The well-known analyst at TF International Securities, Ming-Chi Kuo, surfaced today with new predictions. In them, he suggests (and “confirms”) a series of Apple releases for this year, more precisely in the first half of 2020.
Many of the things that Kuo brought today he proposed a few months ago, but others are unpublished. According to the analyst, Apple is expected to launch the successor to the “iPhone SE” (also called “IPhone 9”), a new iPad Pro, a new MacBook Pro with scissor keyboard, a new Bluetooth headset, one tracking accessory and, surprisingly, a wireless charging base!
As it is a very interesting set of news, let’s check them out one by one and better understand Kuo’s predictions for the coming months.
“IPhone 9”
Rumors surrounding a (supposed) new entry-level iPhone point to a device with a design similar to the iPhone 8 (so it would be his “successor”), with a 4.7-inch LCD display and Touch ID.
Despite the characteristics Ă la 2017, it would come with the A13 chip (the same as the iPhones 11 and 11 Pro) and 3GB of RAM. This model is expected to be launched by the end of March.
iPad Pro
For some time now, it has been speculated that the iPad (Pros) will get an update to the rear camera system similar to the new iPhones 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, with three lenses and a 3D ToF sensor. According to Kuo, it is possible that Apple will update its top-of-the-line tablet in March as well.
MacBook Pro
After the launch of the 16-inch MacBook Pro, it was speculated that Apple would also take the new Magic Keyboard (with scissor keyboard) for your smaller models. As the company updated the MacBook Air last July, Kuo thinks that the 13 ″ (or 14 ″) Pro model will be the next to adopt the new keyboard, already in the first half of this year.
“AirTags”
Last year, codes found on iOS 13 indicated the possibility that Apple was working on a new type of tracking accessory, called “AirTags”. Kuo believes that these devices would be equipped with the U1 chip, which would make it possible to locate them with even more precision.
Wireless Headphones
Kuo did not provide details about these alleged headsets, and claimed that they would be Bluetooth. There is no information, then, whether they would be new Beats earphones (the “Powebeats4”, for example), a possible successor to the 2nd generation AirPods or, who knows, those new circum-aural headphones that Kuo himself mentions for some time. time.
Wireless charging base
The mention of a wireless charging base is, to say the least, curious. As we know, Apple failed to create the AirPower, which promised to recharge three devices simultaneously without the need for the devices to be in a certain position.
Anyway, Kuo predicts that Apple’s onslaught on the air did not die with AirPower, and that we will be able to see such a product later this year – he specifically mentions a smaller wireless charging base, so he may be referring just something focused on refilling a single product.
Coronavirus Outbreak
The analyst also addressed the possibility that the outbreak of Coronavirus in China to interfere in the production of the Cupertino giant. According to him, the worst scenario for Apple would be, in fact, the postponement of the production schedule and, consequently, of launches expected in the coming months.
If there are no significant improvements in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic in the foreseeable future, we anticipate that Apple may postpone new material adoptions or lower the standard of testing for components in order to shorten qualification processes and launch new products in the second half. on schedule, with lower specifications likely to undermine the ASP of materials and components.
More than that, if the effects of the disease continue to erupt for some time, even the travel plans of Apple executives in China will be affected, which could disrupt the company’s schedules (that is, it cannot be done virtually).
We will see what will be (or will not) be true in the coming months, when Apple begins to give evidence of the first special event this year. Until then, hopefully the Coronavirus outbreak has already subsided and, of course, things are back to normal (for everyone’s sake).
via 9to5Mac
