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Tag: analyst

  • Kuo: Apple suspends AirPods Pro 2 assembly through Chinese supplier Goertek

    Kuo: Apple suspends AirPods Pro 2 assembly through Chinese supplier Goertek

    Apple has apparently instructed Chinese supplier Goertek to suspend assembly of its second-generation AirPods Pro earbuds given production issues. Per noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Chinese supplier Luxshare has expanded production of the second-generation AirPods Pro to fill the gap and is now the exclusive supplier of the wireless earbuds for the time being.

    “Goertek’s suspension of production is more likely due to production issues rather than demand issues,” said Kuo, who didn’t elaborate on specific issues that may have been present. Kuo added that it’s unknown as to when Goertek will resume production of the earbuds. It’s also unclear if the issues affect any second-generation AirPods Pro already sold.

    The second-generation AirPods Pro earbuds were released in late September and are currently still in stock on Apple’s online store in the U.S. It’s unknown as to whether the loss of one supplier will have a significant impact on availability heading into the holiday shopping season.

    The new AirPods Pro feature up to twice as much active noise cancellation as the original, charging case improvements, and more.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and @mingchikuo

  • Rumor: Apple to release 27-inch external mini-LED display in Q1 2023

    Rumor: Apple to release 27-inch external mini-LED display in Q1 2023

    If you’re truly hankering for a high end Apple monitor, you may get your wish next year.

    According to a tweet shared by Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) analyst Ross Young, Apple is planning to launch an external 27-inch monitor with a mini-LED display in the first quarter of 2023.

    Young’s tweet indicated that Apple had “pushed” the debut of the monitor to Q1 2023. Young is presumably talking about the first calendar quarter of 2023, aka the months from January to March.

    Young has also mentioned this before on the MacRumors podcast back in July, and stated that he initially expected Apple to introduce the display in June at WWDC, but he said in May that the launch had to be delayed until October because of design delays. Apple is also unable to meet the October goal, and Young believes the company is now aiming for 2023.

    Over the course of 2022, Apple has been dealing with supply constraints among its Mac and display lines, which could be the reason for the delay.

    The upcoming display is said to feature mini-LED technology alongside ProMotion support, which would allow for a 120MHz refresh rate. The device is not expected to be a direct replacement for the Pro Display XDR, which is a larger, 6K display. It will instead be similar to the Apple Studio Display, which is a 27-inch monitor.

    It’s also thought that the upcoming display could be more expensive than the current Studio Display, which is priced starting at $1,599.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and @DSCCRoss

  • Analyst: Apple has moved some of its Apple Watch Series 8 production to Vietnam, seems on track for September launch

    Analyst: Apple has moved some of its Apple Watch Series 8 production to Vietnam, seems on track for September launch

    Apple appears to be taking advantage of having moved some of its MacBoo And Apple Watch production resources to Vietnam.

    The company seems to be ramping up already-existing production of its Apple Watch Series 8 units ahead of the anticipated September launch.

    According to tweets by noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Luxshare ICT already has production lines in both China and Vietnam. The company happens to be one of Apple’s largest suppliers for various products. Kuo has stated that the Vietnamese company has already been producing a fair share of the Apple Watch Series 7 supply.

    Kuo also went on to that that as much as 70 percent of the Apple Watch models could be produced in Vietnam. The Apple Watch Series 8, expected to launch Sept. 7 alongside with the iPhone 14, should account for most of these units.

    Apple’s supply chain for most of its products was seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns in China as well as other issues. Given that the U.S. government and China disagree on various geopolitical issues, this has strained trade relations between the two parties. Apple, in turn, appears to have been looking for and found other suppliers within the region, beginning with Vietnam. Aside from Vietnam, Apple also assembles iPhones in both India and Brazil.

    Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8 products at a media event in September.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via The Mac Observer and @mingchikuo

  • Next-gen iPad, iPad Pro production could be affected by possible power outages/power rationing

    Next-gen iPad, iPad Pro production could be affected by possible power outages/power rationing

    iPad assembly plants in China could be impacted by power outages ahead of the launch of the new models this fall.

    Per noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Kuo tweeted on the effects of power outages in China’s southwestern Sichuan province. The outages have been caused by industrial electricity rationing amid a severe heatwave.

    Kuo said that the temporary power outage may affect ‌iPad‌ assembly facilities in Chengdu and Chongqing, operated by Foxconn and Compal. He added that it is “difficult to assess impacts on production currently,” but its impact should be limited if the power outage can end on August 20. Flexible production scheduling could mitigate the effects of power outages, but it is not clear how ‌iPad‌ supplies may be hit if power does not return by August 20.

    Kuo also warned that similar incidents in the coming months could affect shipments of Apple’s new devices during the company’s peak season when new products are released to the public. It’s thought that the next-gen iPad Pro models will offer new features such as MagSafe wireless charging, upgraded cameras, two new connectors, and an M2 chip. It’s also thought that the tenth-generation entry-level iPad could feature a new design and a USB-C port. The updated tablets are expected to be revealed at an Apple event in October.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors, Reuters, and @mingchikuo

  • Rumor: iPhone 14 Pro, Pro Max models could start at 256GB of storage

    Rumor: iPhone 14 Pro, Pro Max models could start at 256GB of storage

    Apple may be upping its available storage for the iPhone 14 Pro models.

    According to a recent report from TrendForce, the iPhone 14 Pro models could start with 256GB of storage, However, Jeff Pu, an analyst for Haitong International predicts that the upcoming iPhone 14 Pro models will likely stay with a base of 128GB.

    Pu originally stated that the iPhone 14 Pro models would begin with a 256GB model. The analyst is now including a 128GB tier for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models. Having based his report on supply chain surveys, Pu has stated that he believes that Pro models will follow the same storage capacity model as the iPhone 13 Pro: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB.

    Additional rumors have indicated that the iPhone 14 Pro models will receive Apple’s new A16 chip, while the base model iPhone will be outfitted with the A15. Other notable differences that have been rumored include pixel quality, finish, the third camera lens and new design.

    Granted, these are all rumors and will only be confirmed via Apple’s keynote speech. Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via The Mac Observer and TrendForce