Apple Watch 3 Release Date: Faster Smartwatch With Cellular Connectivity Launching In Q3

It appears Apple is planning to unveil its next-generation Apple Watch smartwatches in September. Supply chain sources are now saying that Tim Cook’s company is scheduled to release the Apple Watch Series 3 in the second half of 2017, and this could mean that the techie timepieces could be unveiled around the same time as the iPhone 8 and other iPhones.

On Wednesday, Chinese newspaper DigiTimes reported about hearing directly from upstream supply chain Compal Electronics that the next-gen Apple Watch is slated for release in the second half. Compal has apparently entered a deal to produce Apple’s second-generation Apple Watch as Taiwan-based Quanta Computer takes the helm in manufacturing the third-generation smartwatch.

In 2016, Apple shipped around 11.9 million Apple Watch devices, and the figure is said to account for 49 percent of the Cupertino giant’s overall smartwatch shipments. This year, Samsung’s biggest rival seems to be determined to ship more watchOS-running smartwatches to consumers all over the world.

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While the supply chain did not give a specific date on when consumers can expect the Apple Watch Series 3 to launch, MacRumors says the second half timeline corroborates what Chinese language publication Economic Daily News reported early this year. The news site stated that the next Apple Watch models are expected to be unveiled in the third quarter of this year.

MacRumors pointed out that just like last year, Apple could be introducing the new wearables to the public this September. It can be noted that last year’s Apple Watch Series 2 was launched alongside the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in September, so the tech giant could be keeping the same timeline for its next releases. According to latest reports about the next-generation iPhones, however, Apple could be pushing back the release of the smartphones to October or November. Should this turn out to be true, then it’s possible that the company could be holding separate launch events for its new smartwatches and the iPhone 8.

SIG analyst Christopher Rolland previously predicted that the Apple Watch 3 could come with a faster processor, cellular connectivity and a bigger battery. Meanwhile, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said the new smartwatch models could have LTE connectivity.