Apple Watch 2 Delayed, ‘Second-Generation Redesign’ to be Implemented Around September?
Apple Watch 2 might be delayed again.
There were already speculations that Apple’s second-generation wearable, the Apple Watch 2, will not meet its March 2016 launch. Apple is quite predictable when it comes to their launch dates because it has been a long-running tradition for the company to provide updated products in one-year cycles.
Apple has not released an official statement regarding why the product is getting delayed, but Techcrunch noted that there are several possible reasons.
Techcrunch spoke with Creative Strategies analyst Ben Bajarin to confirm if Apple’s manufacturers have started moving the production of Apple Watch 2.
Bajarin said that Apple’s usual component providers are not moving anything new yet. The analyst added that if there is a fixed March launch for Apple Watch 2, the manufacturers should have started during the last part of 2015 and should be preparing the shipping this month.
“We are observing some interesting new patterns in Apple’s supply chain that are making the waters more murky than before. As with the current edition of the Apple Watch, no one really saw that coming via supply chain so it is possible to not see it,” said Bajarin. “However, the Apple supplier warnings of soft revenue ahead do seem to cause one’s eyebrow to raise when thinking about a new product supposedly shipping in a few months.”
Software could also be another factor for Apple Watch 2’s late release. 9to5Mac reported that Apple is currently preparing for the WatchOS 2.2. update, which just hit the beta stage this January.
The WatchOS 2.2 beta, it has been disseminated to a couple of developers. The beta allows the Apple Watch to be synced in one single iPhone. At the same time, the beta version has a new functionality on the Nearby search feature. The Apple Maps can easily navigate through different buttons that could ask for travel directions and even addresses. The search option is also a lot easier to use since it can already be accessed using a button instead of the Force Touch requirement.
What to Expect
There is a big possibility that Apple Watch could go static for one year. Though the WatchOS 2.2 is already in beta, it would still take some time for it to be finalized and released to mass users.
Moreover, March could still be a big month for Apple. Sources told Techcrunch that there is “something” brewing for March. It could be the rumored 4-inch iPhone and the new iPad model, but having Apple Watch 2 at the event is not probable.
As for the improvements, the Apple Watch 2 is suggested to have a more reliable battery life, according to Wearable. Apple was not able to pack multiple functionalities on the first Apple Watch because of the limitations in battery life
Lead researcher at Canalys Daniel Matte Apple could achieve big improvements if they will “utilise Samsung Foundry’s 14FF process to manufacture the chipsets in the Apple Watch 2.”
“It’s already using them in the iPhone, and it would provide major benefits for energy efficiency, which would impact performance and battery life,” added Matte.
Though this could solve the big battery life mystery, it will not be enough since the Apple Watch 2 is expected to function throughout the entire day. Another alternative to find ways to provide an “always-on screen that lasts a whole day,” Wearables noted.
[Image Credit: Stephen Lam/ Getty Images]
