Apple fans already have reasons to eagerly await the fall, as that's when the next-generation iPhone, dubbed iPhone 5, is expected to arrive. Now, however, there is even more good news pegged to that timeframe. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo released a significant new report rounding out the KGI forecast for Apple's launch schedule the second half of this year. According to Kuo, consumers can expect brand new iPod Touch and iPod Nano models, new iPhone and iPad Mini models, enhanced internals for the iPad, as well as a 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro and a new iMac.

In a note shared with AppleInsider, Kuo wrote that a 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is expected to join the recently-released 15-inch model sometime in September, and Apple may also introduce an iMac refresh in the same timeframe. Kuo noted, however, that components for the high-pixel density Retina display are limited and demand may outweigh supply.

"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 the MacBook Pro and it has a better balance between power consumption and form factor," said Kuo. "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."

Retina is the Future

Kuo's new report reiterates his earlier claims that Apple will be launching a 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro in the fall. The analyst said that early 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro sales may be modest, but Retina displays are definitely the future of Mac notebooks and they would eventually see explosive growth towards the beginning of next year.

The report also falls in line with two previous reports from online computer benchmarking sites, pointing to an unknown MacBook Pro matching the description of a 13-inch Retina display model.

When it comes to the iMac, Kuo believes a refreshed model could arrive near the end of September, but notes that indicators from the supply chain suggest a later release. The analyst further added that inventory adjustments will cause shipments of Apple desktop products to slump in July, but they are likely to rise back sharply in August as the new iMac starts shipping out from factories.

As for the company's overall financial outlook, Kuo believes Apple will see zero growth across the line in the second quarter of 2012 due to increased smartphone competition from Samsung, sluggish MacBook sales, a weakened global economy, as well as the iPad's late launch in China. New product launches, however, are expected to generate moderate growth ahead of the holiday shopping season, which means the third quarter of the calendar year will likely pick up.