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

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Kuo: Apple Better Off Taking 25% Tariff Hit Than Move iPhone Production to US

Friday May 23, 2025 9:06 am PDT by
It would be more financially viable for Apple to absorb a 25% import tariff on iPhones sold in the United States than to relocate its assembly operations to the U.S., Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said. Kuo, a respected analyst with a long track record of accurate forecasts about Apple's supply chain, made the statement on X (formerly Twitter) in response to renewed pressure from former...
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Kuo: Jony Ive's Futuristic OpenAI Device Like a Neck-Worn iPod Shuffle

Thursday May 22, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The big news in the technology world this week is that ChatGPT maker OpenAI is working more closely with Apple's former design chief Jony Ive on a futuristic AI device. The company is remaining tight lipped about the device, but Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has shared some alleged details about its design. In a social media post today, Kuo said the device will be "slightly larger" ...
AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Unlikely to Feature Built-In Cameras

Thursday May 22, 2025 3:58 am PDT by
Ming-Chi Kuo dropped a bit of a bombshell this week by suggesting that AirPods won't see major updates until 2026 when infrared camera-equipped models enter production. But before you panic about waiting two more years for new earbuds, there's reason for optimism. Kuo's timeline likely refers to regular AirPods, not the AirPods Pro line. Well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman has...
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Apple's Large-Sized Foldable Device Could Have an Amazon Rival

Tuesday May 20, 2025 4:27 am PDT by
Amazon is developing a large-sized foldable device similar to the one Huawei unveiled on Monday, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Huawei MateBook Fold "My research indicates that Amazon is also internally developing a similar product, which has not yet officially kicked off," said Kuo in a post on X (Twitter). Kuo added that the device is projected to enter mass production in late...
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Kuo: Lighter Version of AirPods Max to Enter Mass Production in 2027

Monday May 19, 2025 1:40 am PDT by
Apple is working on a lighter version of AirPods Max that will enter mass production in 2027, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo shared the prediction on X (Twitter). He provided no additional details on the weight reduction that Apple plans to make to its over-ear noise-canceling headphones. Apple updated the AirPods Max in September, receiving a USB-C charging port instead ...
Apple iPhone 16 family lineup

Base iPhone 18 Shifting to Spring 2027 Launch, Six Months After 18 Pro

Monday May 5, 2025 2:52 am PDT by
Apple will launch the standard iPhone 18 in early 2027, marking a major shift in the company's release strategy beginning in 2026. According to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple plans to split its flagship iPhone lineup between two launch windows annually. The iPhone 18 Pro models and a new foldable iPhone will arrive in the second half of 2026, while the standard iPhone 18 and an updated ...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Apple's Second Foldable iPhone Set for 2027 Launch, Claims Kuo

Monday May 5, 2025 2:37 am PDT by
Apple will launch its second foldable iPhone in the second half of 2027, as part of a major shake-up of its iPhone launch strategy, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. According to Kuo's latest report outlining Apple's new staggered iPhone roadmap through 2027, Apple will launch its first foldable iPhone in the second half of next year, followed by a second-generation model a year...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

Kuo: Apple to Launch iPhone 19 Air With Larger Display in Late 2027

Monday May 5, 2025 2:24 am PDT by
Apple plans to launch an iPhone 19 Air with a larger display in the second half of 2027, as part of the company's evolving product strategy, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. According to Kuo's latest report outlining Apple's roadmap through 2027, the iPhone 19 Air will feature a larger display compared to the iPhone 18 Air model that's expected to debut a year earlier. While...
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Kuo: iPhone 17e Still on Apple's 2026 Roadmap

Monday May 5, 2025 2:13 am PDT by
Apple will launch an iPhone 17e in the first half of next year, according to respected industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Corroborating a recent report that Apple will switch to a split iPhone launch strategy, Kuo on Monday offered his own interpretation of Apple's roadmap for the next two years: 2H25: iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Slim, iPhone 17 1H26: iPhone 17e 2H26: ...
iPhone 17 Air Size Feature

iPhone 17 Air Now Rumored to Feature 12GB of RAM Like the Pro Models

Thursday April 24, 2025 7:41 am PDT by
The rumored ultra-thin "iPhone 17 Air" model will be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to the latest word from Ming-Chi Kuo. In a blog post today, the well-known Apple supply chain analyst said that the iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will all be equipped with 12GB of RAM. He previously only expected the iPhone 17 Pro Max to have 12GB of RAM, so this is good news for...
2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

