Tag: ming chi kuo

Apple Watch Ultra With microLED Display Cancelled, Employees Laid Off: Ming-Chi Kuo

Apple has long been rumoured to be working on microLED displays for its flagship Watch Ultra smartwatch. Last month, reports said that the Cupertino, California-based company had delayed the Apple Watch Ultra with microLED display beyond 2026 over supply chain issues. Now, the iPhone maker is said to have cancelled the project altogether. According to a reliable analyst, Apple has abandoned the project as it struggled to make the product economically viable and has also laid off several people from the development team.

The information comes from TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who claimed in a post on X late Friday that Apple had scrapped the microLED Apple Watch Ultra project. Apple was struggling to see how the high-end displays would bring value to the watch as production costs on the project kept climbing, Kuo said. “… Apple thinks that Micro LED can’t add significant value to this product, and the production costs are too high to make it economically viable,” the analyst claimed.

Kuo also said that Apple had laid off “many people” from the microLED development team. Apple has not confirmed the development and it is unclear how many employees have been laid off. “There’s currently no visibility on any Micro LED-related projects,” Kuo added.

The reported cancellation of the microLED Apple Watch Ultra project, if true, would represent yet another blow to the company’s ambitions after Apple scrapped its decade-long electric car project earlier this week. “It’s undoubtedly a major setback for Apple, which hopes to own the next generation of display technology to make its products more competitive,” Kuo said.

According to Kuo, Austrian manufacturer asm-OSRAM was Apple’s exclusive LED chip supplier for microLEDs. Now, with the project cancelled, Apple does not intend to manufacture microLED-equipped devices in the foreseeable future, Kuo added.

An official update from Osram also hints at the cancellation of the microLED Apple Watch project. The company said in a press release (as spotted by GSMArena) that it was reassessing its microLED strategy after a “cornerstone project underpinning its microLED strategy got unexpectedly cancelled.”

Last month, a Korean publication reported that the Apple Watch with a microLED display had been delayed beyond 2026, with a 2027 release also far from certain. The report said that Apple had not been able to finalise the component supply chain required to make microLED displays for the Watch Ultra.

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Apple to Launch Refreshed iPad Air, iPad Pro Models in Two Display Sizes in 2024: Ming-Chi Kuo

Apple is planning on launching refreshed versions of the iPad Air and iPad Pro in 2024, according to TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a new Medium blog post, Kuo claims that Apple will release a new 12.9-inch iPad Air model for the first time, alongside the regular 10.9-inch model. The upgraded iPad Pro models will feature the company’s new M3 chip and sport OLED displays, according to the analyst. Apple could also launch new iPad mini and 11th generation iPad models next year.

According to Kuo, Apple is planning to launch a 10.9-inch iPad Air model in the first quarter of 2024, that will be accompanied by a new 12.9-inch model. It will be equipped with the same Liquid Retina display as the smaller iPad Air, but will offer better performance thanks to an oxide backplane (the combination of the thin film transistor (TFT) and the substrate used for the display) that is also used on Apple’s current-generation iPad Pro models with Mini-LED displays.

The analyst states that Apple will also launch two new iPad Pro models that will ditch Mini-LED displays for OLED screens, between the first and second quarters of 2024. These models are expected to sport a new form factor and will be powered by Apple’s latest M3 chip — offering better display quality and power efficiency compared to existing iPad Pro models. A market research firm recently predicted that the larger iPad Pro model will sport a slightly larger 13-inch display.

Kuo predicts that Apple will ship around 6 to 8 million iPad Pro models in 2024, attributing the prediction for lower shipments to a possible price hike due to the addition of OLED screens. Meanwhile, the larger iPad Pro model could also face competition from the company’s purported 12.9-inch iPad Air model.

In the second half of 2024, Apple could launch a new iPad mini model, while the company is also expected to launch a refreshed 11th generation iPad, while production of the 9th Gen model — the last one to feature a Lightning port — will be finally phased out by the end of the year, according to Kuo.

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Apple Watch Ultra 3 Development Yet to Begin, May Not Arrive Next Year: Ming-Chi Kuo

Apple is gearing up to host its ‘Scary Fast’ event at the end of the month, where it is expected to unveil new MacBook Pro and iMac models. The Cupertino, California-based company is also reportedly working on refreshing its iPad and AirPods lineup next year. It might be some time, however, before we see the next generation Apple Watch Ultra. According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 might not arrive in 2024.

