iPhone 5, iPad Mini Lead 8 Product Fall Launch for Apple, Says Analyst

Apple is expected to announce a new iPhone in September with a late September iPhone 5 release date, but this is just one of many products Apple will launch this fall according to Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst with KGI Securities who has deep connections to Apple suppliers.

Ming-Chi Kuo adds to our speculation that Apple is planning a major mobile launch this fall, sharing a roadmap for Apple’s holiday release plans with AppleInsider.

The roadmap includes the long rumored iPhone 5 and the anticipated iPad Mini as well as new iPod models and an introduction of several new Mac computers.

iPhone 5 & New iPod Touch

Based on Kuo’s analysis, Apple will announce the iPhone 5 alongside a new iPod Touch in September, and Apple could also deliver a 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display and a new 21.5-inch iMac.

The new iPhone is rumored to feature a taller, thinner design with a 4-inch display and 4G LTE connectivity. The video below shows an iPhone 5 mock-up with the new design. Read more about the potential iPhone 5.

According to Kuo, the iPhone 5’s in-cell touch displays are not a cause for production issues, giving hope that Apple will be able to deliver a large supply of the iPhone 5 to retail locations on release dates in the U.S. and abroad.

The new iPod Touch should see a new display panel, likely the same in-cell touch technology we expect on the iPhone 5 and a new design for 2012.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro with a Retina Display is said to feature a new design and an attractive $1,100 to $1,300 starting price.

iPad Mini, New iPad, WiFi iPod Nano

Adding to the rumors of a second launch event for the iPad Mini, Kuo’s roadmap points to an October iPad Mini launch along with a new iPad refresh, one that will mostly bring a new dock connector to the third generation iPad.

The iPad Mini is expected to be thinner than the iPad and feature a 7.85-inch display. Kuo says these new “thin” panel for the iPad Mini is a cause for the delay. The iPad Mini engineering sample we shared in July matches up with the focus on a thinner iPad.

The analyst also says Apple will announce a new iPod Nano with WiFi connectivity for syncing and streaming music. Issues placing the WiFi chip may be the source of delays, but Kuo believes Apple has addressed these issues and is ready for an October release.

Apple could also deliver a new 27-inch iMac in October. Kuo believes the iMac models will not see a Retina Display upgrade this year, but will feature a new design.