Rumor: Apple Watch 2 to Enter Mass Production in Q2 2016

The second-generation Apple Watch will enter mass production sometimes in Q2 2016, according to a report from Digitimes. The website cites various supply chain sources and identify Quanta Computer as the only manufacturer.

Digitimes sources follow an easier report that claimed that an initial trial production of the second-generation Apple Watch is set to start this month.

Digitimes also claims that orders for the first-generation Apple Watch did not meet Apple’s own internal goals.

Apple originally considered shifting some second-generation Apple Watch orders to Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry), but decided to keep all the orders with Quanta as volumes will not be high, the sources noted.

While Apple has no divulged any information about Watch sales, Apple CEO Tim Cook has been reassuring investors that sales have been growing with expectations that the Holiday quarter were its best yet.

A few weeks back, rumors suggested that we may see the next-generation Apple Watch sometime in March, when it is expected that Apple will hold an event to unveil the smaller 4-inch “iPhone 5SE” as well as the iPad Air 3. But a report from TechCrunch’s Matthew Panzarino suggested that we would see no new new Watches until the Fall. Mark Gurman followed up that report by confirming Panzarino’s report and also adding that Apple plans to introduce new bands as well as new software updates to the first-generation Apple Watch in March.

If Apple were to introduce a second-generation Apple Watch in the Fall, Q2 would make a lot of sense.