Rumor: Next-gen Apple Watch to be 20% to 40% thinner

It’s a rumor, but it’s interesting.

Apple analyst Brian White of Wall Street firm Drexel Hamilton on Friday issued a pair of research notes highlighting his upcoming Apple Watch and iPhone expectations through the end of 2016.

The most prominent point expressed was White citing a source who believes only the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus will feature a dual camera system, echoing the same prediction made by often-accurate KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo earlier this week.

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White claims that iPhone 7 production is expected to begin in July, the iPhone 7 helping Apple and its supplier return to growth in the second half of 2016.

White also predicted that the next-gen Apple Watch could be seen in the next two to three months and could be 20 to 40 percent thinner and could be unveiled by June, possibly at the Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco.

Finally, White predicted that the next-gen Apple Watch will not appear until September, but would debut alongside the iPhone 7.

Whether the Apple Watch 2 is introduced in June or September, it appears clear that Apple may be elongating the wearable’s release cycle beyond one year to avoid consumer exhaustion. Many customers only received the Apple Watch in December during the holiday shopping season, so a new model launching this spring may be considered too soon. A closer to year-and-a-half refresh would seem more appropriate.

Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

Via MacRumors