Apple Reportedly Testing 1.5-Inch OLED Displays for Smart Watch

hex_vision_ipod_nano_watchJapanese blog Mac Otakara points to a pair of reports in today's edition of Taiwanese newspaper Economic Times addressing rumors surrounding Apple's smart watch effort. According to the first report [Google translation], Apple has begun sampling 1.5-inch OLED displays from RITEK subsidiary RiTdisplay.

The report also claims that RITEK's joint venture RitFast will be supplying the touch sensor technology for the watch.

Today's report echoes a December claim about Apple's plans for RiTdisplay's 1.5-inch displays and word that Intel is involved in Apple's effort, but includes a detail indicating that Apple had originally hoped to use a 1.8-inch display in the smart watch. That display, however, proved to be too large and the company shifted to the smaller 1.5-inch display size.

The second report [Google translation] offers an overview of the smart watch industry, with "market rumors" indicating that Foxconn has already received orders for Apple's smart watch. But with order volumes said to be around 1,000 units, the production run would clearly be a small-scale trial.

Rumors of an Apple smart watch ramped up in the months following that December report about Apple and Intel working together, with The New York Times later reporting that Apple was "experimenting" with curved glass smart watch designs and Bloomberg following up to claim that Apple has 100 product designers working on the project.

"iWatch" rumors peaked in February and March of this year amid claims that the device could launch "as soon as this year", but things have been relatively quiet for the past several months.

(Photo: HEX Vision Metal Watchband for iPod nano (6th Gen.))

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...

Top Rated Comments

Frankied22 Avatar
159 months ago
We don't even know what it will look like so how can people say they won't wear it or it looks too big lol
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BaldiMac Avatar
159 months ago
I agree with all of these. A watch is a fashion statement, and all of these "smart" watches are hideous...plus I don't really know what value it would add to productivity.

Step 1: Assume "iWatch" will be hideous and useless.
Step 2: Dismiss "iWatch" because it will be hideous and useless.

:D
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SkippyThorson Avatar
159 months ago
I'd be game for one of these things, for sure. :) The iPod-Nano-As-A-Watch idea is pretty cool, but if this device syncs via Bluetooth to elegantly display alerts from your iPhone, I'd be all in.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Santabean2000 Avatar
159 months ago
I can't see these being successful beyond the "geek" community. I would never wear one.

It's too bad they're looking at something so big. A watch that big isn't going to appeal to everyone so it'd be nice to see another size.

What is it expected to actually do? Just be the old Nano with a wrist strap? Too small to surf the net. Not a phone. Too small for real apps. Wouldn't want to run headphone speakers from my wrist.

I don't get it. And as my sig points out, I'm usually in for any new Apple gadget. I can't think of an Apple Gadget I've skipped since Newton, but this seems pointless.

I agree with all of these. A watch is a fashion statement, and all of these "smart" watches are hideous...plus I don't really know what value it would add to productivity.

My god, these things are ugly, imho. I think I'd have to kick my own a$$ if I ever caught myself wearing one. Might as well get a calculator watch from the 80's while you're at it. I've bought heavily into the iPhones, iPads and iPods, but sorry, but I'll pass this time, Apple. But if other people like are interested in them, then all the more power to them. I'm sure people will buy them, and a lot of people will like them. To each their own. Just not for me.

These watches better be cheap. Like around 100 dollars cheap. Watches are fashion statements. There is no chance in hell I would switch out my nicer watches for some digital watch that tells me I have a text message.

This line of conversation sounds familiar... iPhone, iPad anyone?

Lets reload this thread in a year or two, when you all own one of these (yet to be released) puppies. And you'll pay a pretty penny for one two.


My money says gangbusters!
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mad Mac Maniac Avatar
159 months ago

"iWatch" rumors peaked in February and March of this year amid claims that the device could launch "as soon as this year" (https://www.macrumors.com/2013/03/04/apples-iwatch-planned-to-launch-as-soon-as-this-year-could-include-biosensors-and-mapping-features/), but things have been relatively quiet for the past several months.

March and Feb are only 2-3 months ago... How have things been quiet for "several months"?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleMark Avatar
159 months ago
I can't see these being successful beyond the "geek" community. I would never wear one.

Careful now...

I said the same thing years ago about electronic organisers.

Many iPhones & iPads later, I have a different opinion... ;)
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)