At its ‘Wonderlust’ event in September, Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, alongside its latest iPhone 15 series. While the second-generation of Apple’s top-of the-line smartwatch is out, work on Apple Watch Ultra 3 hasn’t begun, according to TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Writing in his Medium blog, Kuo claimed that Apple was yet to officially start development on Apple Watch Ultra 3 — an unusual approach, considering the company’s product development schedule.

Kuo said that if Apple fails to begin work on Apple Watch Ultra 3 by December, it would all but confirm that the next Ultra smartwatch from the company would not be arriving in 2024. “I think Apple hasn’t officially kicked off Apple Watch Ultra 3 project because it needs more time to develop innovative health management features, ensure the manufacturability of new features, and address issues related to Micro LED production,” Kuo reasoned in his post.

The analyst also provided sales forecasts for the Apple Watch Ultra if a new model isn’t launched next year. Shipments for the high-end watch are expected to decline by 20–30 percent year-on-year in 2024, while total Apple Watch shipments could fall by 10 percent to about 35 million units, Kuo estimated.

While a new Ultra model for the Apple Watch might not arrive in 2024, Apple’s hands are full will a conveyor belt of products ready to hit the shelves next year. Earlier this week, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said in his Power On newsletter that Apple plans to launch new iPad models around March 2024. The company is reportedly working on refreshes for iPad Air, the entry-level iPad, and iPad mini. Additionally, while the iPhone maker will likely unveil a refreshed 24-inch iMac at its upcoming event this month, a larger Pro version of the iMac with a 32-inch display will arrive in late 2024 or 2025.

The company is also reportedly planning a top-to-bottom refresh of its highly successful AirPods lineup. Gurman reported that Apple was readying two new fourth-generation AirPods and new version of the top-of-the line $549 (Rs. 59,900 in India) AirPods Max headphones for next year. The entire lineup of AirPods is also set to get USB Type-C charging, new design, and significant audio quality upgrades.

On Wednesday, Apple also rolled out watchOS 10.1, bringing the new double tap feature to its latest smartwatches. With the update, Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 users can now tap their index finger and thumb together twice to answer a call, reply to a message, and perform several other actions.

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Apple to Refresh 24-Inch iMac Next Year, Higher-End iMac With Mini-LED Display Coming in 2025: Ming-Chi Kuo

Apple debuted a host of M2-powered devices at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2023 in June, introducing a new 15-inch MacBook Air, a Mac Studio, and a Mac Pro. The company was earlier reported to be prepping to launch a new iMac, a 13-inch MacBook Air, and a MacBook Pro, all powered by the M3 chip, this October. Prominent Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, however, believes the 24-inch iMac refresh is not arriving this year.

TF Securities analyst Kuo, in a post on X, predicted that a 24-inch iMac refresh would arrive next year. Additionally, the analyst claimed that a higher-end iMac with a 32-inch mini-LED display would debut in 2025.

Predictably, Apple hasn’t yet provided a launch timeline for its M3-powered Macs. Kuo’s prediction of an M3-powered iMac launching in 2024 seems to be in line with earlier reports, too. Back in July, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman had reported a delay in the M3 update of the company’s Mac lineup, noting that the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro and Mac Mini desktop updates powered by much-awaited M3 chip could be pushed to next year.

Specifically on iMac models, which have not seen a refresh in over two years since the company introduced the M1-powered 24-inch iMac in candy colours at its ‘Spring Loaded’ event in April 2021 — it was reported in March that the Cupertino, California based tech giant was working on two new iMac models, codenamed J433 and J434. Back then, Gurman had claimed the new iMac models were in the late stage of development but were unlikely to ship in the second half of 2023.

Last month, Kuo also claimed that M3-powered MacBook models would not be introduced by the end of this year.

Apple currently sells a 24-inch iMac model powered by its M1 chip, available in seven colours. The iMac is 11.5mm thin and features a 4.5K retina display with 500 nits of peak brightness. The desktop comes with six speakers and sports a 1080p web camera for video calls.

