Touch ID MacBook, 'Series 4' Apple Watch with ceramic back, USB-C iPad Pro may be coming

Imminent product refreshes, as predicted by Ming-Chi Kuo

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has chimed in on Apple's releases expected before the end of 2018, with the analyst saying that the wide-range of products will fuel suppliers — and Apple's bottom line.

Most of the report seen by AppleInsider reiterates previous work by the TF International Securities analyst. Ming-Chi Kuo still expects the LCD 6.1-inch iPhone to account for about 55 percent of the shipments in the second half of 2018, growing to nearly 70 percent before the first half of 2019 is over.

MacBook and MacBook Air

As previously mentioned, Kuo also predicts that a new "low-price MacBook" may replace the MacBook Air and possibly the existing MacBook. It is expected to have Touch ID, though — but not the Touch Bar as found in the MacBook Pro.

The rumor mill has gone back and forth regarding Apple's plans at the low end of the Mac portable lineup. Rumors from earlier in the year suggested that the MacBook Air was getting a Retina Display,, with more recent ones suggesting an entirely new product was imminent.

iPad Pro

The iPad Pro is also expected to see an update, with an enhancement to charging speed, and data transmission speed with a shift to USB-C for the connector. Rumors about a new iPad Pro suggest that the 10.5- and 12.9-inch models will lose some bezels, and possibly ditch the headphone jack at the same time.

"Series 4" Apple Watch

The "Series 4" Apple Watch is again said to have narrower bezels. Additionally, it is predicted to support electrocardiography, and all models have some form of ceramic back, as opposed to a composite back.

Previous rumors have pegged the Apple Watch "Series 4" to have a higher resolution, as well as a faster processor.

Aside from support for new hardware watchOS 5 will bring a Walkie Talkie app and native podcast support, including offline playback for both first- and third-party apps. People will also be able to launch Siri by raising their wrist, and get proactive suggestions from the Siri watchface based on daily routines.

Fitness followers will get long-awaited automatic workout detection, new Yoga and Hiking workouts, and pace alerts for people wanting to keep up a certain speed during runs and walks.