What's good
- Type-C USB
- Light
- Great display
- Android 5.0
- Price
What's bad
- Screen glare
- No storage expansion
- No GPS
- No cellular data support
Many thought that selling their smartphone branch to Microsoft would mean not seeing the Nokia name on any devices for a while. Well, Nokia is out to show they’re still in the tech business with a new tablet--the Nokia N1. Does the cell phone powerhouse have what it takes to make the transition to tablets? We’ll dig into the reviews and find out!
One of the most predominant things mentioned in every review is the appearance of the tablet. With its 7.9-inch 2048-by-1536 pixel display, unibody design and clean lines, International Business Times and other gadget outlets are calling the device an iPad Mini clone. The screen on the tablet is completely flush with the body and features zero-gap lamination for a seamless, unibody design. After handing the tablet, Phone Arena said it feels “truly premium.”
The IPS display on the tablet offers plenty of pixels to keep up with the competition. International Business Times called the display “crisp and clear” though many reviews noted a few issues with glare in bright lighting due to the lamination.
Powering the N1 is a 2.4GHz 64-bit quad-core Intel Atom processor with 2GB of RAM. While 64-bit processors are still relatively new to mobile devices, the benefits in both power and energy efficiency are easy to see. Paired with Nokia’s Z Launcher interface and Android 5.0, the tablet was quick and responsive according to most reviews. Phone Arena predicts that the tablet will “be able to keep up with the best of them a year or two from now on,” making it a great choice for anyone who wants something that won’t be a paperweight in the next round of the tablet wars.
The tablet includes a 5300mAh non-removable battery. No reviews mentioned battery tests. However, Nokia claims that a single charge should net you up to 9 hours of heavy to moderate usage.
While the N1 doesn’t include a memory card slot, it does come with 32GB of internal storage to offer plenty of room for your favorite music, movies, games and more.
Finally, if you’re looking to snap a few pictures, the 8MP rear-facing camera and 5MP front-facing offer multiple options. Unfortunately, lack of a flash on the camera will limit your options in low-light and reviews on image quality are only slightly above average.
In all, the N1 looks like it will be a major contender on the tablet charts for 2015 with CNet calling it “almost too good to be true” and Phone Arena declaring that it “has quite a lot to offer for your money.” While it might be missing a few options, such as cellular data and GPS support, reviews indicate that what it does offer more than offsets the few minor omissions.
What the Critics Are Saying...
- James A., Tablet NewsThe best Android tablet you can buy at a more affordable price, but at the same time packing solid specs. The main advantage is being able to use the slate for long hours, without feeling tired and this model is also better than the Xiaomi Mi Pad and iPad Mini Retina, minus the camera and display br...
- GSMArena team, GSMArenaNokia picked a very competitive field for its return to consumer products. Even the highly popular full-size iPad is finding it tough to compete with its 8" (give or take) sibling and the market is rife with high-quality tablets of that size. And the Nokia N1 just isn't geared enough to compete, it...
- Kevin Nether, Android AuthoritySo, there you have it – a closer look at the Nokia N1 tablet! In a lot of ways, it is truly difficult to judge an Android device without testing its full capabilities, something not possible due to the lack of Google Play services and apps in this particular version of the device. That said, e...
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