World-famous technology brand Nokia unveiled its first ever Lumia 1520 phablet and Lumia 2520 Windows 8 tablet at an event in Abu Dhabi yesterday (October 22nd).
New products from the company could leave consumers feeling spoilt for choice when it comes to picking their ideal gifts for Christmas this year. The items could also provide competition for key rivals Apple and Samsung, which are expected to release new gadgets before the festive period.
The extra-large handset – given the nickname “phablet” due to them being a hybrid of a phone and tablet – is set to give users the chance to chance which objects in a photograph are in focus after it has been taken.
Alternatively, the brand’s Windows RT tablet comes with a 4G data chip.
The Nokia World event in Abu Dhabi is expected to be the Finnish firm’s last major conference before it completes the sale of its hardware unit.
Microsoft agreed to buy the business for €5.4 billion (£4.6 billion) as part of a deal that is set to be finalised by early next year.
Experts have suggested that the sale could help Microsoft in its efforts to promote its mobile platforms against that of market leaders Android and iOS.
Speaking to BBC News, Martin Garner from consultancy CCS Insight said: “For the last two years Microsoft and Nokia’s marketing efforts have jarred against each other at times – having one big effort should be better than two smaller ones.
“Microsoft can also spend a lot more marketing the devices than Nokia could. That does seem to be a key criteria – both Samsung and Apple’s spends are very high indeed.”
It has been a big day for tablet launches in the world of technology, with Apple expected to confirm the launch of its iPhone 7 and iPad Mini 2 in a press conference later today.
