Microsoft was widely expected to unveil a Surface Mini during the Surface Pro 3 launch event last month but at the last minute, the Redmond-based company seemingly flipped the script and pulled it from the showcase.

Microsoft has since failed to even confirm the Mini's existence although the Surface Pro 3 user guide may have inadvertently done it for them. The guide, released earlier today, is littered with references to the Surface Mini - far too many for it to be an accident. After all, a simple ctrl+f search treatment of the user guide for the phrase "Surface Mini" by the editor would have been sufficient, but I digress.

The references, initially spotted by Paul Thurrott, are as follows:

  • "Before you use your Surface Pen the first time, you'll need to install the AAAA battery. You'll pair your new pen with Surface Mini a little later during setup."
  • "Rotate Surface Mini the way you want it."
  • "Click the top button to open OneNote, even if your Surface is locked. Bluetooth technology links your Surface Pen to your Surface Mini or Surface Pro 3, so when you click the button, your Surface responds instantly."
  • "If you want to do more than take a quick handwritten note, unlock Surface Mini."

It's not clear exactly why the Mini was scrapped from last month's press event nor do we have any idea about when Microsoft will decide the time is right for the big reveal. Waiting too much longer could be a mistake when you consider some believe Microsoft already has thousands of Surface Minis sitting by idly in a warehouse.