13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro and Updated iMacs Reportedly Due in September-October

Ming-Chi Kuo, KGI Securities analyst, has released a new report where he expressed his estimates of the Apple's product launch schedule for the second half of this year. In his report Kuo claims that Apple will launch its 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro in the September - October timeframe. However, he predicts that early sales of the notebook might be modest, but with Retina displays Apple’s laptops will hit the market in 2013.

We think consumers who initially planned to purchase the 13” MacBook Pro and Air will turn to the 13” Retina MacBook Pro instead because it has an attractive panel, its price is similar to MacBook Pro and it has a better balance between power consumption and form factor. However, as supply is limited due to panel and assembly yield rate issues, shipment of the 13” Retina MacBook Pro won’t be able to satisfy demand. And we think consumers’ budgets will transfer to new iOS products after Apple launches them, which suggests that overall MacBook shipments will not grow meaningfully on the 13” Retina MacBook Pro.

As for the iMac, Kuo believes that the launch of the new Ivy Bridge-based iMacs was delayed by screen lamination issues which Apple won’t obviously solve by September. The new iMacs are also rumored to include the Retina display, which are almost certainly the most highly-anticipated feature in the product's future.

The chances of the new iMac debuting in September are slim. But, judging by the current supply chain situation, it could be rolled out by end-September. [...]