Apple Watch 2 coming this year with GPS, better battery: report

The new model will share the same design as the first gen but will have significant internal upgrades

Apple’s pitch at wearable technology, the Apple Watch, has been around for almost two years now without any significant updates. Taking into account the pace at which technology is moving and newer products are launched by rival firms got us thinking that the firm might discontinue the product.



However, a new report suggests that Apple is not planning on abandoning the Apple Watch just yet and we may see not one but two newer versions released in the near future.

The report from Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at KGI securities, said at an investors note on Sunday that Apple is planning on upgrading the Apple Watch lineup by releasing two new editions in the second half of this year.

Dubbed ‘Apple Watch 2’ the model will share the same design as the first gen but will have significant internal upgrades. These will include a GPS radio and barometer for improved geo-location capabilities.

These new components will certainly take up more space and Apple is also planning on increasing the battery size which would suggest that the device will not be any slimmer than the last model.



The other model that Apple plans to release earlier will be an iterative upgrade with minor changes that include a faster processor and improved waterproofing.

Ming-Chi Kuo also mentioned that the Apple Watch line-up would probably get a complete overhaul in 2018 with significant design changes and increased functionality.

This article originally appeared on Apple Insider.

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