In case you are not aware, Apple released its first smartwatch back in 2014 (September). This is almost two years ago and shows you that the company has not fully embraced this subsector the way other manufacturers such as Samsung have done over the years.
According to industry sources, Apple has plans to release its second smartwatch in the next few months. This is in line with the rumors we have been hearing the last couple of months.
Back to the Apple Watch 2, industry insiders are expecting it to borrow a lot from the original Apple Watch. In a letter to investors, one of those insider, Ming-Chi Kuo, of KGI Securities said that the Apple Watch 2 will look pretty much like the original watch. This is not a good thing as it will mean that it won’t sell as many units as the first Apple watch.
Two smartwatches
Apple is also expected to release two smartwatches this year according to the same sources. The first variant is exactly the same as the original Apple watch but will have improved internals such as the 16nm processor from TSMC, a barometer, radio, GPS and a slightly thinner display.
The second variant will come with improved geolocation capabilities, a GPS radio, barometer and a slightly bigger battery.
Both these variants will borrow a lot from the original Apple Watch and this is not something we haven’t seen from Apple before. The company has always done this with its smartphones so we expected to see this kind of strategy on its smartwatches.
Going into 2017, Apple is not expected to change a lot on its smartwatches, we might start seeing changes in 2018. “Looking ahead, Kuo doesn’t expect Apple to change its wearable form factor in 2017, a year that will most likely bring LTE support for standalone cellphone and data functionality. More radical design changes should arrive in 2018 alongside improved health applications and potentially FDA approval,” – Apple Insider.
Also Read: Apple Watch Accounted for Two Thirds of All Smartwatches Shipped in 2015