Nokia N1 Android 5.0 Lollipop tablet launches

Intel-powered, $250 tablet set for 2015 release

Nokia has rejoined the hardware race, unveiling the first device since its phone division's sale to Microsoft, the Nokia N1 tablet.

The Nokia N1's unveiling comes just after Microsoft officially removed the Nokia branding from its mobile devices, launching the Lumia 535 smartphone.

In a move to distance itself from its Windows Phone past, the Nokia N1 ditches Microsoft's operating system in favour of Google's newly launched Android 5.0 Lollipop mobile OS.

Nokia has chosen to leave Android 5.0 Lollipop unskinned and the only notable software addition listed is a custom 'Nokia Z launcher'.

The launcher aims to let the tablet remember user behaviour and intelligently push content to them.

"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," explained Nokia.

"Plus, it adapts to where you are and what you're doing to bring you the right app, right when you need it."

From a hardware perspective, the Nokia N1 is one of the highest-specced Android tablets ever seen. It takes advantage of Android 5.0 Lollipop's 64-bit processor support, being powered by a 2.3GHz Intel Atom Z3580 processor and 2GB of RAM.

The Intel processor makes the Nokia N1 the second Android tablet to feature a 64-bit chip. Previously, the Nvidia-powered Nexus 9 was the only Android tablet to boast a 64-bit processor.

Built of aluminium, the Nokia N1 also features an impressive 7.9in, 2,048x1,536 IPS LCD with Gorilla Glass 3 and fully laminated zero air gap display, 5,300mAh battery and 32GB of internal storage that can be upgraded using its MicroSD card slot.

The Nokia N1 is one of the first devices to support the reversible Type C USB standard and is set to feature 8MP rear and 5MP front cameras.

The tablet is expected to launch initially in China at an unspecified point in the first quarter of 2015 costing $250.

There is no word on whether the Nokia N1 will arrive in the UK, although the firm has promised to release the device in Europe at some point next year.

Check back with V3 later for a full review of the Nokia N1.

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