Will the Nexus 10 2 release date take place soon as the original Nexus 10 disappeared from Google Play Store earlier this week?

First, the 16GB variant was listed by Google as 'out of inventory' back in October 2013, which fuelled speculations that a refresh was forthcoming. It never came.

Then Tuesday this week, the 32GB build assumed the same listing and according to Phandroid, the chance is quite is slim for future restocks. No doubt the slate has reached its end course, which suggests that the replacement could be just around the corner.

And there are many signs that support these wild talks.

A quick check on Play Store will show that the other Nexus tab, the Nexus 7, is consistently getting the price slash back treatment - its tag price is shrinking in the past few months. Why even the Nexus 5, only months old, is being discounted, significantly at that, as of this writing.

The usual interpretation for such indicators is device makers are trying to clean house - push out the old stocks and make way for the new ones.

Then there is this leaked image, as reported by Gotta Be Mobile, that according to @evleaks, known for his credible gadget scoops, is the press photo of the 2014 Nexus 10. While the post was pulled down due to possibility of hoax, the pic somehow provided welcomed clues for ardent Android watchers.

The tab, as the Twitter post implied, remains a 10-inch device that is fired up by an 8-core Exynos processing chip that is paired with a 3GB of RAM. The graphic engine is supposed to be a behemoth too as it beams out in 1600p HD resolution, allowing the new Nexus 10 to tussle fiercely with the Retina-laden iPad Air.

On the camera side, the upcoming Nexus 10 2 is said to carry an interesting combo - 5MP on the rear and 3MP on front. These capabilities make it a strong rival not only of the iPad Air but also of the Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Note series from Samsung.

But what interests really is the likelihood that like the first tablet, Google has decided that Samsung is the best to make the Nexus 10 2.

Still, the question remains: Will this stock Android tablet, supposed to be running on a higher Android version, ever come out? And how soon really?

Only Google can provide the answer for now as experts, basing on previous actions by the tech giant, predict that in the event the device becomes a reality, it will do so in silent. Meaning, the Play Store will simply display the Nexus 10 2 in full glory ready for online ordering.

One solid event that Google could use as reference point for the Nexus 10 2 release date is the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this February 2014. So all eyes will be trained to the Spanish city in the immediate weeks ahead, that's for sure.