Ming-Chi Kuo

By MacRumors Staff
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 Articles

Vision Pro Person

Kuo: Vision Pro Likely to Launch in Late January or Early February

Monday December 25, 2023 5:18 am PST by
Mass shipments of the Vision Pro to Apple will begin in the first week of January, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a December 24 research note, Kuo said the Vision Pro will most likely hit shelves in late January or early February based on this shipment schedule. Kuo estimates that Vision Pro shipments in 2024 will reach approximately 500,000 units. Apple first...
iPhone 16 Side Feature

Kuo: Apple Upgrading iPhone 16 Microphone to Boost Siri AI Experience

Thursday December 7, 2023 1:07 am PST by
Apple plans a significant upgrade to the iPhone 16 microphone to improve the new AI-enhanced Siri experience, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Writing in his ing-beneficiaries-1ec29ee45e42">latest Medium post, Kuo says that "strengthening Siri's hardware and software features and specifications is the key to promoting AI-generated content," adding that Apple's generative AI ambitions ...
iPhone 16 Cameras Feature 1

iPhone 16 Pro Again Rumored to Include Tetraprism Telephoto Lens With 5X Optical Zoom

Monday November 20, 2023 6:09 pm PST by
Both the iPhone 16 Pro and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max will include Apple's tetraprism Telephoto lens with improved zoom capabilities, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo largans-periscope-lens-yield-profitability-improves-6b94601b5710">reiterated today. Apple introduced a new tetraprism lens system for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, enabling 5x optical zoom for the first time. The camera technology was not added to ...
iPad Air 12

Kuo: Larger 12.9-inch iPad Air Coming Early 2024 Amid Lineup Refresh

Sunday November 12, 2023 2:50 am PST by
Apple will add a new larger 12.9-inch iPad Air to an entirely refreshed iPad lineup coming next year, with two ‌iPad Air‌ models taking priority in Apple's launch roadmap, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In his e-in-2024-650a5fc9bbee">latest outlook, Kuo predicts that Apple will compensate for this year's lack of movement in its ‌iPad‌ lineup by updating all existing models,...
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iPhone 17 to Be Assembled in India as Apple Aims to Further Diversify Supply Chain

Wednesday November 1, 2023 11:26 am PDT by
Introductory production on the standard iPhone 17 will start in India in the second half of 2025, according to one-17-npi-likely-4088fb656708">Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo says that new product introduction (NPI) for the ‌iPhone‌ 17 will happen in India, marking the first time that Apple begins development of a new ‌iPhone‌ outside of China. Apple will opt to assemble the standard ‌iPhone‌...
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Kuo: No Apple Watch Ultra 3 Next Year?

Thursday October 26, 2023 6:45 am PDT by
There are currently no signs of an "Apple Watch Ultra 3" being in development within Apple's supply chain, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today. As a result, he believes the likelihood of a new Apple Watch Ultra being released in 2024 is "decreasing." "If Apple doesn't officially kick off the Apple Watch Ultra 3 project by December, it's almost confirmed that we won't see a new Apple Watch Ultra...
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Kuo: Apple Considering Low-Cost MacBook Launch in 2024

Wednesday October 25, 2023 4:30 am PDT by
Last month, a seemingly unlikely rumor out of Asia claimed that Apple could be planning to launch a low-cost MacBook series next year in order to compete with Google's popular and more affordable Chromebook models. On Tuesday, that rumor was revived by respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. A DigiTimes report in September said Apple could launch a more affordable MacBook line in late 2024 to...
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Kuo: 'M3 Series MacBook Pro' to Be Focus of Apple's October 30 Event

Tuesday October 24, 2023 11:43 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming "Scary Fast" event will focus on the M3 series MacBook Pro models, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo's wording suggests that he is expecting multiple M3 chips rather than just a single M3 chip, hinting at the possibility of M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips. If Apple does release M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips at once, we can expect to see the new chips introduced in...
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Kuo: No New Macs or iPads Expected to Launch for Remainder of 2023

Friday October 20, 2023 2:10 pm PDT by
Apple is unlikely to release any new Macs or iPads for the remainder of 2023, according to a series of predictions shared in recent weeks by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Macs Last month, Kuo said Apple was unlikely to release any new MacBooks with the M3 chip this year. All existing MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are equipped with M2 series chips, so any new models would presumably be...
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Kuo: AirTag 2 Postponed Until 2025

Wednesday October 18, 2023 10:54 am PDT by
Apple will not release a second-generation version of the AirTag until 2025, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Mass production on the accessory has reportedly been delayed until 2025, which has pushed back Apple's target launch timeline. Back in August, Kuo had said that mass production would kick off in the fourth quarter of 2024, suggesting a late 2024 or early 2025 launch....
MacBook Air 15 Inch Feature Teal

