Apple and Quanta started work on the second-generation Watch

Nov 14, 2015 19:50 GMT  ·  By

The next-generation Apple Watch is expected to debut sometime in 2016, but just as it does with all the other products, the Cupertino-based firm is keeping details secret for now.

But a report coming from Chinese media and spotted by MacRumors reveals that the Apple Watch 2 is very likely to be developed by Quanta Computer, the very same company responsible for the first model.

The chairman of the company, Barry Lam, has reportedly confirmed that work on the second-generation Watch has already started, but he has refused to provide any other specifics regarding improvements that might be made to the device.

The Chinese source also comes up with a date, saying that the upcoming Watch model is very likely to hit the shelves in the second quarter of the next year, which means that it should be up for grabs by the summer. If these dates are real, they're a sign that Apple is working at full speed on bringing the new model to the market, as the first version was unveiled in September 2014 but launched after only 7 months.

The strategy could be different in the case of Apple Watch 2, with the company now planning to reduce the gap between the unveiling and shipping date so that the device could arrive on our wrists faster.

Rumored improvements

As far as the specifications of the new Watch are concerned, people close to the matter say that Apple is looking into ways to add some new features, but without affecting the design of the existing model.

The company is reportedly planning to add a GPS module, which is actually the improvement that everyone wants these days. With GPS support, Apple Watch would become a much more powerful fitness companion, being able to accurately monitor exercising without the need for an iPhone.

The second model is expected to feature only minor design differences as compared to the previous one, but Apple is very likely to use new materials that would make the case more durable.

Don't forget that all of these are just rumors for the time being, so take them with a healthy grain of salt until Apple confirms them.