Nokia might have sold its devices business to Microsoft, effectively removing the brand from the smartphone market, but that doesn't mean the company is done with consumer handhelds altogether. It proved as much this morning, officially revealing the N1 tablet.
With a 7.9in, 2,048x1,536 resolution display panel, the N1 has the edge over most 7in Android tablets, but the quad-core, 2.4GHz Intel Atom Z3580 CPU is unlikely to set any benchmark records. It does at least include 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, as well as an 8-megapixel camera on the back and a 5-megapixel front-facing webcam.
It will also be one of the first devices to launch with USB Type-C, the latest version of the USB standard which will finally add reversible connectors - meaning no more fiddling to get the cable around the right way.
The N1 will run Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box, although Nokia will also be adding its own custom Z launcher. The gesture-based skin automatically changes which apps and contacts are shown on the home screen based on where you are and what you're doing. It also lets you write out a letter to bring up a list of apps, or perform a quick internet search using Google Suggestions. Previously released in closed beta form, the N1 will be the official launch device for Z Launcher, which will also be available to download on other Android devices.
As much as it's great to see Nokia finding its place away from smartphones, it's a shame the company has lifted so liberally from the Apple playbook. At 6.9mm thick and weighing 318g, the N1 is both thinner and lighter than the iPad Mini, but in terms of design the Nokia tablet is practically a clone; it has the same size screen, unibody metal construction and rear camera placement, at the top corner of the device. Even the official N1 website looks like something straight out of Cupertino.
Equally bizzare is Nokia's launch strategy. The N1 will be arriving in China first in mid-February, just in time for Chinese New Year, before heading to Russia and 'select European countries' at a later date. Prices are expected to start at around £150 before tax and VAT, which still makes it something of a bargain in terms of Android tablets running Lollipop, but UK customers could be in with a long wait before they can get their hands on one.
