Apple Watch 2 Release Date, Specs Rumors, GPS Updates, and New Features

Aug 02, 2016 05:16 PM EDT

Apple really attempted to make a move on cornering the smartwatch market went it released the Apple Watch in the spring of 2015.  They have actually succeeded in capturing the market, but it is difficult to say whether or not the smartwatch market is even strong in the first place.  The only thing that can happen to improve the Apple Watch is with a follow-up with the Apple Watch 2, and this is everything that is known about the release date, rumors, and new features about the newest version of Apple's smartwatch. 

One of the things about the Apple Watch is it is difficult to even know whether the product was a hit or miss.  A report from Neurogadget states that the Apple Watch had 72 percent of total purchases of all smartwatches, but it has since dropped to 47 percent. 

According to the University Herald, the next Apple Watch is going to have an S Upgrade with changes under the Surface.   This Apple Watch S will apparently have the same design as the Apple Watch, but the performance and features will be improved.  Apparently, the new changes won't be revealed until 2017. 

Some of the new features that are not confirmed by Apple include a front-facing camera, built-in GPS, cellular connectivity, as well as being thinner with a better battery life.  Now, would a thinner case mean that the previous accessories for the first Apple Watch are incompatible?  It is possible that the thinner design could be a result of a single glass or one glass solution (OGS) versus a double glass or glass on glass (G/G) design. 

While we are the subject of compatibility, let's talk about other features that users of the first Apple Watch would have to receive in order to even consider buying the Apple Watch 2.  We already talked about battery life, but the design could be something like titanium, tungsten, palladium, and platinum.  There should also be improvements to Siri, not to mention better Health Sensors.  There is also the possibility of a Wi-Fi chip to track the Apple Watch for tracking it in progress, not to mention a Facetime Camera. 

So far, there is no word on when the Apple Watch 2 will have its release date, but if Apple intends to release one of these smartwatches every year, then shouldn't it be out before the end of the year, just in time for the holidays?  That being said, I would expect Apple to have an announcement about the new Apple Watch at the same time as the iPhone 7, not to mention any iPad developments.