Apple unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at its annual developer conference, along with new Mac models and upcoming software updates. We discuss all the most important announcements made by the company at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Apple Car Unlikely to Go Into Mass Production in Next Few Years: Ming-Chu Kuo

Apple has been launching its regular slate of products — most recently the iPhone 15 series, the Apple Watch Series 9, the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and a refreshed pair of AirPods Pro — without noticeable hitches, but its long-gestating, ambitious electric vehicle faces an uncertain future. Riddled with repeated delays and development problems, the Apple car project, internally known as Titan, seem to have hit new hurdles. According to prominent Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple’s car plans have “lost all visibility,” and the Cupertino, California-based tech firm must look at alternate strategies to make headways into a highly competitive automotive space.

TF Securities analyst Kuo, in a post on X on Wednesday, cast doubts on project Titan, Apple’s bet on a self-driving electric vehicle. “The development of the Apple Car seems to have lost all visibility at the moment,” Kuo’s post read. “If Apple doesn’t adopt an acquisition strategy to enter the automotive market, I doubt that the Apple Car can go into mass production within the next years.”

Kuo’s comments seem to suggest that Apple must seek a partner with expertise in the automotive industry to collaborate and help see through its car project to market. It’s worth noting that Apple officially has not commented or confirmed its plans to bring an electric car to consumers. The Apple car, however, remains an open secret in the tech and automotive industry, especially as Apple has sought out talent in the same field over the past few years. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said as much way back in 2016. “It’s pretty hard to hide something if you hire over a thousand engineers to do it,” Musk had then said over Apple’s plans to rival Tesla in the EV space.

Kuo did not elaborate on his claims in his post on X (formerly Twitter), but his comments are in line with the widely reported stuttering development on Project Titan. Back in December last year, Bloomberg had reported that Apple had delayed the launch of its electric car to 2026, missing its expected 2025 target. Far more concerning was the claim that the tech giant was pulling back on plans of an advanced self-driven electric car as present technology reportedly did not reconcile with the company’s vision for a fully autonomous vehicle. Apple had initially planned for the vehicle to ship without a steering wheel and pedals; that has been put on the backburner in favour of a more traditional car design that would support self-driving on highways.

Apple had also reportedly come down on its pricing estimates for its planned EV and was looking to price the vehicle under $100,000 (roughly Rs. 82 lakh), much less than its initial projections of over $120,000 (roughly Rs. 1 crore). As mentioned before, there has been no official communication from Apple over its car project, with Project Titan reportedly stuck in “pre-prototype” stage without a final design for the vehicle. The only bit of official information related to Apple’s efforts in the automotive space came out when the US announced charges in five cases involving technology theft that allegedly benefited China, Russia, and Iran. These included a former Apple engineer, 35-year-old Weibao Wang, who was accused of targeting the company’s technology on autonomous systems, including self-driving cars, and then fleeing to China.

While plans to release an electric vehicle remain in limbo, it hasn’t stopped Apple from flexing its brand strength, even in a sector where the tech firm is a novice. Even as the company remains years away from launching a vehicle, a survey published last year showed that a sizable number of customers in the US would buy a car from Apple. Surprisingly, Apple came out third in a list of 45 automotive brands considered to maintain a high bar for quality by customers.

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Apple 3nm Chip Demand for 2024 to Be Below Expectations Amid Declining iPad, MacBook Demand: Ming-Chi Kuo

Apple’s demand for next-generation 3nm chips — for its devices expected to arrive in 2024 — will be lower than market expectations, according to a market analyst. Earlier this month, the Cupertino company unveiled its first smartphone with a 3nm chip, but TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo states that a decline in shipments for the iPad and MacBook in 2023 could lead to the company lowering its demand for the new chips next year. Meanwhile, Qualcomm is also expected to lower its demand for 3nm chips next year, according to the analyst.

This year, shipments for iPad models declined by 22 percent to 48 million units, while the decline for the MacBook was around 30 percent, to 17 million units, Kuo states in a Medium post. The analyst claims that this drop in shipments was because demand related to work from home (WFH) ended, amid reducing appeal for high-end specifications.

As a result, the company’s demand for next-generation 3nm chips for 2024 will be below expectations, according to Kuo. The analyst also predicts that ASML (formerly Advanced Semiconductor Materials Lithography) will cut its EUV equipment shipment prediction for next year by up to 30 percent due to the reduced demand from Apple, Qualcomm, and Samsung.

