Taiwan’s United Daily News (Google Translate, via GforGames), reports that Apple and its supply partner, Quanta Computer, have reportedly solved the yield issues they were facing with manufacturing the components for the upcoming Apple Watch, and is now gearing up with an eye towards mass production beginning in January.
The report notes that this is due to Quanta increasing its number of employees from 2,000 to 10,000, as the company expects to hire 20,000 employees to help with production. Apple is projecting to ship a total of 24 million Apple Watches in 2015. TheUnited Daily News also mentions how a new “iPhone 6s” will likely miss a Spring debut, but that is to be expected as production of a new A9 chip has yet to gear up. The launch would also be unlikely as Apple’s iPhones have never launched in the Spring.
Comments by Apple SVP Angela Ahrendts and others indicated the Apple Watch might not launch the device until sometime in the Spring.
As always, take rumors such as this with a grain of salt, (we recommend sea salt), as we won’t know anything for sure until the first official announcements come out of Apple itself. The reference in the report to a “iPhone 6s” originally scheduled for a Spring debut, indicates the report’s sources are questionable at best.
When the Apple Watch does go on sale, it will be available in multiple models, made in a variety of materials, will have numerous watch band choices, and will start at $349.
