The Apple Watch Series 5 may have only been released a few months ago, but we already have our first hint at what 2020 could bring for the Series 6.
According to a new report from industry insider Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple will bring multiple new manufacturers into the fold for the next Apple Watch and also to help with demand for the Apple AirPods Pro.
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The new note was sent to customers of investment firm TF International Securities and obtained by MacRumors, indicating that Chinese company Goertek will help manage AirPods Pro during the first half of 2020.
Currently, Apple delegates supply to Luxshare Productions, though is looking to move things over to Goertek to help strengthen supply lines and meet potential demand.
What will Luxshare be doing with all its free time, you’re probably wondering? Well, Apple is keeping the company busy, with the S-series chips powering the Apple Watch Series 6 being manufactured under its watch.
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Now, of course, this isn’t exactly groundbreaking news – which, let’s be honest, is a given this early in the cycle – but it does give us a couple of mild takeaways.
Firstly, if Kuo’s report is true, it confirms that Apple will be launching a smartwatch in 2020 and continuing with the pattern of a new generation every year.
This was always likely, but, given the Apple Watch’s dominance in the market, it could be argued a Series 6 in 2020 isn’t actually necessary for it to remain as the industry leader.
And secondly, for Apple to switch up its manufacturing plans, this suggests that AirPods Pro sold well during the end of the year and likely outperformed the company’s initial expectations.
We’ll get more of an idea on how Apple’s wearables division performed on 28 January during its Q1 2020 earnings call.