In a Friday report by John Paczkowski of re/code, the anticipated iWatch may not hit store shelves until next year. Paczkowski cites “sources in position to know” who say that it may be months before Apple’s wearable is ready for purchase. It is unclear when Apple will ship the iWatch, but Paczkowski is saying that “we’re unlikely to see it at retail until after the holiday season,” meaning early 2015.
There was another report that long preceded re/code‘s–that of analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities. Over a week ago, he made a similar projection for the release date of the iWatch:
“While we are positive on iWatch and believe that the advantages of the design and business model behind it are difficult to copy, we think, given the aforementioned challenges, that the launch could be postponed to 2015.”
The “aforementioned challenges” are those regarding iWatch component and system design. He referred to the roadblocks Apple may face in implementing new hardware, such as the sapphire crystal cover, AMOLED screen, and higher waterproof standard. He also mentioned that Apple may have difficulty integrating iOS into the new device.
Though a late release of the iWatch may come as a disappointment, this is not the first time Apple has released a product later than desired. There were delays between the debut and the release of both the original iPhone and the iPad. The first iPhone was announced in January 2007 and did not see release until June. There wasn’t quite as long a delay for the iPad: its launch was in January 2010, and its release in early April.
If the iWatch’s release is to be delayed, we might expect its release date to be sometime in February 2015. It has been said, too, that the earliest release could be in November, just before the holidays, but Paczkowski’s report implies that this is unlikely.
In any case, the wearable device is expected to be unveiled at Apple’s media event on September 9, to which media outlets recently received invitations. We will find out then when the rumored iWatch will be slated for release.
