March Debut of Apple Watch 2 No Longer Expected – iPhone 6c Still a Possibility

Rafia Shaikh

Rumors earlier in December pointed to a March 2016 Apple event releasing the second generation Apple Watch along with a smaller, 4-inch iPhone 6c and an iPad Air 3. While the reports of the latter two devices were scarce, several sources confirmed the release of a new and improved Apple Watch 2 in the first half of 2016. Now, a new report is suggesting that a redesigned second generation Apple Watch will not be coming so early in the year, due to a lack of "movement that would indicate a new Watch model in production."

apple watch 2

Apple Watch 2 not likely for a March debut:

Matthew Panzarino of Tech Crunch, citing several sources with knowledge of Apple's plans, reports that while new design partnerships and accessories are a possibility for March, we won't be seeing a new and redesigned Apple Watch 2 in the month so long scheduled for a launch event.

Several things that I've heard (from several sources) indicate to me that we won't see a new hardware model of the Apple Watch in March. Design partnerships, accessories, that kind of thing maybe but not a "Watch 2.0" with a bunch of new hardware features like a camera. I could be wrong, of course, but I've heard enough to put it out there.

According to Panzarino's sources and market research, supply chain checks aren't showing any movement indicating a new Watch model in production. Talking to Creative Strategies analyst Ben Bajarin, he reports that the supply "orders would have taken place in the latter part of 2015 if a new product is shipping first half of 2016." Bajarin also explains that, "Apple supplier warnings of soft revenue ahead do seem to cause one’s eyebrow to raise when thinking about a new product supposedly shipping in a few months.” This contradicts with an earlier report from Taiwanese Commercial Times that suggested that Watch 2 trial production will begin by the end of January and will be manufactured by the same company responsible for the original Watch.

Coming to the software side of the equation, the latest report claims there's been no "major action" on Apple Watch's software that would point towards the possibility of a redesigned Apple Watch debuting in just a few months.

As with anything related to Apple hardware announcements, the tea leaves are hard to read and the companies plans can change (the advantage of never publicly announcing hardware). But as of now, March seems like it’s a bit too early to count on Watch 2.0.

While trashing the possibilities of seeing a new and improved Apple Watch 2, he confirms that "something is in at least the early planning stages for March, so there could still be an event." We might still see the 4-inch iPhone 6c, new Macs and possibly a new iPad Air without 3D Touch?

Let us know what you think of this report. Were you eagerly awaiting the release of the second generation Apple Watch with improved battery?

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