Apple was late to the party with the Apple Watch; Android Wear had been around for over a year and Samsung even had time to launch its own wearable OS in the time it took Apple to finally reveal its own smartwatch. Now that it has arrived, however, everyone's attention is quickly turning to a possible successor. Longer battery life, a lower price and the option of a circular screen are high on most fans' wish lists, but with no word on when Apple plans on replacing the original model with a second generation watch, it's unclear how long we'll have to wait for it. That's not stopped the endless speculation, of couse.
We've covered all of the rumours below, but with the watch likely still more than a year away that means that there's a lot of information, and it's hard to weed out the stuff that's not true at this point. This can also make it hard to work out what the Apple Watch 2 may look like, as you have to imagine how the new features will fit in.
What you need to know, quickly
Need the information fast? here's everything you need in a quick, bite-sized digest. Obviously, everything here is based on unconfirmed rumours, so things can change quickly, but the below is at least a quick view of how things stand at this point in time.
What is it? | Apple's second stab at a smartwatch, designed to put notifications, smartwatch controls and Apple Pay on your wrist |
When is it out? | If Apple sticks to its normal annual release schedule, we should see it early September 2016 |
What's new? | Battery life improvements are looking most likely right now, but a new design isn't out of the question |
In Detail
Apple Watch 2 release date
Apple typically refreshes its products on an annual cycle, meaning a second Apple Watch could potentially arrive in April 2016. The original model has, at the time of writing, only been on sale for five months, so it's looking highly unlikely we'll see the refreshed version introduced at next month's iPhone 6S launch event. However, based on early rumours, Apple might instead choose to update its wearables on a longer cycle, potentially two years, in order to make significant advances over the old model and make the new version stand out against it. Right now it's anyone's guess as to when the Apple Watch 2 will appear.
Apple Watch 2 news and rumors
Right now, the biggest rumour surrounding the Apple Watch 2 is whether it will be able to function without being connected to an iPhone. Right now, the Watch is very limited when you aren't paired, but it's looking highly likely a new wireless chipset will provide tetherless Wi-Fi. That means you'll be able to get notifications on your wrist even if your phone is in another location, as long as you're connected to a wireless network. GPS is another possibility, which would make the Apple Watch 2 ideal for runners, as they could track their exercise without bringing their phone along. Wi-Fi triangulation would help you find your watch if it gets lost or stolen, too.
There's no question battery life is one of Apple's biggest headaches. The Apple Watch is one of, if not the shortest-lasting smartwatches, barely managing a day of use in some cases. Everyone seems to agree the company is going to address this for the sequel, but the various rumour mills can't seem to decide how. Either Apple will find a way to squeeze a bigger battery onto your wrist, or will focus on software tweaks to reduce power consumption and keep the same battery from the original Watch. We're hoping for the former, although apparently this will require thinner display glass. If Apple has similar issues with sapphire glass to the ones it had last year with the iPhone 6, it may be forced to bite the bullet and stick with a smaller capacity battery cell.
Unfortunately, it seems to be bad news for anyone hoping for a circular screen, like the Motorola Moto 360 or Samsung's upcoming Gear S2. The latest rumours suggest Apple will be sticking with the same size, shape and resolution for the Apple Watch 2, rather than launch straight into a new design.
The 1980s idea of what a smartwatch should be able to do is apparently alive and well at Apple, according to one rumour. The next Apple Watch is apparently set to receive a FaceTime camera for making video calls from your wrist (obligatory Dick Tracy nod here). 9to5mac reckons it will be built into the top bezel, but the feature may be scrapped altogether and saved for a later model if other aspects of the watch don't fall into place around it.
Finally, one last disheartening rumour for anyone hoping of a 'budget' Apple Watch 2. The company is apparently looking into launching several new straps and variations beyond the existing Sport, Steel and Edition tiers, but these will all fall between the most expensive stainless steel (£949) and the 18-carat Edition (£8000+). Titanium, tungsten, palladium and platinum have all been mentioned, but it remains to be seen whether Apple will actually put any into production.
