Apple Watch Chipmakers Said to Be Gearing Up Production

Chip suppliers within the Apple Watch supply chain have begun "gearing up" to start production for Apple's new device, according to a new report from Digitimes. Chip orders are estimated to be around 30 - 40 million units for a debut in early 2015.

applewatch1
Digitimes had previously reported, prior to Apple's September 9 event, that the device was at the engineering verification test stage and needed to complete product verification testing before entering mass production. It appears that the Apple Watch has now passed that milestone and is beginning to enter mass production for its debut in early 2015.

Apple Senior Vice President of Retail and Online Stores Angela Ahrendts had previously revealed that the device would debut in Spring 2015, with several reports indicating that Apple was aiming for Valentine's Day 2015 as a potential launch date. Apple Watch pricing will start at $350 for the aluminum version, while the stainless steel and gold editions will reportedly retail for prices starting at $500 and $4,000 respectively.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Popular Stories

iOS 26

When Will Apple Release iOS 26.2?

Monday December 1, 2025 4:37 pm PST by
We're getting closer to the launch of the final major iOS update of the year, with Apple set to release iOS 26.2 in December. We've had three betas so far and are expecting a fourth beta or a release candidate this week, so a launch could follow as soon as next week. Past Launch Dates Apple's past iOS x.2 updates from the last few years have all happened right around the middle of the...
ios 18 to ios 26 upgrade

Apple Pushes iPhone Users Still on iOS 18 to Upgrade to iOS 26

Tuesday December 2, 2025 11:09 am PST by
Apple is encouraging iPhone users who are still running iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 by making the iOS 26 software upgrade option more prominent. Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app. iOS 18 has been the default operating system option, and users running iOS 18 have seen iOS 18...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 Release Candidates to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Wednesday December 3, 2025 10:33 am PST by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming two weeks after Apple seeded the third betas. The release candidates represent the final versions of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 that will be provided to the public if no further bugs are found during this final week of testing....
iphone 17 cyber

iPhone 17 Demand Is Breaking Apple's Sales Records

Tuesday December 2, 2025 9:44 am PST by
Apple's iPhone 17 lineup is selling well enough that Apple is on track to ship more than 247.4 million total iPhones in 2025, according to a new report from IDC. Total 2025 shipments are forecast to grow 6.1 percent year over year due to iPhone 17 demand and increased sales in China, a major market for Apple. Overall worldwide smartphone shipments across Android and iOS are forecast to...
Photos App Icon Liquid Glass

John Gruber Shares Scathing Commentary About Apple's Departing Software Design Chief

Thursday December 4, 2025 9:30 am PST by
In a statement shared with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Apple confirmed that its software design chief Alan Dye will be leaving. Apple said Dye will be succeeded by Stephen Lemay, who has been a software designer at the company since 1999. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Dye will lead a new creative studio within the company's AR/VR division Reality Labs. On his blog Daring Fireball,...
Touchscreen MacBook Feature

Here Are the Four MacBooks Apple Is Expected to Launch Next Year

Monday December 1, 2025 5:00 am PST by
2026 could be a bumper year for Apple's Mac lineup, with the company expected to announce as many as four separate MacBook launches. Rumors suggest Apple will court both ends of the consumer spectrum, with more affordable options for students and feature-rich premium lines for users that seek the highest specifications from a laptop. Below is a breakdown of what we're expecting over the next ...
iphone air camera

iPhone Air's Resale Value Has Dropped Dramatically, Data Shows

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:27 am PST by
The iPhone Air has recorded the steepest early resale value drop of any iPhone model in years, with new data showing that several configurations have lost almost 50% of their value within ten weeks of launch. According to a ten-week analysis published by SellCell, Apple's latest lineup is showing a pronounced split in resale performance between the iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air....
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

iPhone 17 Pro Lost a Camera Feature Pro Models Have Had Since 2020

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:18 am PST by
iPhone 17 Pro models, it turns out, can't take photos in Night mode when Portrait mode is selected in the Camera app – a capability that's been available on Apple's Pro devices since the iPhone 12 Pro in 2020. If you're an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max owner, try it for yourself: Open the Camera app with Photo selected in the carousel, then cover the rear lenses with your hand to...
chatgpt logo

Sam Altman Declares 'Code Red' for ChatGPT, Delays OpenAI Advertising Plans

Tuesday December 2, 2025 3:30 pm PST by
OpenAI is deprioritizing work on advertising as it focuses on improving the quality of ChatGPT, reports The Information. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declared a "code red" on Monday, and told employees that the company needs to improve ChatGPT so it doesn't fall behind competitors like Google and Anthropic. Altman said that OpenAI needs to work on personalization for each user, image generation,...

