Ming-Chi Kuo is an analyst at TF International Securities, a financial services group in the Asia-Pacific region. He gathers intelligence from his contacts in Apple's Asian supply chain, translating the information he gleans into research notes for clients.
His research notes often provide a solid look at Apple's future plans and while he is not always correct, his predictions on future Apple products are accurate enough to make him one of the most reliable sources for Apple rumors. Kuo previously worked for KGI Securities, Concord Securities, and DigiTimes.
Ming-Chi Kuo
By MacRumors Staff
Ming-Chi Kuo Articles
OpenAI Fast-Tracking AI Phone for 2027 Launch, Says Kuo
OpenAI is said to be fast-tracking development of its first "AI agent phone," with the company now aiming to mass produce the device as early as the first half of next year, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Late last month, Kuo revealed OpenAI's work on a smartphone, contradicting earlier reports that the company had no plans to enter the mobile market. Kuo said MediaTek and...
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OpenAI Reportedly Working on an AI Smartphone to Rival iPhone
OpenAI is working on a smartphone in what appears to be a significant reversal from previous reports that the company had no plans to enter the phone market, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Kuo shared the findings from his latest supply chain checks in a post on X, saying MediaTek and Qualcomm are the chosen chip partners and Luxshare Precision Industry is the exclusive...
MacBook Pro to Receive 'Major Upgrade' by Early Next Year
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said the MacBook Pro will receive a "major upgrade" with an OLED display by early next year.
In a blog post, Kuo said the new MacBook Pro will be released between late 2026 and early 2027.
With an OLED display, the MacBook Pro would have better image quality compared to the current models with LCD displays and mini-LED backlighting. Advantages ...
Kuo: iPhone 18 Pro Prices Still Likely to Hold Firm This Year
Apple's pricing for the iPhone 17e and MacBook Neo strongly suggests that Apple plans to keep iPhone 18 Pro prices unchanged when the new models launch later this year, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Sharing his latest thoughts on Apple's increasingly diversifying product roadmap, Kuo said on X that Apple's strategy is to use turmoil in the global memory chip market to its...
MacBook Neo 2 Might Not Feature Touchscreen After All
Apple's second-generation MacBook Neo may not feature a touch-capable display after all, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a report dated September 2025, Kuo accurately predicted that the MacBook Neo would enter mass production in the fourth quarter of 2025, noting that it would not feature a touchscreen. In the same report, however, the analyst said he believed Apple...
MacBook Neo 2 Could Feature Touchscreen
Apple's second-generation MacBook Neo will launch in 2027 and could feature a touchscreen, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Apple this week announced the MacBook Neo, an all-new entry-level Apple laptop that starts at $599, with education pricing at $499. The MacBook Neo is designed to compete with lower-cost Windows laptops and Chromebooks, while expanding the Mac lineup with a...
Where Is AirTag 2's Missing Feature?
Apple just introduced its second-generation AirTag, but one rumored feature failed to arrive with the new accessory.
The second-generation AirTag features 50% farther Precision Finding, upgraded Bluetooth with increased range, a 50% louder speaker, and more.
Back in August 2023, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that the second-generation AirTag would have better integration with...
Apple to Keep iPhone 18 Starting Price Steady Despite Rising Memory Costs
DRAM shortages are set to impact smartphone manufacturers like Apple in 2026, but the company is going to try to keep iPhone 18 prices steady despite having to pay more for components, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Kuo says that Apple negotiates memory prices with suppliers on a quarterly basis, so price increases are expected in the second quarter of 2026. The upcoming price hike ...
Kuo: Apple's AI Deal With Google Is Temporary and Buys It Time
Apple is preparing to mass-produce its own AI-focused server chips in the second half of 2026 amid reliance on a short-term partnership with Google to meet immediate AI expectations, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a new post on X, Kuo said that Apple is facing mounting short-term pressure in artificial intelligence that is shaping its current strategy, even as it continues to pursue...
