KGI Securities

KGI on iPhone 6: no sapphire, barometric pressure sensor, programmable power button and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 4, 2014

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities is on a roll today. After detailing his expectations for an iWatch, the analyst in a note issued to clients today also summarized his thoughts concerning the upcoming iPhone 6 devices which are expected to be unveiled next Tuesday at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts in Cupertino, California.

As per AppleInsider, which has obtained a copy of Kuo's report to clients, rumored sapphire protection won't be an option for this year's iPhone refresh. Moreover, both 4.7 and 5.5-inch models should be available in a 128-gigabyte storage flavor and will include a new barometric pressure sensor to support indoor navigation applications, as well as new health-related functions related to spirometry.

Wrapping up his report, Kuo wrote that the iPhone 6 device should also feature a programmable power button for integration “with specific applications”.

KGI on iWatch: 2015 debut, 8GB of storage, 512MB RAM, multiple materials and screen sizes

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

According to a new report that KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo released to clients Thursday morning, the rumored Apple wearable device that Re/code said would get announced next Tuesday alongside the iPhone 6 will come outfitted with a whopping eight gigabytes of storage, with its yet-unknown processor thought to pack in 512 MB of RAM (of the LPDDR3 variety), like the iPhone 4/4s.

According to AppleInsider which has obtained a copy of the analyst report, the device should be available in a gold finish (”to add a luxury image to the product”) and aluminum variants (“as it has been widely used in Apple products”), as well as two sizes — one with a 1.3-inch screen and the other featuring a larger display measuring 1.5 inches diagonally — which matches up with previous reports calling for different iWatch sizes for men and woman.

Trusted analyst doesn’t expect reversible Lightning cable and redesigned charger to ship with iPhone 6

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 2, 2017

KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo in a note to clients issued Monday postulated that Apple's upcoming iPhone 6 is “not likely” to ship with a more powerful power adapter.

Furthermore, he made the same assertion regarding the rumored Lightning cable which recently leaked out with reversible design on the USB side.

According to the analyst note obtained by AppleInsider, Kuo thinks the fully reversible Lightning cable would not be viable, citing “cost concerns” and ”limited improvements to overall user experience” that such changes would bring.

Trusted analyst no longer sees iWatch in 2014

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 19, 2014

KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo has made a name for himself as one of the more credible — if not the most credible — analysts covering Apple.

And unlike many other ”analysts“ who base their armchair predictions on the combination of the generally inaccurate rumor-mill reporting, hearsay and the Internet echo chamber, Kuo actually does research and puts some thought into notes he issues to clients.

But even renowned analysts like Kuo — and trusted he is — have had their share of misses. Today, Kuo backpedalled on his earlier claim that Apple was working to released an iWatch at some point this year. Ask him again and he'll now tell you he no longer sees the mythical wearable released in 2014 due to the complexities involved in hardware and software engineering...

Noted analyst claims 5.5-inch iPhone 6 could delay until 2015 over production woes

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 14, 2014

In his new research note issued to clients Monday, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo cautions that Apple's 5.5-inch iPhone 6 could be delayed until after October and possibly until 2015, over yield issues with its in-cell touch panel and metal casing.

According to the analyst, panels this large exhibit issues where the edge of the panel may become insensitive to touch. Also, under Apple's new manufacturing process for the iPhone 6 metal casing, "color unevenness is an issue," wrote Kuo...

Noted analyst says Apple bringing Touch ID to 2014 iPhone and iPad models

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 27, 2014

Back in April, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo gave us a roadmap of all the products Apple has in the pipeline for 2014 and now he's back with an analysis of Apple's plans for the Touch ID sensor.

His conjecture is that every new iPhone and iPad model shipping in 2014 will be outfitted with an improved Touch ID fingerprint reader.

Kuo has become one of the most reputable Apple analyst analysts out there who churns out some of the most reliable predictions about Apple's future product plans so it's worth paying attention to what he has to say...

