Possessing an ‘too complicated’ design, the production of the new Apple Watch is being delayed

Production of Apple’s next Apple Watch model has been delayed, in large part due to the complicated design of the new smartwatch model, as reported by Nikkei Asia .

The makers of the Apple Watch 7 – the expected name of the new device – started small-scale production last week. But they have encountered significant challenges in achieving the desired production performance, according to many people familiar with the situation.

Three unnamed sources said the current disappointing production quality can be attributed to the complexity of the design. Because they are significantly different from previous generations of Apple Watch, and assemblers have discovered problems when putting together modules, components, and electronic screens.

As a result, production of the new watch model has been temporarily halted to wait for Apple and its suppliers to try to resolve the issues and certify more designs before going into production. batch, four people said.

Apple Watch 7 has many new features inside a traditional design.

These people say the next Apple Watch will come with new features like blood pressure measurement, which means production will include fitting more parts into a similarly sized body as before. New products must also meet waterproof performance requirements, adding to the engineering and manufacturing challenges.

One of the people with direct knowledge of the matter said: “All assemblers are facing the same problems in achieving satisfactory production performance based on their own devices. current industrial design.”

Sources say Apple has also asked component suppliers to delay some shipments to assemblers.

The company overhauled its smart watch in terms of interior design, including the placement of different modules, different from previous product generations. However, disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic have made it difficult for Apple and its suppliers to travel to verify new specifications, making it even harder for them to spot device difficulties. design until trial production begins, the two said.

“Apple and its suppliers are working around the clock to try to resolve the issues, but right now it’s difficult to know when mass production might start,” one person added. Another person said that Apple had previously planned to put the Apple Watch 7 into mass production around mid-September, and that the engineering team was working to minimize the delay.

Apple has planned to unveil the new watch alongside the latest iPhones in the next few weeks. Current issues could affect the US company’s plans to bring the product to market after the product announcement, the people said.

Apple Watch Series 6

The Apple Watch, first released in 2015, is one of the fastest growing products from the California-based tech company. New functions such as electrocardiograms, sleep monitoring and the ability to unlock the iPhone while wearing a mask have increased the popularity of this gadget. Apple is the world’s largest smartwatch maker, shipping 36 million Apple Watches last year, with an annual growth rate of 39%, according to research firm IDC.

In addition to the Apple Watch and iPhone, Apple is also set to introduce new AirPods, iPads and MacBooks in the second half of 2021.

Apple currently declined to comment on the matter.

Refer to Nikkei