iPad 3 to be released in the first week of March, reports say

Apple could officially introduce its new tablet, with a more powerful processor and a Retina display at higher resolution (2048×1536 pixels) in the first week of March.

Blog site The Verge went as far as considering the date of March 9 as a potential launch date for the iPad 3 and February 29 as the unveiling date, since 2012 is a leap year.

“If Apple were planning on having these ready for the weekend of March 9, it seems relatively possible that they could choose that date…perhaps with a catchy theme like ‘It’s time to leap ahead,’” The Verge’s Joshua Topolsky wrote.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, AllThingsD reports that the device could be presented as usual in San Francisco, as part of a special event, probably at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, a place that Apple favors when it comes to big launches.

The next iPad will have the same design as the iPad 2. Analysts expect the handset to run on a faster chip, improved graphics processor and better resolution.