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Andrew Hoyle/CNET
Remember the Nokia N1 tablet that turned heads because of its Apple-inspired design? Here’s the good news — the same Android tablet is now being sold outside of China, beginning with Taiwan this month for 8,190 Taiwanese dollars (about $265, converted directly). The bad news is there’s no word on when the Finnish phone maker’s device will hit other markets, though.
The Nokia N1 tablet was first unveiled on the show floor of Mobile World Congress in 2014, and like the iPad Mini 3 it resembles, the N1 boasts an eye-pleasing 7.9-inch IPS LCD screen with a 2,048 x 1,536-pixel resolution, and comes powered by a 64-bit 2.3GHz Intel Atom Z3580 CPU with 2GB RAM and 32GB of onboard storage.
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The 6.9mm-thick N1 runs a mostly vanilla version Android 5.0 OS Lollipop, but with Nokia’s very own Z Launcher that helps reduce home screen clutter. Other cool features include a sand-blasted aluminum rear, and, taking another leaf out of Apple’s Macbook, a reversible USB Type-C port.
In April last year, Nokia sold its handset business to Microsoft, and under the agreement that it would not be able to release mobile products under the Nokia branding until the end of 2015. Tablets were not included in this agreement, which left Nokia free to announce the N1.
While Nokia is mainly a Finnish company, the N1 tablet is actually a Foxconn product, with Nokia licensing the brand name as well as the design, and leaving marketing and distribution to the Taiwanese manufacturer. This, however, does explain why the tablet has been China-only until recently.
Looking forward, the availability of the tablet outside of mainland China is a sign of the changing times as Chineses companies start looking to nearby international markets. This move is expected to shake up these markets, as Chinese devices tend to offer better specs at a cheaper price. A prime example of this is the Yi Action Camera from Xiaomi, which touts better specs than an entry-level GoPro on paper, while retailing for half the price.
CNET has reached out to Nokia for more information on availability in other regions. We’ll update this story when we hear back.
Nokia N1 hits the MWC show floor looking just like an iPad (pictures)
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