This time last year the most popular tablet over the Christmas period was the iPad 2, since then we have had the iPad 3 and now the 4. However, the iPad 4 and the ever-popular Nexus 7 sales lag behind Apple’s mini tablet. This doesn’t come as any surprise really because no matter who we speak to they have nothing but good things to say about the iPad mini, well apart from the Android faithful of course.

According to a recent study it seems as though the iPad mini is being searched for more than rival tablet devices, even its larger sibling. Now while this is not proof of sales, it’s certainly a great indication of how popular Apple’s smaller tablet is. Whether this will result in more iPad mini sales over the Holiday Season is something that we will not find out until early next year, but no matter what, it’s still looking good for Apple.

It’s not just the iPad 4 and the Nexus 7 that seems to be lagging behind the iPad mini, the Kindle Fire HD is also bringing up the rear as well. However, there is a worry for Apple though, as it has been suggested that both the larger iPad’s were searched for far less than the Nexus 7 and the Fire HD. This could mean nothing, but it does make you wonder if things are starting to unravel for Apple? Having said that, we would like to say that if you have a limited budget then we are sure that the Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire HD will be more of an interest to you. Don’t get me wrong these are more than capable devices, although the former does have much more to offer.

So what tablet device will win out over the Holiday Season? As with all statistics we should take them with a grain of salt because they mean nothing until the final sales numbers are in, but we wouldn’t count the Nexus 7 out of the running too soon, as we know that sales over the past few weeks have been very impressive indeed, especially when there has been several stock issues in that time.

Fresh rumors are claiming that Apple will release the iPad 3 this coming march with a fourth generation becoming available in October. A report is claiming that a new model with a Retina display will first come in March, and then later in the year the company will release a high-end device with “killer applications”.

It is being claimed that Apple has decided to release a fourth generation iPad quickly after the iPad 3 because of the rumored Google Nexus tablet. The so called iPad 4 will have highly upgraded hardware with integrated applications, which will help it compete with the numerous high spec Android tablets due in the fourth quarter.

We have heard before about the possibility of two devices being released early this year with one being a cheaper version of the iPad 2, which would reportedly come with a new model. These latest rumors have to be taken with a pinch of salt though, as it is very unlike Apple to release two models of the same product in the same year.

But if true the first release could be a budget model to take on Android and the recently released Kindle Fire, and the later model being the higher spec version of the iPad. Apple has certainly built its success on all the rumors and hype that is created about its products, and makes you wonder if the company drip feeds information to build it up even more leading up to a new release.

Apple may just simply release a new model with an improved display and processor, and reduce the price of the current model. The company often does this with its products with older models as the cost of sourcing components falls, which is then passed on to the consumer.

Would it surprise you if Apple released two new versions of the iPad this year?