Analyst: iPhone 5C to phase out iPhone 5, due on China Mobile in Q3

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 25, 2013

KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo has built a reputation of the most reliable Apple analyst out there who has accurately predicted a number of Apple product updates (sans the timetable).

He's out with a new report for clients Monday morning, sharing interesting observations regarding Apple's upcoming iPhone 5C, also known as the budget iPhone.

The biggest takeaway: the iPhone 5C will be priced between $400 and $500, which makes it a mid-tier handset rather than cheap, and is expected to be released to China Mobile's 700+ million subscribers in Fall, potentially accounting for penetration of TDD-LTE to 25 percent in iPhone 5S and 35 percent in iPhone 5C shipments...

Without iPhone exclusive, China Unicom now turns to low-cost handsets

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 9, 2013

There is a surge of demand for low-cost smartphones in China. Latest to ride the wave: local carrier China Unicom, which lost its exclusive deal to sell iPhones in 2012.

Apparently, the shift toward inexpensive phones is paying off, the company reporting a 55 percent jump in profits for the first half of 2013.

While there is still room for high-end smartphones, vast growth is seen selling inexpensive handsets to emerging markets, such as China and India. Apple could unveil a plastic iPhone aimed at first-time smartphone owners and still make "decent profitability" one analyst said Thursday...

Analyst: iPad 5/iPhone 5S/budget model in September, no Retina iPad mini in 2013

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 22, 2013

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is fast becoming the de facto most reliable Apple watcher. Expanding on his April note which advised investors to brace themselves for a delayed iDevice roll-out over manufacturing "challenges," his just-updated shipments timetable now offers more in way of detail.

Long story short, the analyst is expecting the iPhone 5S in late-September, but in limited quantity, with the oft-rumored plastic iPhone (he's calling it an 'iPhone Lite') becoming available even sooner than the iPhone 5S in early-September because its chassis is easier to make than the two-tone iPhone 5S design.

Early September will also bring us an updated iPad 5, he said, but there will be no iPad mini successor this year due to engineering issues. As for the Mac family, Kuo sees a mid-September launch of a Haswell-enabled Retina MacBook Pro, with a Haswell-driven iMac up for a late-August introduction. The full breakdown is right after the break...

Apple looking to add new Taiwanese suppliers to build 2014 iDevices

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 27, 2016

According to the latest chatter, Apple of California is looking to introduce new Taiwanese suppliers to its supply chain in a bid to diversify manufacture of iOS devices beyond the current production partners Foxconn and Pegatron.

The development comes just as Foxconn reported better-than-expected June quarter earnings on increased sales of its TV set making business.

Meanwhile, a city in China's Henan Province is helping Foxconn increase its production capacity and inviting Apple to set up a domestic sales center...

Haswell-powered iMacs expected in June or July

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 20, 2016

In addition to OS X 10.9 and iOS 7, credible media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal are expecting Apple to announce its Pandora-like iRadio music service and possibly a MacBook specs refresh at today's WWDC keynote, which begins in less than four hours.

The reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has chimed in with predictions of a Haswell-focused iMacs that he believes are in the pipeline for a launch this month or next.

Intel just recently announced its fourth-generation Core architecture for desktop and notebook computers. Apple has traditionally been among the first out of the gate to update its computers with the latest Intel chips, sometimes even securing a period of exclusivity on the new chips, like with the original MacBook Air...

Technical challenges delaying iPhone 5S, budget iPhone, iPad mini 2?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who actually has a pretty good track record in predicting Apple's product plans, has some bad news for Apple fans. In a note issued to clients Thursday, he basically wrote that Apple's next batch of iDevice upgrades may hit the market later than originally expected due to a number of "technical challenges" related to the inclusion of fingerprint sensor beneath the Home button.

The rumored budget iPhone may be delayed because its slimmer-than-usual polycarbonate casing is proving harder nut to crack, while the second-generation iPad mini continues to face challenges with its high-resolution Retina panels. Jump past the fold for the full disclosure...