Apple Watch 2 Release Date, Specs, Rumors: New Touch Panel Technology On Board?

New report suggest Apple's upcoming smartwatch possibly dubbed "Apple Watch 2" or "Apple Watch S" will be equipped with new touch panel technology. The Cupertino has reportedly made a shift from Glass on Glass (G/G) touch panel technology to One Glass Solution (OGS) for its upcoming smartwatch.

The new display technology will let Apple include more impressive specs and features into its upcoming wearable gadget. The OGS is expected to free up more internal space to house a slightly larger battery. In fact, use of the OGS display technology is also expected to result in the Apple Watch 2 being thinner and lighter than its predecessor.

According to Digitimes, Apple's decision to change the display technology has resulted in losses for touch panel maker TPK Holding. The publication stated that altering the display technology involved unexpected technological difficulties and therefore yielded much lowered rates for OGS touch panels than what was expected by TPK Holding. Among other specs, the Apple Watch 2 is rumored to feature new microLED screen tech which will consume comparatively lower power than OLED as well ensure a longer battery life and thinner design. The upcoming smartwatch is expected to mirror the design of the original iteration.

Past rumors suggested that that Apple Watch 2 will feature true cellular connectivity and will enable users to make calls, send texts and connect to the internet without using iPhone. The upcoming smartwatch is expected to run the recently released Watch OS 3. The smartwatch is also rumored to be significantly waterproof and feature a couple of new health-tracking features, GPS as well as swim tracking functionality.

There are talks that the Apple Watch 2 might come with an ARM Cortex A32 chipset on board. The chipset is almost 25 percent faster than the current ARM-based processor. There are also possibilities of a new gesture control and FaceTime camera for selfie and video calls. As far as Apple Watch 2 release date is concerned, the smartwatch is expected to get a launch alongside iPhone 7 in September.

Stay tuned to SWR for new updates on Apple Watch 2 release date, specs and price.