If you’ve been holding off buying an Apple Watch right now because you’re expecting an “Apple Watch 2” to be unveiled in the spring, you might wind up waiting just a bit longer, as a new report on Friday indicates Apple’s new wearable device might not debut until the fall.
Using information gleaned from multiple sources, TechCrunch’s Matthew Panzarino indicates that he is skeptical that Apple is preparing to debut the “Apple Watch 2” in March.
“Design partnerships, accessories, that kind of thing maybe but not a ‘Watch 2.0’ with a bunch of new hardware features like a camera,” says Panzarino. “I could be wrong, of course, but I’ve heard enough to put it out there.”
Panzarino did update his post to say he’s heard some new info that suggests a minor revision of the Apple Watch may be on its way, with a possible “FaceTime camera and not much else,” but no “Watch 2.0.” He hedges his bets, saying there isn’t any word available on possible timing for the minor upgrade.
The author spoke with Creative Strategies analyst Ben Bajarin, who says his supply chain checks don’t seem to indicate a major release in the first half of 2016:
“With the supply chain cuts from the usual suspects of Apple component providers, the timing does seem suspect for a new product given orders would have taken place in the latter part of 2015 if a new product is shipping first half of 2016,” says Bajarin. “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. 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.”
Panzarino is also not hearing anything from his sources in the developer community, which he says is usually a good source for any new product release buzz.
Shipping hardware well in advance of a even beta software that developers can use to take advantage of new features isn’t something that usually turns out well. The iPad Pro and Pencil are recent examples of a situation where the capabilities far outstrip the support so far from developers.
There have been reports recently that says the new Apple Watch is set to enter trial production by Apple assembly partner Quanta later this month, which kind of jibes with rumors that were floating in the bowl in December. However, other reports indicate a mid-2016 release at the soonest. On the other end of the spectrum, 9to5Mac’s Mark Gurman says his sources have indicated Apple is planning a March event to unveil the Apple Watch 2, and possibly a 4-inch iPhone.
As always, reports like this are always best taken with a grain of your favorite low-sodium seasoning, perhaps a nice Montreal steak seasoning, if you’re a carnivore. We’ll keep you notified if we hear anything else on this, or the 8,271 other Apple rumors currently circulating the web.