Kuo: iPhone Fold Production Challenges Could Limit Supply Next Year
Apple's highly anticipated foldable iPhone could face supply shortages into 2027 despite a planned launch next year, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Kuo said in a new research note:
"Development of the foldable iPhone is behind earlier expectations, but the product is still expected to [sic] announce in 2H26. Due to early-stage yield and ramp-up challenges, smooth shipments may not occur ...
Apple and Intel Rumored to Partner on Mac Chips Again in a New Way
While all Macs are now powered by Apple's custom-designed chips, a new rumor claims that Apple may rekindle its partnership with Intel, albeit in a new and limited way.
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said Intel is expected to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip as early as mid-2027.
Kuo said Apple plans to utilize Intel's 18A process, which is the "earliest...
Apple's iPhone Air Experiment Fails as Supply Chain Cuts Production by 80%
iPhone Air demand failed to meet Apple's expectations and the company's supply chain is scaling back shipments and production, reports Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
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Suppliers are expected to reduce capacity by more than 80 percent between now and the first quarter of 2026, and some components with longer lead times will be discontinued ...
Apple's Foldable iPhone Could Be Cheaper Than Expected
Apple's long-rumored foldable iPhone may cost less to manufacture than previously expected thanks to major reductions in hinge component pricing, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a new report, Kuo said that the hinge designed for Apple's foldable iPhone is expected to carry an average selling price (ASP) of approximately $70 to $80 when mass production begins, well below the market...
$599 MacBook With iPhone Chip Expected to Enter Production This Year
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today reiterated that a more affordable MacBook powered by an iPhone processor is slated to enter mass production in the fourth quarter of 2025, which points towards a late 2025 or early 2026 launch.
Below, we recap the rumors about the lower-priced MacBook so far.
Kuo was first to reveal that Apple is allegedly planning a more affordable MacBook....
Kuo: OLED MacBook Pro to Feature Touch Screen Display
Apple's first OLED MacBook Pro, set to enter mass production next year, will feature a touch screen display, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In his latest post on X (Twitter), Kuo writes that Apple's much-rumored OLED MacBook Pro will incorporate a touch panel using on-cell touch technology. On-cell touch technology integrates the touch sensors directly into the display panel's top...
Kuo: High Demand for iPhone 17 Models, But Questions Remain About iPhone Air
Apple's new iPhone 17 models are proving to be more popular than their predecessors over the first pre-order weekend, both in terms of production and delivery times, but major questions remain about the success of the iPhone Air, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a new post on X, Kuo said that preorder demand for the iPhone 17 lineup has outpaced last year's iPhone 16 models. iPh...
iPhone 18 Rumor Becomes iPhone 19 Rumor Two Days Before iPhone 17
In July 2024, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he expected Samsung to begin shipping 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera sensors to Apple for iPhones as early as 2026, which is when some iPhone 18 models are expected to be released.
In a follow-up post this weekend, however, Kuo said he now expects the first iPhone models with Samsung's sensor to be released in 2027. In other words,...
Kuo: AirPods Pro 3 Coming Soon, But Bigger Upgrade Arriving Next Year
Apple plans to release AirPods Pro 3 this year, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
All signs point towards Apple unveiling the AirPods Pro 3 during its iPhone 17 event on Tuesday, September 9. However, Kuo did not provide a specific timeframe beyond the second half of 2025, which lines up with previous rumors.
Kuo did not mention any new features that are planned for the...
Foldable iPhone Under-Screen Touch ID Rumor Dismissed by Analyst
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is standing by his prediction that Apple's first foldable iPhone will feature Touch ID integrated into the side button rather than an under-display fingerprint sensor.
In a post on X (Twitter) today, Kuo referenced his March forecast for the rumored 2026 device: "Six months ago, I predicted the foldable iPhone would use side-button Touch ID." Kuo goes on:
"There...
A20 Chips in iPhone 18 Models Again Rumored to Feature New Design
Apple's A20 chip in the iPhone 18 will be packaged with TSMC's Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) technology, according to Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. This change has been rumored by multiple other sources previously.
Apple would be moving away from TSMC's InFO (Integrated Fan-Out) packaging it uses currently.
It is unclear if this change will be limited to higher-end...
