It's been a while since we've heard anything about new BlackBerry PlayBook hardware, but a new report has surfaced claiming that RIM is prepping not one, but two new PlayBook models for release in 2012. According to N4BB, a new 7-inch PlayBook may be landing in April with 3G connectivity in tow. RIM will reportedly follow that up with an LTE-enabled 10-inch Playbook in December. On the smartphone side of things, N4BB believes that RIM's first BlackBerry 10 handset is due to arrive in September.

This isn't the first time we've heard that 4G PlayBooks are in the pipeline, as RIM itself said last year that it was planning to offer versions of the PlayBook that included WiMAX and LTE support, but those devices never made it to market. Although this latest rumor about new PlayBooks are just that for now, it should be interesting to see if the combination of 3G/4G connectivity, a 10-inch display and the new PlayBook OS 2.0 can help to drum up more interest in the RIM's tablets. Any of you think you'd be interested in a 10-inch PlayBook with LTE?

Via BGR, N4BB