Apple Watch 2

What we’re expecting from Apple’s September 7 event

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 2, 2016

Apple is hosting a special media event on September 7 at San Francisco's Bill Graham Civic Auditorium at 10am PT. As always, we'll be covering the latest in Apple's big fall refresh thoroughly here at iDB. Of course, the iPhone 7 will be the event's biggest story, but we're also hoping to see other hardware refreshes, accessories and related products come into full view next Wednesday.

Here's everything we think Apple could introduce come September 7, plus some of the things we'd like them to announce but they probably won't (yet).

Apple Watch 2’s thinner screen & larger battery allegedly caught on video

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 1, 2016

Supply chain rumors have asserted that a second-generation Apple Watch 2 could offer a few additional hours of battery life while replacing the current models' Glass on Glass (G/G) touchscreen with a thinner and lighter screen based on One Glass Solution (OGS) display technology. These two features—a thinner display assembly and a bigger battery—are allegedly shown in a video posted by Byte, a UK-based retailer that sells Apple-certified accessories.

Apple sends out invites for September 7 iPhone 7 event

Sébastien Page ∙ August 29, 2016

See you on the 7th, reads the invite that Apple sent to the media on Monday morning. Held at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, the event will of course be focused on the new iPhone 7, but will also likely see a new Apple Watch 2 unveiled, and possibly a new MacBook Pro.

Apple Watch 2 could offer a few hours of additional run time via a stronger 334 mAh battery

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 28, 2016

Prolific leakster @The_Malignant today republished a pair of claimed images of a purported battery pack believed to have been designed for a 42mm second-generation Apple Watch. Originally posted by an unnamed source on the Chinese social network Weibo, the tiny battery shows an increased capacity of 334 mAh. By comparison, the original Apple Watch is outfitted with a 245 mAh battery (42mm version) so it's entirely conceivable that the Apple Watch 2 could offer a few hours of additional battery life—assuming the leaked photo is genuine.

Battery concerns reportedly delay cellular-enabled Apple Watch 2

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 18, 2016

Bloomberg just shot down The Wall Street Journal's claim of a cellular-enabled Apple Watch 2, saying it's been delayed over battery concerns and technological limitations. Instead, Apple Watch 2 models, which Bloomberg's well-informed Mark Gurman says are coming this fall, will improve health tracking with an on-board GPS chip.

DigiTimes: TSMC to build 16nm Apple Watch 2 chip

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 10, 2016

An Apple-designed 'S2' system-in-package that will power a second-generation Apple Watch won't be produced by Samsung, like the original Apple Watch's S1 chip. According to a new report by Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes, semiconductor foundry Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has managed to beat Samsung in securing S2 orders. In fact, both the second-generation Apple Watch and an enhanced version of the original Apple Watch will be driven by the S2 chip, built using TSMC's 16-nanometer process technology.

Kuo: faster Apple Watch 1, new Apple Watch 2 with GPS coming this year

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 1, 2018

Apple is planning to release two new Apple Watch models this year, reports Ming-Chi Kuo. The noted analyst issued a note to investors on Sunday, saying he has learned that both a faster Apple Watch 1 and an all-new Apple Watch 2 are in the pipeline for the second half of 2016.

Apple Watch 2 could employ One Glass Solution technology for a thinner, lighter display

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 29, 2016

Aside from other rumored hardware improvements, a second-generation Apple Watch should ditch the current Glass on Glass (G/G) Retina touchscreen and replace it with a thinner and lighter display based on so-called One Glass Solution (OGS) screen technology, according to Apple supplier TPK Holding cited Friday by Taiwan's infamous hit-and-miss trade publication DigiTimes.

Because OGS eliminates a layer, adopting the technology should help the Apple Watch 2 conserve space and potentially even accommodate a larger battery.

Supply chain rumor: Apple Watch 2 to release in September or October

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 28, 2016

The Apple Watch should receive its first hardware refresh this September or October, or about a year and a half following its April 2015 debut. That's according to supply chain sources that spoke to Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes. “Although the second-generation Apple Watch is estimated to be unveiled in September or October, related supply chain is seeing rather conservative orders for the device,” as per the report.

Rumor: Apple Watch 2 has GPS, is more waterproof and tracks swimming

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 27, 2016

A second generation Apple Watch is rumored to embed not only cellular connection for network connectivity without its paired iPhone, but also a dedicated GPS for accurate workout logging without the need to carry the handset. That's assuming you believe a sketchy report published this morning by 9to5Mac and credited to an anonymous source with unproven track record.

The same source also said that the Workout app on the Apple Watch 2 would gain the ability to track swimming.

Apple Watch 2 rumored to debut later this year

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 15, 2016

A second-generation Apple Watch will most likely launch either alongside Apple's iPhone 7 this September or later this year, according to supply chain sources who spoke with DigiTimes, a Taiwanese trade publication with a hit-and-miss record in reporting Apple rumors.

WSJ: Apple Watch 2 will have cellular connectivity

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 25, 2016

In its report Monday which details the first full year of Apple Watch sales, the Wall Street Journal newspaper has revealed a previously unknown tidbit pertaining to a second-generation Apple Watch. According to the publication's sources, the Apple Watch 2 will feature cellular-network connectivity and a faster processor.

Although the Apple Watch can connect to Wi-Fi networks you have previously joined on your iPhone, the Cupertino company is reportedly aware that its wearable device suffers from limited usefulness because it cannot connect to cellular networks on its own and requires an iPhone for network connectivity if there are no known Wi-Fi networks around.