Samsung’s recently debuted smartphone-tablet hybrid Android device, the Samsung Galaxy Note, just received clearance from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

FCC documents filed for the Samsung Galaxy Note suggest communication components compatible with AT&T’s 4G network.

Assigned FCC ID AL3GTI9220 (Samsung handset model GT-I9220), the Samsung Galaxy Note is expected to be launched in the U.S. or Europe in 2012 yet, although the likelihood of its release in Canada this year is great. Samsung released variants of its global blockbuster smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S II, to the Canadian market first before the phone reached the U.S.market.

The Samsung Galaxy Note drew mixed reactions when Samsung debuted it at the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA 2011) in early September, owing primarily to its form factor–a 5.3-inch display with 1280×800 resolution.

People were at odds with what to think of the Android device: is it technically a smartphone, or is it a tablet? Or is it a phoneblet, tabphone, phonetab, smartlet, (insert neologism here)?

Some felt the size was too huge for a smartphone, yet, on the other hand, the size was also too small for a tablet. Most people, however, felt that the size is just enough for a mini-tablet or notepad, especially in a period where the standard size for the tablet begins with 7 inches as the smallest.

The Samsung Galaxy Note generated buzz at the IFA 2011 not only because of its size but also because of its other specs: Android 2.3 Gingerbread, dual-core Samsung Exynos processor (1.4 GHz), 1 GB of RAM, 2500-mAh battery, 8-megapixel primary camera, 2-megapixel secondary camera, and a pen/stylus that can be inserted into the phone when not in use.

What’s your opinion of a 5.3-inch Android smartphone? What about of a 5.3-inch Android tablet?