Well-connected KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that this year will indeed see a new version of the Apple Watch – but that this will be a stop-gap ‘S’ model, not a fully-fledged Apple Watch 2.
In a research note which was issued today and AppleInsider reports acquiring a copy of, Kuo says that the next Apple Watch will have “spec improvements with limited changes to form factor design.” In this way, the wearable should take an approach similar to Apple’s ‘S’ model iPhones.
Kuo adds that a significantly redesigned version of the Apple Watch, which could include a thinner chassis, should instead arrive next year, in line with the traditional iPhone upgrade strategy. This notably conflicts with Drexel Hamilton analyst Brian White’s claim, in research notes issued on Friday, that a 20-40% thinner Apple Watch could be unveiled within the next few months.