If market research is anything to go by, two things customers like are large smartphones and small tablets. Asus appears to think so as well as it unveils the PadFone mini, a smaller version of the original smartphone-tablet combo.

Like existing PadFone devices the PadFone mini combines a smartphone with a tablet dock, only with shrunken-down proportions-- the "Fone" part features a 4.3-inch 960x540 display, while the "Pad" carries 7-inch 1280x800 panel.

Spec-wise it carries a 1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon MSM8226 CPU, 1GB RAM and 16GB storage (expandable via microSD), as well as 1500mAH and 2200mAh batteries in the phone and tablet.

The OS of choice is Android 4.3, while connectivity comes through dual-SIM slots, wifi, Bluetooth, A-GPS and GLONASS. The rear-facing 8MP camera can shoot in 16fps bursts as well as a Hi-Light "Owl Mode," and is paired with a 3MP front-facing shooter.

The PadFone mini launches now in Russia, China, Russia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore and (obviously) Asus' home Taiwan, but since European customers also have a preference for smaller devices it might also make it over here.

Watch Asus PadFone mini Announcement video

Go Asus