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Ming-Chi Kuo Says 2018 iPhones Unlikely to Have Rear-Facing TrueDepth Camera System

Tuesday October 31, 2017 8:47 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple is unlikely to expand its front-facing TrueDepth system for Face ID and Animoji to the rear-facing camera module on iPhones released in 2018, according to oft-reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.


In a research note with KGI Securities, obtained by MacRumors, Kuo said the iPhone X's 3D sensing capabilities are already at least one year ahead of Android smartphones. For that reason, he thinks Apple's focus with next year's iPhone models will be ensuring an on-time launch with adequate supply.
Based on aforementioned assumptions, we do not expect 2H18F iPhones to come with rear TrueDepth Camera/3D sensing, contrary to market expectations. While we agree that a rear TrueDepth Camera/3D sensing can potentially provide more augmented reality (AR) applications, we note that Apple needs to quickly resolve two issues if it wants 2H18F iPhones to have a rear TrueDepth Camera/3D sensing, namely: (1) the development of AI and ARKit software and an ecosystem, which takes time; and (2) achieving stable shipments and on-time shipping, which are challenging due to the higher spec requirements of rear TrueDepth camera.
Even without rear TrueDepth, Kuo believes 2018 iPhone models will unsurprisingly come with other tech spec upgrades to attract consumers. He has a positive view on the prospects of the new iPhone models.

Related Roundups: iPhone X, iPhone XS
Tags: KGI Securities, Ming-Chi Kuo
Buyer's Guide: iPhone XS (Neutral)
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Relentless Power
18 months ago

One more mention of this Ming-Chi Kuo, and I will stop visiting MacRumours... sigh.


Ming Kuo is a regular here on Macrumors. At least his predictions are some of most accurate. (I did mention his name one more time inadvertently).
Rating: 15 Votes
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outskirtsofinfinity
18 months ago
One more mention of this Ming-Chi Kuo, and I will stop visiting MacRumours... sigh.
Rating: 13 Votes
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desmond2046
18 months ago

One more mention of this Ming-Chi Kuo, and I will stop visiting MacRumours... sigh.


Just want to remind you Ming-Chi Kuo predicted accurately the iPhone X in March 2016
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/03/26/kuo-iphone-2017-oled-curved-glass/
He also predicted iPad Pro 10.5 in August 2016
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/08/15/kuo-10-5-ipad-pro-2017/
Not to mention the touch bar Macbook Pro
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/05/23/macbook-pro-2016-oled-display-touch-bar/

Just want to give him the credit he deserves. If you think this is not reliable I don't know what source of rumor would you trust.
Rating: 10 Votes
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HacKage
18 months ago
Can we please have a separate section for things Ming-Chi Kuo says, and make it opt-in?
Rating: 7 Votes
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0003939
18 months ago

One more mention of this Ming-Chi Kuo, and I will stop visiting MacRumours... sigh.

I just mentioned Ming-Chi Kuo. What're going to do now? :)
Rating: 6 Votes
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EdT
18 months ago

One more mention of this Ming-Chi Kuo, and I will stop visiting MacRumours... sigh.

Ming-Chi Kuo.

Can I have your stuff after you leave?

/not meant as an insult.
Rating: 4 Votes
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Xavier
18 months ago

One more mention of this Ming-Chi Kuo, and I will stop visiting MacRumours... sigh.


You mean a guy that speculates on Apple products, and has even been correct sometimes, will stop you from visiting a Apple based rumor site? Lol
Rating: 3 Votes
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dojoman
18 months ago

One more mention of this Ming-Chi Kuo, and I will stop visiting MacRumours... sigh.


This guy is like spam email that everyone reads.
Rating: 3 Votes
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thisisnotmyname
18 months ago

One more mention of this Ming-Chi Kuo, and I will stop visiting MacRumours... sigh.


God forbid we reference knowledgeable analysists with a proven track record. Let’s only post about what your best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with a girl said.
Rating: 3 Votes
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newellj
18 months ago

My point is that MacRumours is naive in letting itself be used by Ming-Chi Kuo in order to further his own agenda. He's running a business. When Ming-Chi Kuo sneezes, investors shuffle a lot of money around. MacRumours facilitate this. Is MacRumours getting kickbacks from Ming-Chi Kuo's company?


What factual basis do you have for saying that MR is "letting itself be used"? First, Kuo is one of the more accurate analyst/rumor-mongers, and this is a rumors site. Making a point of minimizing or excluding Kuo would be irresponsible.

Second, you have this completely backwards. Kuo doesn't need to get anything from MR. MR probably can't offering Kuo anything of value anyway. But MR gets substantial value out of reporting Kuo's guesses and analysis: it helps drive site traffic, which drives advertising revenue, which makes a forum like this possible.
Rating: 3 Votes

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