While 2011 has been a great year for Apple releases, the company won’t be resting on its laurels next year, and (at least according to Piper Jaffrays analyst Gene Munster) is planning to introduce new redesigned versions of nearly their entire product line in 2012 (image credit: Flickr).
According to Munster (via AppleInsider), because Apple didn’t redesign any of its products in 2011, with the iPhone 4S being a modified version of the iPhone 4, and the iPad 2 being mostly similar to the original iPad, the company “must” issue complete redesigns next year.
Munster also claims that Apple will do away with only offering a single version of the iPad, and “absolutely must” begin offering multiple versions of the iPad next year – the expected iPad 3, as well as a lower-priced version accessible to more people.
Of course, Munster provides no real evidence besides stating that Apple “must” do this. Nevertheless, rumors of a completely redesigned “iPhone 5” with an aluminum unibody have been circulating for some time, as well as reports of a possible redesigned iPad 3 with a Retina display.
The MacBook Pro has also long been rumored for a redesign – a slimmer MacBook Air-like model possibly without an optical drive, and recent rumors have suggested that Retina displays might be coming to the Mac in the near future.
Munster also predicts a huge sales year for 2012, projecting sales of 142 million iPhones and 66 million iPads throughout the coming year.
Of course, it’s not worth betting the farm on Munster’s predictions, as they are only speculative. Still, 2012 may well be quite an exciting year in Apple products.