Apple Watch 2 Release Date and Rumors: Apple To Unveil Watch With Minor Changes This June

By Peter R - 12 Apr '16 06:37AM

Apple plans this year for its Watch will not include major design changes, claims analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

According to Kuo, 2016's the device will appear similar to last year's Watch but include specification improvements, not unlike the 'S' model of iPhones. A design change, including reduced thickness, will be introduced in next year's device.

Kuo's predictions contrast that of another Wall Street analyst Brian White. Over last weekend, White forecasted Apple would launch a thinner Watch 2 later this year. The device could be up to 40 % thinner than its predecessor, White claimed. He also claimed Watch 2 could be unveiled in June this year at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

Neither Kuo nor White could provide more details on specifications of this year's Watch. Speculative reports from last year claimed Apple could introduce improved wireless charging and facetime camera among other features.

A slew of Apple patents may also provide hints to what future wearable devices from the company could be equipped with. A modular band that facilitates feature enhancements of older Watch devices made news last week. Patents however take a long while before materializing; it is thus highly unlikely that an Apple Watch this year will feature any of the recently reported patents.

Apple Watch sales did not touch expected numbers, which Kuo attributed to an immature market. Though the company has not revealed its sales figures, Kuo maintained quarterly jump in sales. Kuo's predictions for 2016 did not seem optimistic for the wearable device; he said just about 7.5 million units of Apple Watch will ship this year as against the estimated 10.5 million units that Apple sold last year.

A revamped Apple Watch was expected to be unveiled at Apple's 'Let Us Loop You in Event' last month but the company refrained from making any announcement. The next wearable device is likely to be unveiled in June or in September when the next iPhone will debut.