It might be that the upcoming iPhones this 2015 are grabbing most of the attention but for Apple the stream of cash will come from an unlikely source - the MacBook, which an analyst said is a rock-solid revenue generator for the Cupertino-based tech giant. New MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros are touching down within the first half of 2016, added the analyst.
Well-known Apple insider Ming-chi Kuo of KGI Securities said in new research note issued this week that indicates the imminent rollout of Skylake-powered MacBooks, which Kuo described as consistent contributor to Apple's cash flow. This 2016, the business will drive up growth, Kuo said.
"We see MacBook as a stronger candidate for becoming a theme given solid growth in the business segment, as well as a potential upgrade to hit the market in 1H16," the KGI analyst was reported by 9to5Mac as saying.
Most notable of the MacBook upgrades to come is the use of Intel's new Skylake processing chip that promises significant performance and longer battery life. Implemented with the MacBook line, the chip is seen to increase computing power by up to 20% while the notebook's operating hours is to shoot up by 30%.
Packed with the upgrades attendant to its Skylake processing might, Kuo is convinced that the MacBook this 2016 will play a key role on Apple's financial performance.
The iPad is likely to fire up some amount of excitement as well as the same KGI report suggested that the iPad Air 3 will surface this 2016. The research firm, however, held back on providing specifics on the 9.7-inch tablet, which Apple last refreshed in late 2014.
As for the iPhone, Kuo said that the imminent 4-inch iPhone 5SE release date will not shore up the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus sales numbers that reports said are relatively low compared to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Initial shipment of 5SE this 2016 will only reach a high of 12 million units, which KGI said is considerable downgrade from the earlier forecast of up to 20 million units.
"While the new 4-inch iPhone has been enjoying the media spotlight, we don't regard the product as innovative, either in terms of form factor," Kuo said in explaining the not so-rosy projected market showing of the iPhone 5SE following its rumored April 2016 release date.