Hisense HI63218SR Review: Matt Induction Hob, Few Extras

The Hisense HI63218SR induction hob is a long way from being the most sophisticated model in its sector. It is a three-zone hob that relies chiefly on its matt finish to win over buyers.

Matt surfaces on induction hobs have grown steadily more popular since the finish was first brought to market, and manufacturers have responded to that enthusiasm by moving away from conventional glossy glass towards a material presented as better looking, more durable and less prone to showing marks.

The HI63218SR uses that finish, and if the plumage is immediately appealing, the song is rather less impressive. There are three zones, one on the left and two on the right that can be bridged together. Total power is 7200 W, of which 3600 W belongs to the main left-hand zone, and there are very few additional options. An individual timer, a boost mode and a residual-heat indicator are all present, but there is no pause function, no chef mode and no pre-programmed cooking programmes.

There is not much scope to change the general design of a domestic appliance like a hob, and the HI63218SR is a standard-size unit that sets itself apart from rivals through its matt surface. Whether or not the appeal is largely novelty, the glass used here is genuinely attractive after so many gloss finishes.

The choice of material is not purely aesthetic; it is also meant to be more stable over time, and in theory less prone to the scratches and marks that utensils always end up leaving on a hob, even for a meticulous cook.

Those particular properties are difficult to assess directly, but the matt finish is also supposed to show dirt less. In practice, less time was needed going over the HI63218SR with a microfibre cloth than would be spent on a glossy glass hob. Fingerprints are far less visible than on a conventional model, but so are the printed markings. Photographs can be misleading on this point: it is sometimes difficult to make out the guides that help place pans in the right position for maximum efficiency.

The control panel also uses printed markings, and these are more visible than the ones marking the zones. Getting to grips with the hob poses no problems. The HI63218SR is a fairly simple model without many options, and it takes only a few seconds to master the whole thing.

Only the timer can occasionally prove awkward, although with a little concentration it works out. The beeps are very loud and quickly become irritating; a careful read of the manual should sort that out.

Each induction zone has its own power control. That improves responsiveness and ease of use, since there is no need to select a zone first and then change the level; everything is directly accessible. A little more latitude in the choice of power would have been welcome, because only nine increments are offered where some other hobs provide 14 levels or more. The most demanding cooks may feel slightly limited, but for everyday use it is more than enough.

Although there are no pre-set cooking modes, the level at which a setting starts can be chosen. Pressing the left arrow puts the zone straight onto level 4, while pressing the right arrow selects level 9.

As any self-respecting induction hob should, the HI63218SR has a boost function that briefly increases the power of the zones for a faster rise in temperature. Activating it means pressing the right arrow once more when the zone is already at power 9, which usefully avoids the need for a dedicated key.

Switching a zone off works in a similar way: press the left arrow when the zone is already at its lowest power. That is a good way of avoiding turning a zone off by accident.

Finally, the two small right-hand zones can be bridged to create a large cooking surface able to take a big stockpot, a plancha or a cast-iron griddle. Pressing the two right-hand power controls simultaneously for a few seconds does it, and the knack comes very quickly.

The HI63218SR's cooking performance is not extraordinary, but it will cope with everything encountered in a domestic kitchen.

It takes 5 min 30 s to bring 3 litres of water from 25 degrees Celsius to 95 degrees Celsius, with 100 degrees Celsius reached after a further 30 seconds. That puts the hob among the faster models for raising temperature, without quite troubling those at the very top of the rankings.

Alongside that turn of speed, it handles low power settings almost perfectly. After two hours on the smallest zone, the temperature of the oil bath used for the measurement did not exceed 54 degrees Celsius, which is useful for pastry work given that the ideal texture for working chocolate without overheating it is reached at 55 degrees Celsius.

The heat produced by the large zone appears well distributed, judging by the thermal images, so there is no risk of sauteed potatoes cooking less on one side of the pan than the other. Inevitably, with the small right-hand zones active, the temperature at the base of the pan is less even, though not catastrophically so.

As is very often the case, the bridged zone shows the largest temperature differences within a single utensil. To avoid a whole fish being overcooked at the head and tail while the middle is barely done, it is worth choosing a pan with a very thick base that conducts heat well.

One caveat applies to all the zones: they cannot hold a genuinely constant power throughout cooking. To simulate intermediate levels they run for a period, stop, then start again.

According to the recorded measurements, the HI63218SR can reach a maximum power of 7100 W, which allows all three zones to be put into boost mode at the same time. That is not especially common in this sector.

To complete the boiling test, the HI63218SR consumed 0.34 kWh. That is slightly more economical than the average of the other hobs in the comparison set.

Induction hobs are generally fairly discreet appliances, and the HI63218SR is no exception. With only the induction zones running, the sound level barely reaches 43 dB(A). The fan that cools the hob starts spinning very quickly, however, and the level then climbs to 53 dB(A).

The most direct rival is the Electrolux Saphir Matt Serie 700 EIS62356IZ, which also uses a matt surface and adds a SenseBoil function that is not necessarily useful. More capable hobs exist, among them the Siemens iQ 700 EX651HEC1F and the LG CBIZ2432B, although both stick with the conventional smooth, glossy surface that shows marks more readily.