14 DAY TRIAL // The fall of 2017 is turning out to be quite a busy time of the year for Apple, as in addition to the new iPhone models, the Cupertino-based company might prepare some other product refreshes as well.
One of them targets the Apple Watch, as the firm reportedly plans to take the wraps off a completely redesigned wearable that would feature cellular support and a brand new form factor.
Bloomberg writes that Apple is already discussing with US carriers to support the new Apple Watch and LTE support is likely to be offered on AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Most likely, Apple would expand the device to other markets, including those in Europe, as the company signs deals with more carriers.
An LTE-capable Apple Watch would make the device completely independent from the iPhone, and the smartwatch would be capable of starting and receiving calls without a connection to the smartphone. At this point, the device does this with a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection.
An Apple Watch looking like a watch?
Adding LTE to the Apple Watch, however, is quite a challenge, especially given that this feature is one of the biggest battery hogs on wearables. It’s believed Apple originally planned to launch an LTE-capable Apple Watch last year, but the company decided to hold it back to a series of undisclosed reasons.
A report from John Gruber also indicates that the new Apple Watch could be coming with a new form factor, though specifics in this regard are missing at this point. There’s a chance Apple could go for a new design that could bring the device closer to the look of a traditional watch, with a round design said to be considered.
The new-generation Apple Watch is expected to go live as soon as this year, but there’s also a chance the device would be held back until 2018, depending on how work on the project advances. But with the release of watchOS 4 this fall, Apple is believed to be looking into accelerating development in order to have a new device on the market by the end of the year as well.