Eh, what the hell, we haven’t published an iWatch rumor for awhile… Brian Blair of Rosenblatt Securities issued a note to investors on Wednesday, in which he said the “iWatch” is expected to have a round face, and a slimmer profile than Motorola’s previously-announced Moto 360 Watch, and he expects it to go into production in late July or early August.
Blair anticipates that Apple will build between 18 million and 21 million “iWatch” units in the second half of 2014, with device production to begin in late July or early August. He believes those production estimates have increased within Apple’s supply chain over the past month.
Blair’s sources also indicated the the wearable device will be manufactured by Taiwan’s Quanta Computer, in place of Apple’s regular manufacturing partner Foxconn.
His contacts also indicated that Apple has built multiple models of the “iWatch” for testing, including one that used a sapphire screen. It’s unknown which models will make it to market.
Blair says that as Apple didn’t refresh its iPod lineup in 2013, the “iWatch” is positioned to supplant the company’s declining iPod business.