In addition to Apple, Qualcomm and Samsung are both expected to reduce demand for 3nm chips in 2024, according to Kuo. The Snapdragon chipmaker is said to be impacted due to two smartphone manufacturers opting to use their own chips — Huawei (Kirin) and Samsung (Exynos). The latter’s flagship phones for 2024 are tipped to feature an Exynos 2400 chipset in markets outside the US, according to recent reports.

Kuo recently claimed in a blog post that complaints of overheating issues affecting Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro models were not related to TSMC’s advanced 3nm chip manufacturing technology. Instead, the analyst cited a market survey to state that the overheating issues are likely to be caused by Apple’s changes to the thermal design of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, which feature a titanium frame unlike their predecessors.

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iPhone 16 Pro to Get Bigger Displays, Periscope Lens: Ming-Chi Kuo

iPhone 16 Pro will most likely launch in late 2024. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 15 series later this year before the iPhone 16 lineup sees the light of day. Both series, however, are expected to include four models. It has previously been reported that the iPhone 15 Pro Max model could also launch with the iPhone 15 Ultra moniker. This upcoming series has also been said to feature a camera upgrade never seen in Apple devices before – a periscope lens. Android competitors like Samsung, Google and Oppo use the periscopic lens in some of their high-end phones. A new report now suggests that the periscopic lens will also come with the iPhone 16 Pro model.

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 16 Pro is expected to sport a ‘slightly larger’ display than the 6.1-inch panels of the iPhone 14 Pro. The iPhone 15 Pro is expected to launch with an unchanged display size. 

It was previously reported several times that the iPhone 15 Pro Max could feature periscopic lenses to increase the phone’s zooming capacity to five or six times and do so with much clarity. Kuo, in his latest report, says that the iPhone 16 series will see the inclusion of this upgraded camera feature also in the lower Pro model.

The periscopic lenses will allow the phones to capture high-quality, more zoomed-in images, further than the usual 2 times zoom most cameras support, without any grains or distortions. The periscope lens, much like its name, uses a prism to reflect light to multiple internal lenses at 90 degrees onto the camera sensor. This makes the lens longer than a telephoto lens, ending up delivering better optical zoom.

As per the new report, the bigger display tip adds up with the periscope lens tip, allowing for the Cupertino-based tech giant to use enough space to include the lens in the iPhone 16 Pro model.

Earlier reports have also suggested that the Pro models of the iPhone 16 series will feature considerably larger display panels than the iPhone 14 Pro models. As per DSCC analyst Ross Young, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models are expected to have 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display panels, respectively. For comparison, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have a 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch display respectively.

Google I/O 2023 saw the search giant repeatedly tell us that it cares about AI, alongside the launch of its first foldable phone and Pixel-branded tablet. This year, the company is going to supercharge its apps, services, and Android operating system with AI technology. We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Apple Supplier Cirrus Logic’s Shares Fall 12 Percent After Kuo Says iPhone 15 Will Drop Solid-State Buttons

Shares of Apple supplier Cirrus Logic tumbled about 12 percent after a renowned analyst said the iPhone maker will abandon the solid-state button design for premium variants of its iPhone 15 series of smartphones.

Amid speculation Apple would use a button format that remains static, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, known for his accurate predictions related to Apple’s product launches, said in a blog post the company decided to abandon the design shift.

“Investors had anticipated that the new solid-state button design would increase suppliers’ revenues and profits,” Kuo said.

Kuo said the iPhone 15 Pro smartphones were in the Engineering Validation and Testing (EVT) stage and Apple had the room to modify its design, adding the decision was also unfavorable for another supplier Hong Kong-listed AAC Technologies Holdings.

Shares of integrated circuit maker Cirrus Logic have hit their lowest in over two months and are set for their worst day in about two years.

Kuo added that removing solid-state buttons “should have a limited impact on the mass production schedule and shipments for Pro models.”

Last week, Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives said in a note that iPhone demand, particularly in China, has seen a clear uptick in Apple’s second quarter “with a strong month of March, and is music to the ears of investors.”

Apple and AAC Technologies did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. Cirrus Logic declined to comment.

