According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, the second-generation Apple Watch will come with cellular connectivity. The upgrade will allow the Watch to access mobile networks and retrieve data without a paired iPhone being present, allowing the Watch to be used standalone. That’s great if your iPhone runs out of juice, or if you just don’t fancy taking your iPhone with you in the first place.
The report doesn’t mention the inclusion of GPS, which would also make a big difference in the device’s efficacy as a standalone device — particularly for fitness purposes. With GPS on board, Apple Watch owners could leave their iPhone at home when going for a cycle or a jog, and still get directions and a record of their route.
The same report also suggests that the second-generation Watch will come with a faster processor, better allowing it to run native Watch apps. Apple will soon require Watch developers to run their apps natively, rather than running them on the iPhone and then sending the results to the Watch.
The combination of faster hardware and the insistence on native apps should make the next-gen model much faster than its predecessor, allowing users to perform simple tasks like checking the weather or reading news headlines without waiting around.
The first generation Apple Watch has already proved a success despite its issues, with analysts estimating 12 million units have shipped in the first year of sales, bringing in Apple about $6 billion and accounting for around 61% of global smartwatch sales.
What do you think of the prospect of a more independent Apple Watch? Let us know in the comments, or write to us on Twitter @mobilefun. Thanks for checking out the article, and enjoy the rest of your week!
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