Purported photos and specifications of the rumored Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini spread like wildfire on the internet a day before the confirmed launch of the device.

Samsung mobile chief JK Shin said that Samsung will launch a 4-inch version of the Android-powered smartphone on Thursday, a week after the smartphone hinted about the event.

"There's a lot of demand for a 4-inch screen device in Europe. Some may call it an entry-level device, but we call it 'mini'," said Samsung Mobile chief JK Shin to the Korean media.

The original Samsung Galaxy S3 is not everybody's cup of tea. Thus, it is not surprising that Samsung will make another smartphone to cater to those people who are looking for a smaller yet powerful smartphone.

The smaller version is expected to sport a 4-inch display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. The retail listing only features the available options, but does not provide any official pictures of the purported device. The handset is expected to have a WVGA display, a 5-megapixel camera, a dual-core processor, and the latest Android 4.1 Jelly Bean right out of the box.

The South Korean tech giant will hold a media event on October 11. The invitations touted something small that can be really big, and the Galaxy S3 Mini is expected to be the star of the event in Berlin.

Initial reports said that the Galaxy S3 Mini is reportedly available in blue and white, with or without NFC connectivity, for $540 and $560, respectively. However, MobileGeeks reports that the price of the Galaxy S3 Mini, according to their sources, is €399, which is around $500.

Consumers comment positively on the news about the device. Some consumers said that Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini is a real smartphone. Users appreciate smaller screen display but with the same powerful features and capacity of the original Galaxy S3.

See the slideshow for the leaked photos of the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini.

Samsung Retail Smartphone Android