February is going to be one interesting month for Samsung and fans of Android. If recent reports hold true, an 8-inch Galaxy Note device that will compete with the iPad mini could be on the way before you know it.

The new tablet is expected to be called the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0, and should be highlighted at the Mobile Word Congress (MWC) in Barcelona next month. The device, which is seen as a direct competitor to the iPad mini and the Google Nexus 7, could become another big hit for Samsung if everything goes according to plan.

According to SamMobile, the Galaxy Note 8.0 will feature a 1280 x 800 resolution display with a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. Other features include microSD card support and 16GB to 32GB of internal storage. No word on the type of processor this tablet will be packing; however, it is rumored to come with Android 4.2 JellyBean.

Since this is believed to be a part of the Galaxy Note line-up of Samsung devices, the S-Pen is expected to be there as well. Thus, Galaxy Note users will not miss out on the experience they are used to. Currently, there aren't too many tablets that are giving the iPad mini a run for its money. This could very well change with the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0.

We’ve seen others like Google and Amazon try to keep Apple at bay with their respective tablet releases; however, the iPad mini continues to rise in popularity, leaving everyone else to play the game of catch-up once again. If Samsung can’t crack the market open with the Galaxy Note 8.0, then it is going to be a tough 2013 for Android OEMs and Google.