Apple Predicted to Launch Apple Watch Sport in Yellow & Rose Gold, New iMacs & iPad Mini Later This Year

In a new research note outlining his predictions for Apple's recently completed financial quarter and beyond, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shares his thinking about some of Apple's upcoming product plans that will provide sales momentum in the latter portion of the year.

- Apple Watch: Kuo remains conservative about the Apple Watch, pegging Apple's second quarter shipments at roughly 3.9 million and growing to 5.5 million in the current quarter as supply shortages ease and availability expands to more countries. As a result, he believes it will be difficult for Apple to reach Wall Street consensus estimates for 15 million units total through the end of the year, though analyst estimates have seen wide variations and Apple is indicated it will not be reporting Apple Watch unit sales in its financial results.

Notably, Kuo believes Apple could launch the Apple Watch Sport in new color options to match iPhone 6s colors later this year, anodizing the watch's aluminum casing with yellow and rose gold. Kuo and other sources have previously pointed to a new iPhone color (reportedly rose gold) and Kuo indicated months ago that Apple could use new casing options for the Apple Watch later this year.

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- iPhone: Kuo believes Apple shipped roughly 54.2 million iPhones during the second calendar quarter, and he predicts that number will fall to 40.1 million in the current quarter as sales slow ahead of the "iPhone 6s" launch and shipments of the new device may get off to a somewhat slow start due to "low yield of Force Touch."

- iPad: Apple's iPad sales continue to slide, with Kuo predicting the company shipped just 8.8 million in the current quarter. He believes a thinner and lighter iPad mini that is essentially a smaller version of the iPad Air 2 could begin shipping at the tail end of the quarter, helping boost overall shipments to 11 million units during the third calendar quarter. Apple's iPad launches typically come in October, however, so shipments may not begin until the fourth quarter. In line with a recent report claiming Apple may not introduce a new iPad Air this year, Kuo does not mention any pending updates to that device. He also does not address the even larger "iPad Pro" that has been rumored to launch later this year.

- Mac: Kuo predicts strong Mac shipments of 5.3 million units for the second quarter, rising to over 5.8 million in the current quarter, which is traditionally Apple's best quarter on the strength of back to school sales. He sees Apple releasing new iMacs late in the third quarter or early in the fourth quarter, helping to sustain Mac demand.

Kuo has a solid track record based on information from Apple's supply chain, but he does occasionally make incorrect predictions. As a result, some caution should be taken with these predictions.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch 10, iMac, iPad mini
Related Forums: iMac, iPad, iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

JXShine Avatar
129 months ago
iMac's with Skylake? Any chance of it gaining a 2TB SSD, similar to the one Samsung just released? What about a 4k 21.5 inch?
Or maybe SSD upgrade that doesn't cost an arm and a leg
It's 2015 already and apple is still putting 5400rpm hard drives in their iMac. ridiculous.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NovemberWhiskey Avatar
129 months ago
It makes ZERO sense to make fake yellow and rose gold sport models.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ferdinandcc Avatar
128 months ago
This is different. It makes no sense for Apple's sake to sell an anodized gold / rose gold Apple Watch Sport for $350 because it would demolish the exclusivity factor of buying the gold Apple Watch Edition. Why buy a $10,000 Apple Watch Edition when you can get a gold one for $350?
Because one is shiny, polished 18K gold, and the other is gold-toned anodized aluminum, just like the iPhones.

It's a little bit like saying, "why buy a stainless steel Apple Watch when the silver Apple Watch Sport is available? They're both grey!"
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JFazYankees Avatar
129 months ago
just as it makes ZERO sense making the fake yellow and rose gold casings on the iPhones, iPads and iMac.
This is different. It makes no sense for Apple's sake to sell an anodized gold / rose gold Apple Watch Sport for $350 because it would demolish the exclusivity factor of buying the gold Apple Watch Edition. Why buy a $10,000 Apple Watch Edition when you can get a gold one for $350?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ScottNWDW Avatar
129 months ago
It makes ZERO sense to make fake yellow and rose gold sport models.
just as it makes ZERO sense making the fake yellow and rose gold casings on the iPhones, iPads and iMac.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleScruff1 Avatar
129 months ago
It makes ZERO sense to make fake yellow and rose gold sport models.
But we're talking the new Apple, where fashion is key.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)