© Thomson Reuters 2023

Apple launched the iPad Pro (2022) and the iPad (2022) alongside the new Apple TV this week. We discuss the company’s latest products, along with our review of the iPhone 14 Pro on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Apple AR/VR Headset Mass Production Delayed to Late Q3: Ming-Chi Kuo

Apple is expected to launch its first AR/VR headset in 2023 and a more affordable version of the same in 2024 or 2025. There have been several reports and speculation surrounding the product and its features since it will be the first of its kind by the Cupertino-based tech giant. The AR/VR headset was expected to be unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2023 being held from June 5 to June 9. However, a recent report hinted at an internal disagreement at the company regarding the wearable device. An analyst now suggests that the mass production of the device has been pushed to Q3 of 2023.

According to notable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple’s AR/VR headset is likely to be delayed yet again. Kuo now thinks the supply chain will massively increase assembly for the device in the mid-to-late third quarter of this year, which is in the August-September time frame.

Due to the delay, Kuo says that only 200,000 to 300,000 units will be assembled and shipped this year, down from initial expectations of more than 500,000 units. According to Kuo, Apple is not too ambitious about the headset’s profits due to its high price, reported to be around $3,000 (roughly Rs. 2,48,000), in the time of an economic downturn. Kuo adds that Apple has also compromised on some specifications, such as its weight target, as it ramps up production.

Kuo also poses the question of whether the mass production delays will result in a postponement of the headset’s official announcement. Bloomberg suggested in an earlier report that the headset will be launched in June, at the company’s annual WWDC event. With the recent announcement of the WWDC 2023 dates, the expectation of the AR/VR headset, likely to be named Apple Reality Pro, being unveiled at the conference became firmer.

A couple of recent reports have suggested that the Cupertino headquarters were in disagreements about some particulars of the AR/VR headset. The company could use its proprietary Apple silicon chipsets that they use for MacBooks, and launch the headset as a standalone device. Apple could also launch it as a ‘copresence’ device that will enable users to engage in augmented reality videoconferencing and meetings.

Realme might not want the Mini Capsule to be the defining feature of the Realme C55, but will it end up being one of the phone’s most talked-about hardware specifications? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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iPhone 15 Series With USB Type-C to Offer Fast Charging With Apple-Certified Cables: Ming-Chi Kuo

iPhone 15 series launch is months away, but leaks and speculations about Apple’s next flagship series are in plenty. The Cupertino giant is expected to ditch the traditional Lightning port and bring a USB Type-C port to the rumoured iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max this year to comply with a European Union law. A reputed market analyst has now suggested that Apple could restrict the compatibility of USB Type-C ports on iPhone 15 models to MFi (Made For iPhone) certified cables. Apple is said to optimise the performance of fast charging with a USB Type-C port with the preferred cables.

TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in a report on Medium Tuesday suggested that the USB Type-C port on the upcoming iPhone 15 models will offer fast charging, but with some company-certified cables. Kuo says Apple will optimise the fast-charging performance of the MFi-certified charger for the iPhone 15.

Current iPhone 14 models support up to 20W fast charging and Apple is reportedly optimistic about a surge in demand for 20W USB Type-C chargers in the second and third quarters of this year. “Among Apple’s chargers, the 20W USB-C charger is the most economical choice for iPhone users, so the 20W Replacement demand for USB-C chargers is strong” he added. According to Kuo, the shipment would be increased by 120 percent and it is expected to be around 70 million units in the fourth quarter.

The assembly suppliers of Apple 20W USB Type-C chargers are Lingyizhizao and Flextronics. Kuo notes that strong replacement demand for a 20W USB-C charger will benefit Lingyizhizao.

Apple is not bundling a charging adapter with the iPhone in the box. So, users might have to purchase an Apple-certified USB Type-C cable or adapter to take advantage of the upcoming fast-charging feature on the iPhone 15 units. Currently, the company is offering a 20W USB Type-C adapter and a 30W adapter.

As the new EU regulations coming into effect next year, Apple had earlier confirmed that it will soon switch the iPhone to a USB Type-C charger. The upcoming iPhone 15 lineup could be the first to ship with USB Type-C ports. Most Android smartphones currently offer USB Type-C standards. Apple’s entire MacBook lineup and a few iPad models currently work with USB Type-C technology.

Apple launched the iPad Pro (2022) and the iPad (2022) alongside the new Apple TV this week. We discuss the company’s latest products, along with our review of the iPhone 14 Pro on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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