The iPad 3 is expected to be released in early 2012, however, it could be either in spring or autumn and it is going to be preceded by an iPad 2S first. This was revealed following speculations that the iPhone 4S would not be released, or at least not be a flagship model of iPhone.

Apple had been planning to release a brand new iPhone in 2011 but technical constraints could not make it possible. Hence, they opted for the iPhone 4S as a back up plan, quoted a source at SF Gate. Thus, even if Apple faces similar constraints with the ambitious iPad 3, they would have the option of repeating history by releasing another tweener iPad 3S in spring, waiting for autumn to release the actual iPad 3.

Again, it reflects what Apple had intended by creating a two year gap between the iPhones by bringing out iPhone 3G and 3GS, which externally looked like similar models. Hence, Apple would not try to bring in an intermediary model of iPad 2S unless forced by circumstances.

The key dissimilarity between smartphone and tablet users is that the former do not need to buy all new annual models that come along because they have the eligibility of upgrading for a span ranging from a year to 20 months, depending on whether they were transacting on Sprint, Verizon or AT&T and also on the monthly plan that they were subscribing.

This would have prevented many users of the iPhone 4 from switching to iPhone 5 in mid 2011; similarly as many iPhone 3GS users skipped buying the iPhone 4. This is the reason why the iPhone 4S added a second year to the iPhone 4.x era so as to give the users time enough to reach their upgrade eligibility. Such things do not exist in the case of tablets.

Even though the iPad does have an optional data plan, it’s on monthly basis and no contracts are involved. Hence, iPad 2 users can upgrade to iPad3 the very moment the latter releases, if they want to.

Therefore, Apple does not seem to have any reason for bringing out the iPad 2S, unless the iPad 3 is technically not ready for launch. As seen with the iPhone 4S this year itself, such a possibility cannot be ruled out.