Ming-Chi Kuo

Apple may expand MacBook production to Thailand in the future as the company continues to diversify its supply chain, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a series of tweets today, Kuo said the main production location outside of China for Apple's future MacBooks may be Thailand. Kuo noted that Apple's entire range of MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are currently assembled in Chinese...

Apple has seen high demand for the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max, which could lead the company to further differentiate the next-generation iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Apple could add exclusive features to the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max in an effort to encourage more people to purchase the larger and more expensive device. Kuo last week said that Apple asked...

Apple has advised manufacturing partner Foxconn to increase production of iPhone 14 Pro models due to strong demand for the devices, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. "Due to strong demand for the iPhone 14 Pro models, my latest survey indicates that Apple has asked Hon Hai to switch the production lines of the iPhone 14 to the iPhone 14 Pro models," said Kuo in a tweet today. Foxconn is...

The iPhone 14 and ‌iPhone 14‌ Plus have seen "bad" pre-order results, indicating that Apple's positioning of the two new standard models may have failed, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In his -14-first-weekend-online-pre-order-survey-110411040b5d">latest post on Medium, Kuo explained that the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro Max have seen "neutral" and "good" pre-order results...

Apple will further differentiate its "Pro" and non-"Pro" iPhone models with next year's iPhone 15 and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro, according to insightful Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a series of tweets earlier today, Kuo said that further differentiating the ‌iPhone‌ lineup would increase sales of the "Pro" models. To this end, Kuo said that "Apple will also start creating differentiation between the ‌...

Apple's next-generation 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will feature new chips, but few other changes, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a post on Medium today, Kuo said Apple has lowered its fourth quarter shipment forecast for the new MacBook Pro models by 20% to 30% before mass production of the notebooks begins due to lower than expected demand. Kuo said signs of a recession...

The Pro models in Apple's soon-to-be-announced iPhone 14 series will feature a new Ultra Wide camera with a larger sensor for better low light sensitivity, but the technology will come at a significant cost increase, predicts respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In his latest tweet, Kuo says that the two iPhone 14 Pro models will have an Ultra Wide sensor with larger 1.4µm pixels compared to the ...

Apple is indeed working on satellite connectivity for the iPhone 14 and completed hardware tests for the feature ahead of mass production, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo says that Apple has the hardware support for satellite connectivity, but whether the ‌iPhone 14‌ will support satellite communications depends on "whether Apple and operators can settle the business model." The ...

Apple suppliers will begin mass production of new 14-inch MacBook Pro, 16-inch MacBook Pro, and iPad Pro models in the fourth quarter of 2022, and all of the devices will likely remain equipped with 5nm chips, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a pair of tweets, Kuo said Apple's chipmaking partner TSMC will not begin shipping 3nm chips until January 2023, and therefore he expects...

Next-generation 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will enter mass production in the fourth quarter of 2022, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a tweet, Kuo said that given TSMC's guidance indicated that revenue from 3nm chip production will not begin until 2023, the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models may still have chips based on TSMC's latest 5nm process. New 14" ...

iPad assembly plants in China may be impacted by power outages ahead of the launch of new models in the fall, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a tweet earlier today, Kuo commented on the effects of power outages in China's southwestern Sichuan province caused by industrial electricity rationing amid a severe heatwave. Kuo said that the temporary power outage may affect ‌iPad‌...

Apple plans to increase the prices of iPhone 14 Pro models compared to iPhone 13 Pro models, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo did not reveal exact pricing for the iPhone 14 Pro models. However, in a tweet today, he estimated that the average selling price of the iPhone 14 lineup as a whole will increase by about 15% compared to the iPhone 13 lineup. In the United States, the iPhone...

Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro may still have a Lightning charging case, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a tweet today, Kuo predicted that Apple will switch to a USB-C charging case for all AirPods models in 2023. AirPods charging case modded with a USB-C port by Ken Pillonel Kuo said the new AirPods Pro will be released later this year. Several new features have been rumored for ...

Apple plans to ship approximately 1.5 million units of its upcoming AR/VR headset in 2023, according to reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a research note, Kuo reiterated that Apple plans to announce its long-rumored mixed-reality headset during an event in January 2023. The company's first AR/VR headset is expected to cost upwards of $2,000, making it a niche product. As a result, Kuo...

Apple is facing quality control issues with the rear iPhone 14 camera lens, causing some lenses to crack due to a coating, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today on Twitter. The issue has resulted in Apple reallocating iPhone 14 camera orders to a different supplier, helping mitigate the impact on device shipments later this fall. iPhone 14 Pro renders created by Ian Zelbo for Jon Prosser Kuo...

Apple has added to its list of suppliers for the iPhone 14 series in a bid to avoid potential supply chain shortages when mass production of the devices begins, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a series of tweets, Kuo said components from SG Micro have passed quality certification for the high-end iPhone 14 models, meaning the Chinese company has been greenlighted to supply components...

While some iPhone 14 components are facing supply chain issues, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes the issues will have a limited impact on upcoming mass production of iPhone 14 models, which are expected to be announced in September. In a tweet, Kuo said other suppliers can help to make up for component shortages. For example, Kuo said Samsung Display and BOE can largely fill the initial...

The iPhone 15 Pro Max will be the sole Apple smartphone of 2023 to get a periscope camera lens and benefit from greatly enhanced optical zoom, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Rumors about the iPhone getting a periscope lens have been circulating since early 2020, when Kuo first mentioned the possibility. The analyst initially said that a periscope lens would be an iPhone 14 Pro feature,...

Apple plans to launch its second-generation AR/VR headset in the first half of 2025, likely featuring a more high-end configuration and a new affordable option, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today. Writing in his Medium blog, Kuo said the following: The second-generation Apple AR/VR may have high-end and more-affordable models, which will launch in 1H25, and component suppliers will...

Apple is expected to make its latest A16 processor exclusive to the Pro models in the iPhone 14 lineup, and that diversification strategy is set to become an annual trend in future iPhone series, according to a new report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Earlier this year, Kuo said only the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro models will feature an A16 chip, with the standard ‌iPhone 14‌ and ‌iPhone 14‌ Max models to ...