With the amount of rumors on the Surface Mini, a smaller Surface tablet is all but confirmed. If anything, according to many analysts it is set to be Redmond’s most important product for the year.
As far as Microsoft is concerned, the technology titan has already expressed its desire to expand the Surface product range, while also revealing that it is working with partners to bring smaller Windows 8 devices to market in the near future.
Well, we may just have our first look at one such device.
This image first popped up over at Minimachines.net, and now Engadget has confirmed that it is the Acer Iconia W3 — a new Windows 8 tablet with an 8-inch display and a comfortably small form factor.
Under the hood, the device is said to be running an Intel Atom Z2760 processor paired with 2GB of RAM.
Pricing for this device has not yet been revealed, but there is a possibility that the Iconia W3 could go on sale just in time for the back-to-school shopping season.
No official confirmations yet that this is indeed Acer’s brand new device, but it is indeed a smaller tablet, and the dimensions are quite in line with what the Surface Mini may sport once it is released.
Most market watchers are forecasting an 8-inch screen on the Mini, but chances are that the company will only release the new tablet later this year — that is, after the debut of Windows 8.1.
And such a decision makes complete sense when you bring Windows 8.1 into the picture. The upcoming upgrade to Microsoft’s platform is said to bring a host of new improvements and enhancements, a fair few of them targeting devices and tablets with smaller form factors.
