is $40 and in some cases the resolution won’t be as important as price. 

Pros

• Relatively inexpensive

Cons

• Bad screen
• Few features
• Widescreen not ideal for most photos

Bottom Line

With a street price of under $40, the SD7021 is an ultra-basic frame intended for those who aren’t bothered by the lack of features. It might be ideal as a borderline-disposable setup for undemanding grandparents or relatives whose vision isn’t what it used to be, but anyone who’s serious about digital photos will definitely want to look elsewhere. 

2 out of 5 stars

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