Apple Watch Series 3

Taiwanese-based Quanta Computer, an integral part of Apple’s supply chain as a maker of MacBooks and the Apple Watch, is ramping up to begin producing the Apple Watch Series 3, according to Chinese news outlet Economic Daily. Expected to launch later this year, the report notes that Quanta has entered the final testing phase for the Apple Watch Series 3 and is on the cusp of mass production.

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Reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities has an update to the recent LTE Apple Watch report that includes a few details about what to expect. Kuo expects cellular models of the Apple Watch will use an eSIM and not a physical SIM card as a space-saving measure, and the cellular connection may only be used for data transfer and not phone call features.

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Bloomberg first reported Apple’s plans to bring cellular connectivity to the Apple Watch at the beginning of August. KGI’s Ming-Chi Kuo mirrored those claims yesterday, positioning LTE as the key upgrade for the new generation.

A report from CNBC today corroborates the stories, with a firmer launch window. CNBC believes the new watch models will be announced alongside the iPhone 8 unveiling at Apple’s (as-yet-unannounced) September event.

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Reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities has released a new forecast on the next generation Apple Watch. According to Kuo, the Apple Watch 3 will ship later this year with both LTE and non-LTE models offered. Kuo also expects the next Apple Watch will retain the same general design and not feature an obvious new form factor.

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[Update: John Gruber adds that a new form factor is coming this year too:

“It’s hard to overstate just how big a deal this could be. No mention in Businessweek’s report, though, of the all-new form factor that I’ve heard is coming for this year’s new watches.”

This would mark the first external change since the Apple Watch debuted.]

[Update 2: Gruber has backtracked that claim a bit: “That tidbit came from an unconfirmed little birdie, though, so I wouldn’t bet the house on it.”]

Bloomberg reports that Apple is planning to release an updated Apple Watch model by the end of this year with built-in cellular connectivity. Bringing cellular connectivity to the Apple Watch has been rumored before but didn’t ship with the last revision which instead focused on GPS.

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Predictions for a ‘strong second-half’ for Quanta computer support expectations of an Apple Watch Series 3 being launched in September …

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The challenges and benefits of a cellular Apple Watch is something I’ve considered throughout different pieces before, but I haven’t always been sure one actually needs to exist yet. I’ve continued thinking about this possibility, however, and now a cellular option is at the top of my wish list for the Apple Watch Series 3. A cellular option could solve specific problems that the faster, GPS-equipped Apple Watch Series 2 hasn’t resolved.

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A new supplier report out of Asia includes two details that may tell us a little more about the third generation Apple Watch rumored for release later this year. Digitimes points to industry sources in claiming the Apple Watch Series 3 will use a different display technology with shipments starting in the second half of this year.

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Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2 both address a major flaw of the first-generation model with significant speed improvements, and all Apple Watches benefit from a performance boost and a simpler interface with watchOS 3. So what’s next for Apple Watch and watchOS this year? Let’s take a look at some of the next opportunities for Apple Watch (and a few rumors) that may tell us what Apple could be planning.

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