Apple and supply partner Quanta Computer have apparently solved its yield issues with various Apple Watch components as the wearable device is now gearing up to enter mass production in January, reports Taiwan's United Daily News (Google Translate, via GforGames). Previously, other sources projected that the Apple Watch would enter mass production at the end of February.
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The report notes that this is due to Quanta increasing its number of employees from 2,000 to 10,000, as the company expects to hire 20,000 employees to help with production. Apple is projecting to ship a total of 24 million Apple Watches in 2015. The United Daily News also mentions how a new "iPhone 6s" will likely miss a Spring debut, but that is to be expected as production of a new A9 chip has yet to gear up. The launch would also be unlikely as Apple's iPhones have never launched in the Spring.
Employee comments made after the Apple Watch's debut in September noted that Apple may not be planning to launch the device until February 2015 or later, as the company originally planned to have the watch ready to ship in time for the 2014 holiday season. However, it is now possible that Apple has solved many of the issues surrounding production of the Apple Watch and will make its "early 2015" release projection. When it goes on sale, the Apple Watch will be available in a variety of materials with several different band choices and start at $349.
Top Rated Comments
I got tired of waiting. I bought a $15 Casio watch at Walmart. I'm happy and I know the time. $335+ saved!
I didn't buy a $15 Casio and happy to look at my iPhone and know then time:eek: $15 saved.:D
I saw a Samsung watch in the wild yesterday.
I find it curious that Samsung can hear an Apple rumor, then design and manufacture the rumor, and be on the market half a year sooner. They are fast workers, those Samsungese.
Samsung has released 6 different watches... and in the first weekend Apple Watch goes on same, Apple will sell more than all 6 of those combined ... so what does it matter???
I know the article stated it, but why would Apple start shipping a new product when they can't make enough of the one, 3 months (6 months by rollout) old, at the current time?
It was a strange causal relationship between the :Apple:watch and the extremely low likelihood of the 6s release.
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I should hope so because if not, there would be many folks sorely unhappy.
Because here at Macrumors, people need a reason to be sorely unhappy.