Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is one of the most quoted analysts for predicting future Apple products or features. Kuo was briefly a Digitimes analyst and one analysis on his predictions record by Philip Elmer-DeWitt, scored his accuracy at about 44%. The Cult of Mac also did a report on Kuo that was favorable. Yet however you view Kuo’s predictions, he continues to barrel ahead with bold preditions and his latest one has come to light today.
A new report today quotes Kuo stating that “We note the 12.9″ model will be the second generation of the existing 12.9″ iPad Pro, the 10-10.5″ model will be the high-end model equipped with a narrow bezel design, and the 9.7″ model will be the low-priced option. The former two models will have an A10X chip manufactured by TSMC (2330 TT, NT$183.5, N), while the latter comes with an A9 chip made by Samsung LSI. Although we estimate iPad shipments in 2017 will drop again YoY to 35-37mn units, we except the decline to narrow to 10% from 2016’s roughly 20%, given that the 10-10.5″ model may see more demand from commercial/enterprises and tender markets, while the low-priced 9.7″ model may have a greater shipment contribution and likely account for 50-60% of total shipments of new iPads.” You could read more about this here.
In November Patently Apple posted a report titled “Apple to Introduce an All-New 10.5″ iPad in Q1 2017 Mainly Aimed at Education and Enterprise Sectors.” Late last month a spokeswoman for TSMC stated that their new 10nm chips that will power Apple’s new iPad’s are “totally on track” for Q1 2017. When Apple will officially launch their new iPad lineup is still unknown.
[Source:-Patently Apple]
