Nokia Is Back. New Era Begins With Android-Powered iPad Mini Clone

That didn’t take long. Just seven months after Microsoft finalised the long running deal to buy Nokia’s mobile phone division, the Finnish giant is back with a new consumer device… and this time Nokia is backing Android .

Nokia took to the stage at Slush 2014, one of Europe’s largest technology events (where I will be for the next two days), to announce the ‘Nokia N1’ – an iPad mini look-a-like tablet running Android 5.0 Lollipop.

The N1 makes an impressive – if controversial – entrance that will trigger feelings of déjà vu. It has the same 7.9-inch display size and ‘Retina’ ready 2048 x 1536 pixel display as the iPad mini 2 and 3. It also uses a similar aluminium unibody design – available in grey or black – with heavily machined power and volume buttons that also match Apple’s now neglected tablet.

Inside, however, it is all change. Nokia has split from its rivals in opting for a 64-bit compatible 2.4GHz quad core Intel Atom Z3580 processor, which it pairs with 2GB RAM and 32GB of storage. The front and rear cameras also have higher megapixel ratings at 5MP and 8MP respectively. In addition the Nokia N1 will be the first consumer device to use the new, reversible USB Type C connector which will come to all new smartphones and tablets over the next year.

At 318g, the N1 is 13 grams lighter than the iPad mini 3, but Nokia has not gone into detail about the battery life of the new tablet. Arguably most interesting about the N1 though, is Nokia’s switch of allegiances which sees it ditch Microsoft in favour of Android 5.0 Lollipop, the latest version of Android.

Nokia N1 tablet is very similar to the iPad mini (image courtesy of Nokia)