Microsoft may finally announce its much-rumored Surface Mini tablet as soon as this month, if a new report turns out to be accurate.

A smaller Surface tablet was widely expected to launch alongside the Surface Pro 3 earlier this year, but that obviously did not happen. On the other hand, the Surface Pro 3 user guide had clear references to the Surface Mini, proving that the device was very much real.

Subsequent reports claimed that Microsoft did indeed plan to launch a Surface Mini as well, but changed its mind at the last minute because it feared the smaller state didn't have what it takes to make it in an increasingly-competitive market. It remained unclear at that point whether Microsoft scraped such plans altogether, or simply delayed the launch of the Surface Mini in order to make it better and more competitive.

Another theory, meanwhile, suggested that Microsoft decided to save the Surface Mini for a later date in order to focus on the Surface Pro 3, its highest-end tablet yet. The Surface Pro 3 has stirred plenty of interest and has notably boosted the success of the company's tablet business, and Microsoft may be ready to take things to the next level.

A new report out of China now claims that the Microsoft Surface Mini may finally make its official debut this month. More specifically, Chinese blog UDN reports learning from sources that Microsoft will formally unveil its Surface Mini by the end of the year.

The report further notes that the Surface Mini will sport an 8- or 10-inch display, although at 10 inches it wouldn't exactly be a "mini" device anymore. After the Surface Mini hits retail, Microsoft will reportedly gear up for the next-generation Surface Pro 4, which is expected to run the latest Windows 10.

In fact, UDN speculates that the Surface Mini might boast Windows 10 on board as well, which suggests that even if it makes its official debut this month, it would not hit commercial availability until mid-to-late-2015. It would make more sense if the Surface Mini debuts this month with Windows 8 on board and hit retail in early 2015, then receive the new Windows 10 OS when it's ready for prime time, but nothing is clear for now.

On the other hand, it's all just speculation at this point and it remains to be seen how it will all pan out. As always with leaks, rumors, and reports, take this one with a grain of salt until official confirmation.