KGI Securities

Mass production of new iPhones slightly delayed, but launch won’t be postponed

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 30, 2016

With just a few weeks until Apple's assumed fall refresh of its smartphone lineup, revered analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities cautions that Apple appears to have slightly delayed mass production of 'iPhone 6s' and 'iPhone 6s Plus' devices.

The phones should enter volume production later this month, or about one to two weeks later than originally expected, Kuo was quoted as saying by Taiwanese media. Thankfully, the slight delay shouldn't affect Apple's launch plans so expect the new iPhones to drop in mid-September.

KGI: new iMacs in the pipeline feature faster CPUs and ‘much better display quality’

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 3, 2015

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is arguably the most reliable Apple analyst out there, is out with a new analysis offering some new details regarding Apple's upcoming refresh of the iMac lineup.

According to his note to clients, a copy of which was obtained by AppleInsider, Apple will updated iMacs this quarter with faster processors from Intel and enhanced screen technology designed to provide a “much better display quality.”

KGI predictions: Apple Watch Sport in yellow/rose gold, new iMacs & thinner iPad mini due this fall

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 19, 2015

Well-connected KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has issued a new report to clients ahead of Apple's June quarter earnings report, which is due this coming Tuesday.

The note, a copy of which was obtained by AppleInsider, provides several predictions regarding Apple's upcoming product refreshes.

For starters, Kuo is expecting new Apple Watch Sport variants in rose and yellow gold color options matching the upcoming 'iPhone 6s' and 'iPhone 6s Plus' colors. He also wrote that new iMac models with upgraded processors could arrive later this year, in addition to a thinner, lighter iPad mini and more.

KGI: iPhone 6s to be marginally thicker due to Force Touch

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 17, 2015

Several supply chain reports have indicated that this year's 'iPhone 6s' and 'iPhone 6s Plus' releases will feature Apple's pressure-sensitive screen technology called Force Touch that debuted on the Apple Watch and now a revered analyst has given these reports an aura of credibility.

Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities wrote in a note to clients, a copy of which was obtained by the Japanese blog MacOtakara, that Apple's implementation of Force Touch on the upcoming phones will make them slightly thicker than the present-generation iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

KGI claims Apple will unveil new iPhones in August before making them available for sale in September

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 2, 2017

Apple usually launches new iPhones in September (and iPads in October), but this time around the company could bring the 'iPhone 6s' and 'iPhone 6s Plus' to market a bit earlier, if a new analysis by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is an indication.

In a note to clients, a copy of which was obtained by The China Post, Kuo writes that Apple will announce the new handsets in August before making them available for sale in September, the time frame that suggests the possibility of pre-orders in late August.

KGI predicts softened demand for Apple Watch as it may be selling much better with men

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 20, 2015

Demand for the Apple Watch may be softening since its April 2015 launch and the Cupertino company is likely to see less than 15 million shipments through the end of September, KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo predicted in a note issued to clients on Wednesday, a copy of which was obtained by AppleInsider.

By comparison, the consensus is somewhere in the range of 20 and 30 million units.

Moreover, the analyst has identified the Apple Watch's biggest problem: women don't seem to be falling in love with the device. According to his findings, demand for the smaller 38mm model is significantly lower than the 42mm units.

KGI on next iPhone: 2GB RAM, 12MP camera, Force Touch, rose gold, no new 4-inch model

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 12, 2015

Revered KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo arguably has the most prescient track record in forecasting Apple's plans. In a note issued to clients Tuesday, obtained by MacRumors, Kuo makes a number of predictions regarding the next iPhone refresh, many of which have already been rumored, but some never heard before.

He is expecting ‘iPhone 6s’ and ‘iPhone 6s Plus’ handsets to be powered by Apple's next-generation A9 processor with 2GB of RAM, twice as much as the current iPhone lineup. The RAM will be of a speedier LPDDR4 variety versus the LPDDR3 RAM in current iPhones. More RAM coupled with a faster, more power efficient processor, should result in smoother performance and better multitasking.

The camera is likely to receive a pixel upgrade and should be twelve megapixels while Force Touch pressure sensitive screen will be “the biggest upgraded selling point”.

Analyst calls for an Apple Watch with new casing materials by fourth quarter

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 11, 2015

The current aluminum Apple Watch Sport, the stainless steel Apple Watch and the 18-karat rose/yellow gold Apple Watch Edition may be joined by up to three additional editions of the device featuring new casing materials, according to revered Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities.

Noted analyst pegs 12″ MacBook Air for Q1, reiterates March launch of Apple Watch

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Pretty accurate KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has issued a brand new note to clients. In it, he confirmed an earlier report calling for a March release date of the Apple Watch (remember, Apple's retail boss mentioned a vague Spring release date).

In the note, a copy of which was obtained last evening by MacRumors, Kuo also claims that a rumored MacBook Air refresh with a twelve-inch Retina display and a radically redesigned chassis will go on sale during the first quarter of this year.

Revered analyst predicts a creative stylus accessory for rumored iPad Pro

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 18, 2015

The “If you see a stylus, they blew it” line that Steve Jobs famously used during the January 2007 iPhone introduction is about to get challenged in the post-Jobs era.

At least that's what KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo proposed in his newly published note to clients.

Long story short, the analyst predicted that a rumored ‘iPad Pro,’ expected in late-2015, will include an optional in-house built stylus accessory as a niche product aimed at creative professionals.

GT Advanced bankruptcy unlikely to affect Apple Watch production

Cody Lee ∙ October 7, 2014

GT Advanced's decision to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy will not affect supplies of upcoming Apple Watch, says KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo. In a note to investors this morning, the well-connected analyst says that because the device's screen is so small, Apple can turn to other suppliers for sapphire if need be.

Kuo notes that aside from GTAT, Apple is already working with a handful of other sapphire ingot (or cast) suppliers including Hansol and Harbin Aurora Optoelectronics. Because Watch drop-test requirements aren't as stringent as they are for smartphones, general sapphire manufacturing processes are adequate.

KGI on iPad Air 2: launching next Tuesday with ‘significant spec upgrades’

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 4, 2014

Rounding up a trio of predictions that Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities released to clients this morning, AppleInsider quotes the influential analyst as making a surprising claim that the upcoming second-generation iPad Air will be unveiled at Apple's media event next Tuesday.

A gold color option and Touch ID-powered fingerprint scanning should be expected for the so-called iPad Air 2, too, the well-connected analyst told investors in his report. This is in contrast to the rumor-mill which has long called for a separate media event in October to refresh the iPad lineup, based on Apple's annual refresh cycle over the past three years.