iPad 3 will show its thicker tab face earlier than expected, according to Citi analyst.
And it will be “thicker” and sport double the res than its current iPad 2’s 1024X 768-pixel (132 ppi), Citigroup’s Richard Gardner said in a research note.

IPad 2 is currently 8.8mm in thickness, hyped as “thinner, faster,lighter” meaning Apple are revising its current tablet recipe. Why? No-one knows.

Thicker or thinner, iPad 3 is  coming February, analysst believe.

But, if true, this means ‘3’ it will outdo rival Samsung Galaxy Tab, now legal in Australia since Friday, which has been touted as sporting higher res than its current iOS rival.

And according to Gardner, Apple is very nearly ready for kick off for the earlier than expected release, saying “there do not appear to be any significant technical hurdles remaining,” as reported by Business Insider.

Previously, rumours had indicated March would be the release date for 3rd generation tablet from leaders Apple.

Another Japanese blog, Macotakara, also concurs with Gardner’s claims  and believes the screen size wil be the same as iPad 2’s 9.7 inches.

The Citigroup analyst also predicts 12 million and 13 million of the iPad 2 will be sold during Apple’s Christmas quarter.

Previous rumours doing the rounds also suggested both iPhone 5 and iPad 3 will get Long Term Evolution 4G, meaning faster web speeds and browsing.