Kuo: MacBook Sales Down 30% Amid No New Products for Remainder of 2023

Wednesday October 18, 2023 4:59 am PDT by
MacBook sales have dropped significantly amid Apple's decision to launch no new Macs for the remainder of 2023, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports. In a new -macbook-supply-chain-shipments-9cdc1c26b65a">post on Medium, Kuo claimed that MacBook sales as a whole are expected to be around 30% lower this year compared to 2022, reducing to about 17 million units. He highlighted that...
Apple Silicon Teal Feature

Kuo: iPhones Won't Adopt RCC for Thinner Circuit Boards Until 2025

Thursday October 12, 2023 11:24 am PDT by
iPhones will not adopt resin coated copper (RCC) foil for their printed circuit boards until 2025, ainboard-to-61abc0d30883">according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo says that Apple will not adopt this technology in 2024 because of its "fragile characteristics" and "inability to pass drop tests." If Apple and its supplier Ajinomoto can improve the RCC material before the third quarter of ...
Apple Watch Series 9

Kuo: 2024 Apple Watch 'Unlikely' to Have 'Significant' Innovation

Tuesday October 10, 2023 12:33 pm PDT by
The 2024 Apple Watch is "unlikely" to offer "significant innovative experiences," according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. For instance, in a post on Medium today, Kuo said the Apple Watch will not be equipped with a micro-LED display or blood glucose monitoring in 2024. He believes these features are at least two years away from being added to the Apple Watch. It's unclear if...
MacBook Air 15 Inch Feature Teal

Kuo: 2024 MacBooks and iPads to Feature 3nm Chips, But Demand Might Fall Below Expectations

Wednesday September 27, 2023 10:32 am PDT by
Apple plans to release new MacBooks and iPads with 3nm chips in 2024, but demand for the devices might be "below expectations" due to a "lack of growth drivers," according to research shared today by supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo explained in a blog post on Medium:Apple's 3nm demand for 2024 would be below expectations. In 2023, Apple's MacBook and iPad shipments declined...
Apple Vision Pro with battery Feature Blue Magenta

Kuo: Low-Cost Apple Vision Pro Might Be Canceled

Tuesday September 26, 2023 11:13 am PDT by
Apple 場預期-7a5eeb613ab0">may have canceled plans to produce a lower-cost version of the Apple Vision Pro headset, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. There were multiple rumors of a lower-cost model coming out sometime around 2025, but that may not happen. Kuo does not give a reason for why the lower-cost headset may have been nixed, but he says that unless Apple significantly cuts down...
iPhone 15 Pro Lineup Feature

Kuo: iPhone 15 Pro Overheating Issues Likely Due to Thermal Compromises, Not 3nm Node

Tuesday September 26, 2023 10:12 am PDT by
Complaints about heat issues with the iPhone 15 Pro models are not related to TSMC's 3-nanometer node that was used for the A17 Pro chip, according to well-respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo says that overheating could be caused by "compromises made in the thermal system design" that allowed Apple to cut down on the weight of the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ models. Kuo says that the reduced heat...
Apple Silicon Teal Feature

Apple Silicon's Next Big Upgrade Could Arrive in 2026

Tuesday September 19, 2023 5:49 am PDT by
Apple could upgrade to considerably more advanced 2-nanometer chip fabrication technology as soon as 2026, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a recent ims-8b3b9daea440">post on Medium, Kuo explained that Apple will likely begin to use TSMC's 2-nanometer chip fabrication technology to produce iPhone chips as early as 2026. The iPhone 15 Pro's A17 Pro chip is the industry's first...
iPhone 16 Mock Header With Dynamic Island

iPhone 15 Pro Max's 5x Optical Zoom Lens Rumored to Expand to Both iPhone 16 Pro Models

Monday September 18, 2023 10:32 am PDT by
While a tetraprism lens with up to 5x optical zoom is currently exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the feature will expand to both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max next year, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo briefly revealed this information in a Medium post today focused on iPhone 15 Pro Max production challenges related to the camera. In the iPhone 15 Pro Max, ...
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Kuo: Apple Urgently Addressing iPhone 15 Pro Max Production Challenges to Boost Supply

Monday September 18, 2023 9:50 am PDT by
Apple has urgently addressed production challenges related to the iPhone 15 Pro Max's upgraded Telephoto camera system in order to boost supply of the device, according to research shared today by supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo said the iPhone 15 Pro Max's tetraprism camera module with up to 5x optical zoom has been the most significant supply bottleneck for the device. In response,...
iPhone 15 Pro lineup

Kuo: iPhone 15 Pro Max Seeing 'Robust' Demand, Shipping Estimates Extending Into November

Sunday September 17, 2023 10:12 am PDT by
There has been "robust" demand for the iPhone 15 Pro Max since the device became available to pre-order on Friday, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a post on Medium today, Kuo said iPhone 15 Pro Max demand has outpaced iPhone 14 Pro Max demand during the equivalent period last year. However, he said demand for the iPhone 15 Pro is weaker than it was for the iPhone 14 Pro so ...