Apple Watch Series 3 Reportedly Set To Arrive This Fall

Apple supplier Quanta Computer will reportedly have strong revenues in the second half of 2017. This is because Quanta is believed to be supplying the Apple Watch 3, which is said to start shipping later this fall.

“Quanta Computer is expected to enjoy a strong second-half 2017 thanks to rising demand for notebooks, growing server sales and the release of the next-generation Apple Watch,” DigiTimes stated citing a report from Chinese publication Economic Daily News.

Quanta was responsible for the production of the original Apple Watch and the Apple Watch Series 2, and it’s no big surprise that it’s back for the next iteration of Apple’s smartwatch. The report also claims that Compal Electronics will be the supplier for the older-generation models.

READ: Fitbit Smartwatch vs. Apple Watch 3: Rumored Features Comparison​

This suggests that the first and second generation Apple Watches will continue to be available in the market even when Series 3 arrives. Series 1 and Series 2 currently both start at $269. No details were given on the possible pricing for the Series 3.

Another thing that’s intriguing with this new report is that it’s reaffirming previous rumors that Apple will be launching the third-generation Apple Watch later this year. Although everyone’s talking about the iPhone 8, the Apple Watch Series 3 might actually be revealed alongside it this coming September. This is the same strategy that Apple used with the Series 2 last year when it was launched alongside the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, as pointed out by MacRumors.

Rumors regarding the Apple Watch Series 3 began popping up earlier this year. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and SIG analyst Christopher Rolland both believe that the Apple Watch Series 3 could easily arrive with LTE capabilities.

With an independent cellular LTE connectivity, the Apple Watch Series 3 could be used without a connected iPhone. Users should be able to make phone calls, send iMessages and stream from Apple Music. The only real problem with this is that it will likely have a separate carrier plan from the user’s iPhone plan.

READ: iPhone 8 Release Date Delay: Analyst Says To Stop Worrying About Launch Rumors​

The Apple Watch’s overall design hasn’t changed much between its first and second iterations, and the same is expected for Series 3. This means that it will continue having the same case and band design since 2015. The upcoming next-generation smartwatch should also arrive with improved processing speeds and longer battery life.

Other features and specs for the Apple Watch Series 3 have not been leaked yet, and all that have been reported so far are from rumors, speculations and highly educated predictions from analysts. But that should change if Apple does decide to launch the Apple Watch Series 3 this September alongside the iPhone 8.

Speaking of the iPhone, leaker Benjamin Geskin (@VenyaGeskin1) said on Twitter that Foxconn has started trial production of the iPhone 7S, iPhone 7S Plus and the iPhone 8. Geskin also claims that the iPhone 8 is not delayed and that recent testing shows that the Touch ID fingerprint sensor is embedded underneath the display.