Kuo: Apple Can Reduce Impact of Trump's Massive Tariffs in Five Ways

Thursday April 3, 2025 6:31 am PDT by
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that massive tariffs will be applied to imports from many countries, starting April 9. The tariffs will significantly impact Apple's supply chain, with iPhones and other products imported to the U.S. from China, India, and Vietnam set to face 54%, 26%, and 46% tariffs, respectively. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said that if...
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Kuo: iPhone 18 Models Will Feature 2nm Chips

Saturday March 22, 2025 9:01 am PDT by
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today reiterated that the A20 chip in iPhone 18 models will be manufactured with TSMC's 2nm process. Kuo said TSMC's trial production of 2nm chips has now reached yields well above the 60-70% range. The yield refers to the percentage of functional chips that can be obtained per silicon wafer, which is essentially a large, circular disc of chips....
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Kuo: Foldable iPhone to Feature Liquid Metal Hinges for Better Durability

Friday March 21, 2025 3:21 am PDT by
Apple plans to use liquid metal in the hinges of its upcoming foldable iPhone to improve durability and reduce screen creasing, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Apple has reportedly chosen liquid metal, which is manufactured using a die-casting process, as a key component in addressing common issues with foldable devices. The design choice aims to enhance screen flatness and minimize the...
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Kuo: Cook Should Personally Address Siri Apple Intelligence Failure

Thursday March 13, 2025 4:02 pm PDT by
Apple made a major misstep with the way that it handled the delay of Apple Intelligence features for Siri, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today. Announcing the delay through a press statement was a bad decision, and Apple should instead have gone through official channels. Kuo referenced the well-known "Antennagate" PR crisis when the iPhone 4 launched in 2010, and the way that then Apple...
Sad Siri Feature

Kuo: Apple Knows Apple Intelligence is 'Underwhelming' and Won't Drive iPhone Upgrades

Thursday March 13, 2025 9:32 am PDT by
The Apple Intelligence features that Apple introduced with iOS 18 are not pushing people to upgrade their iPhones, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reiterated today. Apple's recent Siri failures are also going to have an impact on 2025 iPhone shipments, which the market is beginning to realize. As early as last July, Kuo said expectations that ‌Apple Intelligence‌ could drive ‌iPhone‌ upgrades...
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Kuo: New 'HomePod' With Screen to Enter Mass Production After WWDC

Wednesday March 12, 2025 9:50 am PDT by
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today reiterated his belief that a new HomePod with a screen will enter mass production in the third quarter of 2025. Kuo is likely referring to Apple's rumored smart home hub, which is expected to have a square iPad-like screen that can be attached to a HomePod-like speaker base, or mounted on a wall. If his timeframe is accurate, it means that the...
iPhone 17 Air Size Feature

'iPhone 17 Air' Rumored to Feature 'High-Density' Battery

Thursday March 6, 2025 5:06 am PST by
In a blog post today about Apple's foldable iPhone plans, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the rumored iPhone 17 Air will have a "high-density" battery. Specifically, he said that Apple's first foldable iPhone model "will use the same high-density battery cells as the ultra-thin iPhone 17." Kuo did not share any precise Wh/mAh battery capacity figures. While there have been ...
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Kuo: Apple Developing Faster 'Refreshed' C1 Modem With mmWave Support for Mass Production Next Year

Thursday March 6, 2025 1:12 am PST by
Apple is developing a "refreshed" version of its C1 modem for mass production next year that will improve power consumption and transmission speed, as well as bring support for mmWave, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a post on X (Twitter), Kuo said that while supporting the mmWave baseband isn't particularly challenging, achieving stable performance with low power consumption...
Apple Wi Fi Chip Feature Triad

Kuo: All iPhone 17 Models Will Feature Apple-Designed Wi-Fi Chip to 'Enhance Connectivity'

Thursday February 20, 2025 7:11 am PST by
Apple will use its own custom-designed Wi-Fi chip in all upcoming iPhone 17 models, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Writing in a post on X (Twitter), Kuo said the switch to in-house Wi-Fi chips will "enhance connectivity across Apple devices" while also giving Apple a cost reduction. All current iPhone models are equipped with a combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip supplied by...
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Here's When Apple's First Robots Are Expected to Enter Mass Production

Wednesday February 12, 2025 6:25 am PST by
Apple is exploring both humanoid and non-humanoid robots as future smart home products, according to Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. However, he does not expect the robots to launch for several more years, if ever. Kuo today said Apple's robot projects remain in the proof-of-concept stage within the company. In the event that Apple decides to move forward with launching the robots,...