Nokia returns to the consumer hardware market with the new N1 tablet, an Android 5.0 Lollipop slate that bears a striking resemblance to the iPad Mini.
Ever since Nokia sold its mobile device unit to Microsoft, many have been wondering just what will come of the Finnish company. After spending many years dedicated to Microsoft's Windows Phone OS, Nokia now seems to have more plans for Android, and the new Nokia N1 tablet leads the way.
The Nokia N1 comes with a 7.9-inch diagonal, a 64-bit Intel processor under the hood, Android 5.0 Lollipop on the software side, as well as Nokia's Z Launcher. The N1 arrives as Nokia's first tablet since Microsoft acquired its device unit.
The first thing you'll notice with the new Nokia N1 is its design, which bears an uncanny resemblance to the iPad Mini. The N1 is made from a single block of aluminum and looks like an iPad Mini even when it comes to curves, button placements, and others.
At the same time, Nokia has also incorporated its own design elements with its N1 slate. For instance, the Nokia N1 is thinner and lighter than any iPad Mini, and it also boasts a fully laminated display that eliminates any air gap between the cover glass and the display panel.
"Every detail matters. From the zero air-gap display to its perfect balance, everything has been crafted for thinness and lightness," Nokia touts.
Under the hood, the Nokia N1 packs a 64-bit Intel Atom Z3580 processor (2.3GHz quad-core Silvermont processor + Imagination PowerVR G6430 running at 533MHz), paired with 2GB of RAM. The 7.9-inch IPS display has 4:3 aspect ratio and a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels, identical to the Retina iPad Mini.
Other specs of the Nokia N1 include an 8-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and 1080p video recording, and a 5-megapixel front shooter. The tablet will only be available with 32GB of internal storage capacity, with Nokia's NAND through eMMC 5.0.
On the software side, the Nokia N1 runs Android 5.0 Lollipop, but Nokia has replaced the standard Android launcher with its own Z Launcher.
"Nokia N1 comes with Nokia Z Launcher, the home screen that makes things simple. Just scribble a letter to find what you're looking for - instantly. Plus, it adapts to where you are and what you're doing to bring you the right app, right when you need it," Nokia further touts.
The new Nokia N1 will reportedly make its commercial debut in China first, launching after the Chinese New Year, with Russia and parts of Europe to follow after that. The slate will cost $250 before taxes and subsidies. In the meantime, check out the video below to learn more about the Nokia N1.
