All articles tagged with #ming chi kuo
Bloomberg reports Apple will introduce OLED to the MacBook Pro first (late 2026/early 2027) while an OLED MacBook Air isn’t expected until 2028 or 2029, due to the high cost and scaling challenges of large OLED panels. The company aims to move OLED across flagship Macs and iPads over time, but Air-sized OLEDs won’t arrive for several years. An interim mini-LED update isn’t currently supported by rumors.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple’s next MacBook Pro will receive a major OLED upgrade, a thinner design with touchscreen and Dynamic Island, and M6 Pro/Max chips built on TSMC’s 2nm process, with a release window in late 2026 to early 2027 and potential positioning above the Pro as a new 'MacBook Ultra'; the MacBook Air is expected to gain OLED later in 2028–2029.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the second-generation MacBook Neo, Apple’s budget MacBook starting at $599 with the A18 Pro chip, could add a touchscreen in 2027. The first Neo lacked touch; a high-end MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen is expected later this year, using on-cell touch tech. If macOS 27 supports touch, other MacBooks may follow suit, expanding touch into more of Apple’s lineup.
Rumors claim Apple will launch a higher-end AirPods Pro 3 with tiny infrared cameras for in-air gesture control and tighter integration with Apple Intelligence and Vision Pro, possibly priced around $299–$349 and offered alongside a standard AirPods Pro 3 SKU with/without ANC, with a launch window likely September or October this year.
Rumors suggest Apple's first foldable iPhone could feature a 5,500+ mAh battery, potentially the largest in any iPhone and among foldables, surpassing the iPhone 17 Pro Max and rivals like the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 7. The device is also rumored to have a crease-free 7.8-inch inner display, a 5.5-inch cover screen, Touch ID, dual rear cameras, the A20 chip, and the “C2” modem, with a launch planned alongside the iPhone 18 Pro/Max later this year.
Apple plans to keep the iPhone 18’s starting price flat despite a global RAM shortage, opting to absorb higher RAM costs and offset them with growth in its services business. Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple is now negotiating memory prices quarterly (instead of semi-annually) and expects another RAM price uptick next round, while bottlenecks in non-RAM parts like glass cloth—driven by AI demand—could also affect suppliers.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple’s Google AI deal is a temporary bridge to meet near-term AI expectations while Apple mass-produces its own AI server chips in the second half of 2026 and builds Apple-operated data centers by 2027. The short-term partnership eases pressure for a credible WWDC showing and reflects a shift toward owning core AI tech and deeper hardware/OS integration, with on-device AI not driving hardware sales immediately but hybrid workloads expected to grow from 2027.
Apple is planning to introduce touch screen Macs, starting with an OLED MacBook Pro expected to go into production in late 2026, which may also feature a touch screen, bringing MacBooks closer to iPads in functionality. The company is also considering adding touch screens to the MacBook Air line in the future.
Apple plans to launch a premium foldable iPhone in 2026, with a display made by Samsung, though details are still tentative. The device aims to revitalize iPhone sales, which have peaked and declined this year, amid ongoing efforts to incorporate AI features. Despite a cautious stock outlook, analysts see potential upside.
Apple's anticipated smart display, often referred to as a "HomePod with a screen," may be released in the third quarter of 2025, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The device is expected to feature a 6 or 7-inch screen and an A18 chip, similar to the iPhone 16, and could support Apple apps and intelligence. Apple plans to ship between 500,000 and a million units in the latter half of next year, marking a potential expansion into the smart home market.
Apple's new HomePod with a display is now expected to launch in late 2025, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The delay from an earlier 2024 prediction is due to software development challenges. The device will feature a 6-7 inch display, Apple's A18 processor, and enhanced smart home capabilities. Tianma Microelectronics and BYD Electronics are set to supply and assemble the device, respectively, with initial shipments projected at 500,000 units. Apple is also planning a smart home IP camera for 2026.
Apple's iPad Pro, which recently received a redesign and the M4 chip, is expected to be the first device to feature the new M5 chip, but its release is delayed until the second half of 2025. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that while the M5 iPad Pro will enter mass production in late 2025, it will not feature significant hardware changes from the current model. The OLED iPad Pro will precede the M5 MacBook Pro models, with the latter potentially launching later.
Apple has postponed the release of a more affordable version of its Apple Vision headset, initially planned for 2025, to beyond 2027, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The cheaper headset was expected to feature lower-cost materials and reduced specifications to make spatial computing more accessible. Despite this delay, Apple is still set to release a new version of the Apple Vision Pro next year, featuring the M5 chip and Apple Intelligence support. Kuo suggests that Apple is cautious about the market potential of a $2000 headset, drawing parallels to the limited success of the HomePod mini.
Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are rumored to come in a new "Rose" color, replacing the previous "Blue Titanium" option. This information, corroborated by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and a Weibo-based leaker, suggests the new models will also be available in black, white or silver, gray or "Natural Titanium." The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will reportedly come in black, green, pink, blue, and white, with the lineup expected to be announced in the fall.
Apple is reportedly planning to launch an "all-screen" MacBook with a foldable display in 2026, moving up from an initial 2027 timeline. The device is expected to feature a 20.3-inch or 18.8-inch screen and an M5 series chip. High design specifications for a crease-free panel and hinge are driving up costs, potentially making the laptop as expensive as the Vision Pro headset.