Nokia unveils 7.9-inch N1 Android tablet

The Nokia N1, an Android tablet pitched as a rival to Apple's iPad mini, was unveiled on Twitter last night despite rumours the device had been scrapped.

The 7.9-inch tablet sports an 8MP rear-facing and 5MP front-facing cameras, with 32GB storage, a 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3580 processor and 2GB of RAM. It weighs 318g at 6.9mm thick, and will be available in standard or darker grey versions.

The tablet runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop, and features Nokia's Z launcher, which boasts an adaptive capability that arranges users' apps based on preference and use. Users can also use their finger to write on the screen, finding apps faster. Z launcher is already available for other Android smartphones and tablets.

It will reportedly cost $249 (159), and will launch in 2015. A more specific UK release date is currently unknown.

Guess what? We're up to something. http://t.co/AFq4dUFI9S #thinkingahead #Slush14 pic.twitter.com/sqERYpz0VcNokia (@nokia) November 17, 2014

Microsoft recently ditched the Nokia label with its Lumia 535 smartphone, with uSwitch.com mobiles expert Rob Kerr saying there's "no room for nostalgia in the fast-moving mobile market."

This is despite Nokia being owned by Microsoft since April this year. As part of the deal, Nokia will not be allowed to use its branding on smartphones between now and 2016, but the company announced that it would still focus on new devices.

Take a closer look at Nokia N1 the tablet that thinks ahead. http://t.co/UZbDJm2gie #NokiaN1 #thinkingahead pic.twitter.com/3JekQkY9aiNokia (@nokia) November 18, 2014

At a presentation at the Slush technology conference in Finland (via Total Telecom), head of Nokia's product business Sebastian Nystrom said: "They say Nokia is dead. They say Nokia is no more. Hey, they even say, rest in peace, Nokia. Look, I say they couldn't be more wrong."

Caroline Preece

Caroline has been writing about technology for more than a decade, switching between consumer smart home news and reviews and in-depth B2B industry coverage. In addition to her work for IT Pro and Cloud Pro, she has contributed to a number of titles including Expert Reviews, TechRadar, The Week and many more. She is currently the smart home editor across Future Publishing's homes titles.

You can get in touch with Caroline via email at caroline.preece@futurenet.com.