Apple’s announcements about the new watchOS 3 was one of the exciting highlights of Monday’s WWDC event, and it seems that Apple’s just as enthusiastic about its next-gen Apple Watch hardware — with sources in the supply chain claiming it’s ramped up component orders for the wearable sequel.
Orders for chips and components have reportedly been higher than expected, with sources estimating that Apple is likely to ship around two million units of the Apple Watch 2 every month.
While Apple hasn’t yet released sales figures for the first-gen Apple Watch, and has stuck to speaking about it in broad terms, today’s report suggests that Apple has been disappointed by how the device has done so far — and is therefore being “rather aggressive” about ensuring a follow-up hits the success targets the company is hoping for.
Shipments of chips and components for the second-generation Apple Watch are set to begin in the third quarter, ready for a new product launch later in 2016.
Looking at year-by-year iPhone numbers from 2007 to the present day, sales almost doubled each year from 2008 (the first full year the handsets were available) until 2012. Few people would expect the Apple Watch to make similar strides forward, but it will be fascinating to see if it follows any kind of similar upward trajectory.
What are you hoping for from the Apple Watch 2? Leave your comments below.
Source: Digitimes
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
7 responses to “Apple Watch 2 likely to ship 2 million units per month”
I wish it had an ‘always-on’ watch face option like the Microsoft Band.
That would SERIOUSLY reduce your battery life!
My Microsoft Band goes from 2 days down to ~18 hours with the always on.
Do you get better numbers?
I do really like the “always-on” with my original Kickstarter Pebble and its, for me, 5-day battery. I’ll eventually switch to an AppleWatch and know I’ll have to give up some features to gain other, possibly more desirable, features.
The second generation AppleWatch along with WatchOS-3 just might be enough for me to decide to switch.
I am waiting for the generation 2 version before dropping money on the Apple Watch. I like where the technology is going but version 1 doesn’t have a must-have feature for me. I think with this years iOS upgrade, it will be ready fro primetime. The watch should be as quick to open and execute tasks as the iPhone is. I’m not looking for it to replace an iPhone (I expect that to happen within version 3 or 4 though), nor do I need it to have a camera. I also think the price points are a bit high, although not outrageously so.
Several of my tech-head Android friends have the Huawei watch and its fairly impressive, especially with the thousands of watch faces that are available. Not really essential to the gadget but gives it a lot of hands-on attention. The 3rd-party connectivity is well done also.
So, looking forward to version 2 of the Apple Watch and hopefully I can convince Santa Clause to slide on down my chimney.
The rumors say that Watch 2 isn’t going to be changed much from Watch 1 – more of a speed bump. The real improvements (apparently) are in the Watch OS 3.
I’m not looking for any major hardware improvement. If they changes aren’t substantial, I’ll pick up a 1st generation version for even cheaper. I expect a quicker chip and improved battery.
If it ships with a laser blaster, that would be cool though.
I just want a bigger screen, the ability to detect radiation, and auto-inject stim packs.