The iPhone is apparently not the only Apple device that will be revamped this year, as the next Apple Watch is rumored to come with some significant changes as well.
While Apple will implement a new design and various new features for the iPhone 8, the company will reportedly look to make the Apple Watch less reliant on the smartphone.
Apple Watch 3 Built-In LTE
According to a Bloomberg report, the next Apple Watch will come with built-in LTE chips to connect directly to cellular networks, sources familiar with the matter revealed.
Current models of the Apple Watch rely on a wireless connection with an iPhone to carry out its most important functions, including streaming music, downloading maps, and sending messages.
The sources claim that some of the models of the Apple Watch Series 3 will come with LTE chips, so they will function even without the user's iPhone connected or in range.
Apple is currently talking to carriers in the United States and Europe regarding the cellular version of the Apple Watch, with the four major carriers of the country, namely AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint, all planning to sell the device.
Apple, meanwhile has tapped Intel to supply the LTE modems for the new Apple Watch, another source said, which is a big deal for Intel as it has been trying for years to become a bigger supplier for Apple. It helped that Qualcomm, the main modem supplier for Apple's products, is currently locked in a legal battle with the company.
Apple Watch 3 All-New Form Factor
Shortly after the release of Bloomberg's report, Daring Fireball's John Gruber reported rumors that the Apple Watch 3 will come with an "all-new form factor."
Gruber admitted that the rumor remains unconfirmed and should be taken with a grain of salt, but it is an intriguing notion nonetheless.
Apple Watch Series 3 Coming Soon
Users will not have to wait too long to see the changes that will be applied to the Apple Watch 3. The new series of smartwatches is expected to be released by the end of 2017, though there is still a possibility that the new Apple Watch will be delayed beyond this year.
It is unclear when the Apple Watch Series 3 will be unveiled, but there is a definite possibility that the smartwatches will be announced alongside the next iPhone models in September.
Rumors regarding the Apple Watch Series 3 have been scarce, but interesting. A report from October 2016 claimed that the next Apple Watch will feature gesture controls, while a February rumor stated that the new Apple Watch will use a new display technology known as touch on lens panels.
