I have an Apple Watch Sport. No surprise there. I also have to say that I’m pretty happy with it. Also, no surprise. Aside from Microsoft’s Wanderlust to-do list app, I don’t use many third-party apps. (Checking my grocery list in the store without having to pull out my iPhone is pretty amazing. But I digress.) I find myself using Apple Watch for notifications, Siri dictation for hands free iMessages and, yes, even channelling my inner Dick Tracy to take calls when my iPhone is in the other room. Before my Apple Watch, I used a Nike+ FuelBand and a Jawbone Up after that. (The Bluetooth Jawbones are better, by the way.)
“Finally, we walked away with the sense that the Apple Watch refresh will not occur in September with the iPhone 7, but is more likely to occur within the next 2-3 months, and thus we believe an unveiling at WWDC in June makes sense. We believe Apple Watch 2 could be 20-40% thinner than the current Apple Watch.”
Mr. White’s report has got me thinking about my plans for Apple Watch 2.
I find the idea of a thinner Watch body would be a great upgrade and is something that would get me to buy a new Apple Watch Sport. The one thing that I am worried about is whether or not Apple Watch Sport 2will be compatible with the current crop of Watch bands. Apple never made any guarantees that the bands that we buy today will be compatible in the future. If today’s Watch bands aren’t compatible with a new Apple Watch body, I feel that it will dampen the enthusiasm for accessory band sales. If one thing about Apple Watch is clear, the bands are what helps drive the feeling of uniqueness and individuality. Both of those things are key parts of the Apple Watch. story.
I would like to see new sensors that will extend the functionality of Apple Watch. For example, I liked and miss having an actigraph sensor that can track my sleep patterns. My Jawbone Up tracker had one and I thought the collected information was interesting. I’m not all that excited about the rumor that talks about the possible inclusion of a FaceTime camera.
If Apple makes Watch 2 thinner, and is compatible with the current crop of Watch bands, than I think I will get one on launch day. If there are new sensors in Watch 2, that would make it an even more compelling upgrade. However, if the current bands are not compatible, then I think I will stay on the sidelines and wait for Apple Watch 3.