KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo told investors on Sunday that in addition to an all-new Apple Watch 2 – with built-in GPS, a barometer, a larger battery, and more – Apple will also launch an upgraded first-generation Apple Watch with a faster processor, and superior waterproofing. Kuo claims both Watches will debut in the second half of 2016.
Kup says both new models of the Apple Watch will retain a form factor similar to the current wearable. The updated Apple Watch 1 (1s?) will be a minor update, gaining the faster processor and improved waterproofing. The major improvements, such as the built-in GPS, barometer, larger battery, and such, will be reserved for the true second-generation arm candy.
The analyst also expects Apple to drop the price on the Watch, but did not specify whether the price reduction would be limited to existing first-generation models, the upgraded 1st-gen models, the 2nd-generation devices, or across the board.
Kuo predicts fiscal 2016 shipments of Apple’s popular wearable to come in at between 10 million and 11 million units, up from his previous prediction of between 7 million and 7.5 million.
The new Apple Watch models could be introduced alongside the new iPhones in September. The two devices are linked together, both in the minds of consumers, and literally, via Bluetooth, so such an introduction would make marketing sense for Apple.
