Ming-Chi Kuo

We’re just a couple days away from Apple’s big September 12th event on Wednesday, and reliable supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has published his latest predictions. Included are several new details regarding the mid-sized iPhone “Xr”, new iPads and USB-C, the cheaper MacBook and Touch ID, the Apple Watch Series 4 and ECG, and more. Here’s what Kuo is now predicting from Apple:

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Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities has published a new research note for investors that includes new details about what to expect with Apple’s fall hardware lineup. Adding to his previous reports about new iPhones, Kuo has shared new details and specifics about upcoming iPad Pro updates, Mac refreshes including the Mac mini, Apple Watch screen size expectations, and more.

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Ming-Chi Kuo released a report today that ups his estimates for the new 2018 iPhone sales, as well as detailing a few changes to expect. Kuo says that the 6.5-inch OLED iPhone model should be priced around $1000 like the current iPhone X, and will feature dual SIM capabilities. The 6.1-inch LCD iPhone X style device should retail for around $700.

Perhaps, most excitingly, Kuo says the new iPhones will come in a plethora of colors. The 6.5-inch phone will be offered in black, white and a (new!) gold. The entry-level 6.1-inch LCD iPhone will apparently debut in “grey, white, blue, red and orange”.

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Reliable supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has shared a new guidance note to investors with details about Apple’s rumored 6.1-inch iPhone expected to debut this fall. The analyst note also highlights three new Apple products coming this year to watch for in addition to new iPhones…

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Well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, formerly of KGI Securities, is out today with his first Apple-related investor note at his new firm, TF International Securities. After offering up a slew of 2018 iPhone details over the last few months, Kuo this time is breaking down Apple’s price strategy for the upcoming smartphones…

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One of the biggest sources of supply chain-based pre-release Apple hardware information has departed his position of nearly six and a half years. Ming-Chi Kuo, top Apple analyst at KGI Securities, left the company last Friday, April 27th, according to a report by the China Times via Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

KGI is Taiwan’s second-largest securities firm, and is set to mark its 30th year in business later this September. Kuo, who is easily the firm’s most recognizable analyst by name, previously worked at Taiwanese news company Digitimes. Now he appears to be largely moving on from reporting about Apple.
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Apple is expected to unleash three new iPhone models in the fall, two high-end models with OLED displays, and one 6.1-inch iPhone with an LCD display. In a new report, KGI’s Ming-Chi Kuo is sharing a few more details for what to expect with the LCD model.

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A fresh report from Ming-Chi Kuo gives KGI’s take on the recent stories of poor market reception for HomePod. The report suggests that Apple could sell 2-2.5 million HomePods across all of 2018, with a million of those from first month pent-up demand.

Most analysts have predicted sales for HomePod around ten million a year, so Kuo’s prediction is quite pessimistic. He says the high price has cut off a lot of the potential market (in the face of tough, cheaper, competition) and that Apple is ‘mulling’ a lower-cost model.

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Reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities has cast new doubt on the potential launch of an iPhone SE 2 with wireless charging or any other notable new features. In an interesting rebuttal to recent rumors, KGI questions the authenticity of recent claims for a few reasons.

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Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities is today out with a trio of new investor notes that offer some additional color on the supplier breakdown for this year’s new iPhones. The analyst has previously stated that Apple will introduce three new iPhones this year, including two OLED models at 5.8-inches and 6.5-inches, and an LCD model at 6.1-inches…

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With iPhone 8 now on sale, all eyes are on the upcoming iPhone X. A morning report from KGI reiterates production issues we’ve been hearing about the iPhone X, indicating that only 2-3 million units will be shipped for sale before the launch on November 3rd (preorders open a week from today).

KGI points to supply shortages for several components including circuit boards for the iPhone X antenna and wide angle camera, and the depth-sensing Infrared dot projector.

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KGI’s Ming-Chi Kuo is today out with a new investor note in which he further analyzes the iPhone X supply chain and production struggles. Kuo also looks ahead to 2018, noting of when Apple will hit full production of the iPhone X as well as what’s in store for the 2018 iPhone…

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A new report from KGI today includes a drop in the firm’s estimate for 2017 iPhone X shipments, its forecast for 2018-2019 performance, and how far behind Android devices are all thanks to Apple’s new TrueDepth camera system. This powers the new facial recognition and tracking system for Face ID unlocking, Animoji, and more.

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A new report from KGI this evening includes a detailed breakdown of the 3D sensors that will be found in the iPhone 8, predictions for what Apple will do for colors with the front of the device, and more.

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In a new report out by KGI’s Ming-Chi Kuo, the group believes that Apple has a significant lead on Qualcomm in the 3D sensing technology space. KGI reports that Qualcomm won’t be making significant shipments until at least 2019.

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There are few analysts with as good a track record as KGI’s Ming-Chi Kuo when it comes to Apple. His close links to companies in Apple’s supply-chain puts him in a good position to judge what is and isn’t on the way when it comes to new products.

But having a good track record isn’t the same as being right every time, and his latest report – that the iPhone 8 will drop Touch ID altogether – seems questionable to me …

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Martin Hajek iPhone 8 Concept

Reports of delays and production difficulties have been plentiful for the iPhone 8, and it doesn’t seem like things are going to get much better. KGI’s Ming-Chi Kuo is out with a new report this evening in which he says that there’s a “rising probability” of the “worst scenario” for production and shipments of the device…

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Prominent Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI is out this weekend with a new investor note, but this one focuses almost entirely on Samsung and its upcoming Galaxy S8 refresh. Nevertheless, there are a couple of tidbits about Apple inside the report…

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Over the past few days, we’ve heard two conflicting reports regarding what sort of connection the upcoming iPhone 8 will feature. First, The Wall Street Journal reported that the upcoming iPhone will feature USB-C, with Apple shifting away from Lightning.

Then, earlier today, KGI’s Ming-Chi Kuo reported that the iPhone 8 will feature Lightning connectivity with internal changes to support a faster charging.

Who do you believe?

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A new report from KGI predicts that all new iPhone models introduced in 2017 will feature wireless charging, on both the redesigned iPhone 8 and the iterative iPhone 7 devices expected to debut in the fall.

KGI has mentioned the addition of wireless charging previously. Today’s report reaffirms it will be available on all three new models after some reports to the contrary, not merely limited to the premium OLED device. However, the analyst warns there may be higher costs in production, especially with the 3D Touch sensor …

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Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities is out today with a new investor note, offering up some more information about what’s in store for the Mac lineup in 2017. Kuo claims that all MacBook models will be upgraded in 2017 with Intel’s latest Kaby Lake chipset, while there will also be a new 32GB RAM option for the 15-inch model.

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