A 2014 release date for Apple’s wearable device is looking less and less likely as new reports continuously reaffirm that manufacturing issues are holding back mass production of the iWatch. Speaking with China’s Economic Daily News, sources say that although suppliers are set to begin assembling the units in September, they will only be able to produce around 1 million per month. This wouldn’t be enough for a full retail release before the end of the year.
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Furthermore, the time it takes from the moment the components hit the assembly line to the time the final product is ready to be shipped could be up to two months. In other words, Apple wouldn’t be able to produce anywhere near the 10 million units they have been reportedly working to include in the first shipment.
If the corroborating sources are correct, Apple will have to delay the iWatch into 2015. There’s always hope for a limited release, but with more Android Wear devices making their debut in the coming months, it would make more sense for Apple to wait until it can go head-to-head with the competition. At the very least, we can hope to see some news regarding the iWatch at one of Apple’s press events in the coming months.
