Xiaomi has built its business on copying Apple, so it wasn’t a great surprise when it launched its iPad mini clone, the Mi Pad. It’s slightly more surprising to see post-Microsoft Nokia going down the same route, today launching its N1 tablet which has cloned everything from the curved edges to the speaker grilles at the bottom of the device to the button placement at the top. Even the friggen website looks like it was lifted from the apple.com domain.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwJmthxJV5Q]
The Android-powered N1 is Nokia’s first new product since selling its devices and services division to Microsoft last year …Â
The overall design of the N1 is like a blend of the iPad mini with the rounded edges of the iPhone 6. The speaker grilles have three rows of holes rather than one, and there’s no home button on the N1, but otherwise we’re left playing spot the difference.
The display has an identical 2048×1536 resolution, the slot for the new reversible USB-C connector looks identical in appearance to that for the Lightning connector, the case looks strikingly similar to Apple’s Smart Case – and the N1 is even being built by Apple’s iPad and iPhone manufacturing partner, Foxconn.
Specs are decent, with a 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3580 CPU, 2GB RAM, 32GB storage, 8MP main camera and 5MP front-facing camera – an area of past strength for Nokia.
It’s not yet known whether the N1 will go on sale in the USA: Nokia is launching first in China in February, with Russia and selected European countries next in line. The launch price will be the equivalent of $249, putting it well below the $399 price point of the iPad mini 3 – but only $50 less than an iPad mini 2.
Check out the gallery below for more photos, courtesy of The Verge.
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Pathetic iPad RipOff
Technically speaking, this is NEXT year’s iPad design. You know Apple is going to curve all their iOS devices like they did on the new iPhone 6. That would be a welcome design change for iPads.
Jony Ive said something about not doing the rounded edges on the iPads for the purposes of better grip, they went with the rounded edges on the phone so the larger design would feel smaller
But your probably right
I’m confused why Nokia would release an Android tablet instead of Windows RT or something similar?
Pathetic…
Must be nice to have Jony Ive’s design without having to pay him for it.
So Apple is making Android-powered tablets now?
Well, is not like Apple invented the soft corner rectangle, but yeah it seems a deliberately attempt at copying.
What I really have a problem with is that Nokia could have improved upon the iPad design, like having a Flash Light for the camera and a 3:2 Screen which is a better compromise and more efficient for 16:9 video content.
At least they didn’t copy Apple’s happy jingle music that is all over TV commercials these days. lol
No touch Id!
I guess the saying goes if you can’t beat them, join them. Too bad they can’t do this with their software/hardware integration. The real reason people choose Apple.
I don’t think in this case that saying applies. Now maybe if it was, “If you can’t beat them, steal their design” …Maybe??…
And how is this continued to be allowed? What is the point of patents or protection of intellectual property?
This is just ridiculous.
Because they won’t sell this in Western Europe or America. China doesn’t care one bit about IP.
Agreed…Look at most Chinese auto manufacturers…some are direct rip-offs of others designs.
That’s easy to copy. Now try designing your own processors and software integrations.
All I need to read was the name Nokia. Fail.
The new ” mini pad” from Nokia!
i can t help but thinking that this business is running out of NEW ideas……..
Cannot believe Nokia, who used to innovate with hardware design, are doing this. Me thinks this is intentional to bring about a lawsuit from Apple and therefore damage Android. It has MS’s fingerprints all over it. Why else? Nexus 9 (lovely) proves there is another better way.
They should have done this years ago instead of that Symbian shite! Have to say that looks really nice, if I wanted an Android Tablet that’s the one I would be buying.
“Nokia N1
Thinking Differe- er uh…
Thinking Ahead”
I almost spit out my drink laughing when I saw that it said “Thinking Ahead”…
And the accessory makers are going gaga – with a common form factor and shared speaker locations, all you need is a simple USB-C vs Lightening connector adapter to make your dock device cross platform!
But yes, Apple should do massive push for protecting creative copyright on both the hardware and the web graphics.
not trying to defend nokia, but i think they can argue that this looks like a much thinner, larger lumia 820.
So you’re saying the Lumia 820 was copied from the iPhone 6/Plus?
So this is NOKIA’s survival plan now? See how closely they can copy popular Apple products and get away with it?
Worked for Samsung. So why not? :\
Is it just me or does this seem all the worse with Foxconn being the manufacturer?
It does seem bizarre Nokia is launching it’s own tablets in competition with Windows brand tablets and a different OS, yet it’s the same company. You might assume their marketing was thought out, but being MS prob not… if they have Ballmer sitting with oprah bouncing off a couch with it while Nadella tells her not to ask for a pay raise, we can at least call it reality TV instead of just a rip off.
They say imitation is the highest form of flattery…
Or theft of IP and design…tomato potato
To be honest I think it looks very good. The design is very stylish and the interface looks very cool too. Some might actually consider buying that one instead of an iPad. Too bad it’s gonna be banned almost everywhere
I hate companies who can’t think and innovate for themselves. They must ALL be owned by the Chinese Government.