Microsoft Surface Mini size and release date given away by Amazon listing

There has long been word that Microsoft will unveil a smaller form-factor version of its Surface tablet. A Surface Mini has been rumoured for well over a year – with both 7- and 8-inch options apparently being considered to join the current Windows powered tablets, the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2.

I last wrote about the Microsoft Surface Mini back in September where it was “delayed”.

The Surface and Surface 2 ranges haven’t exactly set the sales figures alight, to put it mildly, and as decent as the Windows slates are, they have a lot of work to do before they win the hearts and money of those opting to go Android or iPad.

The 10.6-inch screen size of the current crop of Surfaces is larger than Apple’s full-size 9.7-inch iPad. The Cupertino tech cobbler also has the iPad mini which joined the ranks in late 2012. It makes sense then that Microsoft should really offer a smaller version of its own brand Windows tablet.

Now, at this juncture, there is no official word of when the smaller Surface is due to drop but thanks to a consumer electronics vendor with a twitchy finger they have revealed a pair of listings on Amazon (here and here until they get pulled down) — which suggest an 8-inch Surface Mini is arriving in the not too distant future.

Both listings proudly shows the accessories you can purchase for said small slate but nestled within is what appears to be the Surface Mini.

The listings are for a smart cover and a Bluetooth keyboard case for a device unquestionably named as being the “Microsoft Surface Mini tablet”.

More information has been haplessly unveiled with the Bluetooth keyboard listing stating that the case will “only fit Microsoft Surface Mini 8-inch tablet” — so, it looks like the Surface Mini will be an 8-incher.

That makes sense as Lenovo already has an 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablet in its ThinkPad 8 offering.

Both listings also say the Surface Mini accessories will be in stock on May 18th – a possible release date for the Microsoft Mini?

Of course, this could all be preemptive guesswork and marketing magic.

What do you think?