Top Rated Comments

Mtmspa Avatar
144 months ago
cellphone makers - are just trying for dear life to create a new category that nobody cares for.

Steve jobs once said not to chase the trends but to create them

Apple has failed :apple:

I care so your claim is false.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
proline Avatar
144 months ago
Shocker

Hard to believe that Apple is trying to produce a product that they've announced they are trying to produce. MR brings great insight.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jsameds Avatar
144 months ago
These things are beyond overpriced, that's the main reason why i have no interest in them.
I'm getting déjà vu from this comment. Reminds me of June 2007 and October 2001.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
farewelwilliams Avatar
144 months ago
i saw "digitimes" in the corner of my eye and i stopped reading.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Pakaku Avatar
144 months ago
30-40 millions. Wow that's an ambitious goal. I am still on the fence myself as I am not sure if it really adds value for me. The design I find ok but not great.

I see zero value in owning one, except for 'owning one'. If you do end up finding a decent reason, please let me know.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
144 months ago
A blast from the past:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apples-new-thing-ipod.500/

iPoop... iCry. I was so hoping for something more.

Great just what the world needs, another freaking MP3 player. Go Steve! Where's the Newton?!

Sounds very revolutionary to me.

hey - heres an idea Apple - rather than enter the world of gimmicks and toys, why dont you spend a little more time sorting out your pathetically expensive and crap server line up? or are you really aiming to become a glorified consumer gimmicks firm?

I still can't believe this! All this hype for something so ridiculous! Who cares about an MP3 player? I want something new! I want them to think differently! Why oh why would they do this?! It's so wrong! It's so stupid!

All that hype for an MP3 player? Break-thru digital device? The Reality Distiortion Field™ is starting to warp Steve's mind if he thinqks for one second that this thing is gonna take off.

Not exactly "revolutionary". With the economy in its current state, You'll be able to pick up MP3 players for peanuts soon. The Archos Jukebox does the same thing and it's not blowing off the shelves either. $399 is just too much for an MP3 jukebox. Sorry Steve, this isn't it...

https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=854974

Although nice there is nothing "magical" or "revolutionary" about the device. I was expecting so much more from apple on this one.

This is a giant iPhone, there's no other way to put it. You can love it, you can hate it but in the end it is a giant iPhone. Not revolutionary at all.

Just an oversized Ipod Touch. This will not sell well no need for this device.
Will not be good for reading books neither not using the ink technology.

Its basically a big iPod touch.

I wanted to get excited over this, but all I can muster is a resounding "meh." Looks like it does everything an iPhone does...only less. Big screen and no-contract data is very cool though. So 140 something million iPhone and iPod touch owners already know how to use it...that's how many people have little use for this thing since they already have a device with the same functionality.

Consider me disappointed. What is the purpose of the device that the iPhone/iTouch can't do?

Every Mac device has a stature of something unique to it. This iPad felt like a iPod touch just made bigger. I see no advantage of the bigger screen, when one can spend a $999 and get a multitasking laptop with all the features you need without the touch.

This device needed something to set it apart, and they failed on that front. It needed a front facing camera for video chats. It could of had multi tasking since if this is a netbook killer, all netbooks can multitask. Sorry Jobs, you failed. You made a picture frame with an iPhone OS. Come back to me when you put the i5 in the laptops, I wanna upgrade.

the keynote could have been 5 minutes long. "Hey we took the iPhone and made it bigger, booya!" I can't believe this is it.

Yeah - epic disappointment. Was really hoping for front facing camera & iChat; multi-tasking; e-ink for i-books; larger storage capacity. Magical??? More like "pedestrian".

I sort of feel the same way I did about the MacBook Air. Meh. Nice product but hardly revolutionary.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)