Ming-Chi Kuo
By MacRumors Staff
Ming-Chi Kuo Articles

iPhone 5S to Include Sapphire-Covered Convex Home Button with Fingerprint Sensor?
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has on a number of occasions offered accurate information on Apple's product plans, has issued a new research note indicating that the iPhone 5S may include a sapphire-covered convex home button housing a fingerprint sensor.
The iPhone's home button has had a concave shape since its introduction in 2007, but Kuo believes that moving to a convex shape...
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iMac Update to Haswell Expected in June or July as Shipments Sink
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has released a brief research note today highlighting the status of the iMac, which he says will see shipments fall to roughly 650,000 units this quarter from 1.75 million units in the first calendar quarter. The drop is due in part to seasonality and in part to a natural decline from the pent-up launch demand during the first quarter. Most importantly for...

Slimmer 13" Retina MacBook Pro, Dual Mic MacBook Air Expected at WWDC
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has proven to have relatively reliable information over the past several years, released a new research note last week highlighting his expectations for changes to Apple's notebook lineup at next week's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). With Intel preparing to launch its latest Haswell processors this week, Apple will be able to make significant...

Apple's Smart Watch May Not Launch Until Late 2014, Use Biometrics and iPod Nano Technology
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has on a number of occasions offered accurate information about Apple's product plans, issued a new research report this week outlining his expectations for Apple's rumored smart watch device, informally dubbed "iWatch". Despite some expectations that the device could launch later this year, Kuo believes that both hardware and software issues will result...

Apple Considering Lower-Priced iPad Mini at $199-$249?
Along with his recent research note addressing Apple's notebook launch plans, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also published a note examining Apple's iPad prospects.
In particular, Kuo looks to the iPad mini as the future of the company's iPad portfolio, but with Apple's efforts to bring a Retina display to the device said to be pushing a launch back to the fourth quarter of this year, ...

Notebook Refresh to Be Highlight of WWDC, Non-Retina MacBook Pro to Continue?
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has issued a new report forecasting that the product highlight of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which kicks off on June 10, will be the introduction of new models of the company's MacBook Pro and MacBook Air lines based on Intel's latest Haswell processors. The projection is in line with previous reports from Kuo and other sources, as well as r...

Apple Predicted to Tap Taiwanese Supply Chain for iPhone 5S Fingerprint Sensor
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has been one of the most vocal sources claiming that Apple will be including a fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5S, indicating that Apple's 2012 acquisition of AuthenTec is ready to bear fruit for the company as a differentiating feature for the next iPhone.
In a new research report, Kuo outlines his belief that in order to limit rival Samsung's...

iPad 5 Estimated to Be 15% Thinner, 25% Lighter Than Current iPad
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has on a number of occasions offered accurate information on Apple's product plans, recently published a new research note outlining his expectations for Apple's fifth-generation iPad. Kuo expects mass production and shipments of the new iPad to ramp up in the August-September timeframe, with the device registering roughly 15% thinner and 25% lighter than...

Production Challenges to 'Delay' Launches of iPhone 5S, Lower-Cost iPhone and New iPad Mini?
Back in January, reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo laid out a thorough roadmap of his expectations for Apple's product launches in 2013, pointing to a very busy third quarter for the company with launches for updated iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Mac notebook lines. As recently as last month, Kuo was targeting a June/July launch for the new iPhone models, with a version specific to China...

Lower-Cost iPhone Said to Use 'Super-Thin' Plastic and Fiberglass Shell in 4-6 Colors
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is reiterating his claims that Apple's low-cost iPhone will have a 4-inch screen, plastic casing, and be available in a range of colors similar to Apple's iPod lineup, sharing a few new details in a report highlighted by AppleInsider. In particular, Kuo shares offers some information on the device's plastic and fiberglass casing.The new, less expensive iPhone...

New iPhones Still Expected to Launch in June/July, Fingerprint Sensor for iPhone 5S?
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has issued a new research report claiming that Apple is expected to unveil its iPhone 5S and lower-cost iPhone alongside iOS 7 this June, with the devices coming available in July. Versions supporting the time-division duplexing (TDD) standard used by China Mobile are said to follow in September.We expect Apple will introduce its new iPhones and iOS7 in June,...

Apple's 2013 Product Roadmap Predictions: Multiple iPhones, Retina iPad Mini, All-Retina MacBook Pros
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a very good track record in predicting Apple's product plans, has issued a new research report outlining his expectations for Apple's 2013 product launches. Kuo believes that Apple will focus its launches on the third quarter of this year, with a number of updates throughout the company's various product families.
- iPhone: Kuo expects that Apple ...

'Biggest Upgrade Ever' for iPod Touch to Bring New Colors, GPS, Camera Improvements?
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has released a last-minute research report outlining his expectations for the updated iPod touch said to be being introduced today alongside the iPhone 5. Calling the 2012 version of the iPod touch the "biggest upgrade ever" for the device, Kuo outlines a number of features he expects the new model to offer.
- New colors: Beyond the traditional black model...

Apple's Crowded Late 2012 Product Introduction Schedule Forced by Delays to iMac and iPad Mini
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has released a new research report outlining his thoughts on Apple's product introductions for the remainder of 2012, noting that delays in some necessary components have forced Apple into a very tight timeline that is less than ideal and which may impact growth over the short-term. The delays have affected several products, including the new "iPad mini" and...

13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro and Updated iMacs Reportedly Due in September-October
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today released a significant new report outlining his estimates of Apple's product launch schedule for the second half of this year, pointing to all-new iPod touch and iPod nano models as well as new iPhone and iPad mini models and tweaked internals for the full-size iPad.
Kuo's report also touches on the Mac side, reiterating his earlier claims that Apple...

Tweaked iPad and New 'iPad Mini' Said to Closely Follow Next-Generation iPhone Launch
In addition to coverage of all-new iPod touch and iPod nano models in his report released earlier today, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also offered more predictions about Apple's iOS device plans for the September-October timeframe. According to Kuo, Apple is looking to launch the next-generation iPhone in September, perhaps closer to the beginning of the month. But with component...

Apple Planning 'All-New' iPod Touch and iPod Nano for September Launch?
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has in the past offered remarkably accurate information on Apple's product plans, today released a new report addressing Apple's upcoming release plans, indicating that the company is planning for a very busy September-October schedule.
Kicking off the schedule of launches are said to be "all-new" iPod touch and iPod nano models. Details on the new...

13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro Coming in October?
Four days before the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro was introduced, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo released a report claiming that Apple would launch the machine alongside the then-current MacBook Pro line rather than as a direct replacement.
Kuo's report turned out to be nearly exactly on point, as was the case with his April report claiming that Apple would discontinue the 17-inch MacBook...

Apple to Introduce Third MacBook Line with Retina Display at WWDC?
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today issued a new report outlining his belief that Apple's thinner, Retina-equipped Mac notebook will arrive next week as a new model, referring to the machine simply as a "MacBook". Kuo believes that this MacBook will be offered alongside upgraded versions of the existing 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models, with Apple being reluctant to do away with the...

Next-Generation iPhone Rumored to Adopt Thinner and Improved Front and Rear Cameras
In a new research note, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that Apple will be making significant improvements to both front and rear cameras on the next-generation iPhone, advances driven by a desire to decrease the thickness of the device and to improve compatibility with a new 16:9 display.
According to Kuo, the rear camera on the iPhone will remain at 8 megapixels, but the aperture ...