UPDATED 01:29 EDT / JUNE 19 2015

NEWS

Apple Watch 2 coming 2016: FaceTime video calls, better Wi-Fi, more models

Just over two months after the Apple Watch went on sale online and one day after it became available in Apple retail stores, a report claims Apple has a second-generation Apple Watch in the works.

Slated for release in 2016, the Apple Watch 2 will feature a FaceTime video camera, improved Wi-Fi capabilities, and likely be available in more models that its predecessor, according to a report from 9to5Mac.

Video calls from the wrist

According to 9to5Mac’s sources, Apple is working on incorporating a FaceTime video camera into the top section of the Apple Watch’s bezel. This will give users the ability to carry on FaceTime video calls directly on their wrists without the need to dig their iPhone out of their pocket or handbag.

Apple recently announced its watchOS 2, due for release in the fall, with support for FaceTime audio calls on Apple Watch and the ability to route FaceTime calls to the paired iPhone or outright reject them.

Less reliance on a connected iPhone

Standalone functionality on Apple Watch is limited to activity tracking, Apple Pay transactions and listening to music – most other functionality relies heavily on the connected iPhone. That is set to change with the Apple Watch 2 claims the report. Apple is said to be working on including an upgraded Wi-Fi chipset into the next Apple Watch to allow the wearable to perform more functions without relying on an iPhone.

The new Wi-Fi chip will reportedly also enable ‘Find my Watch’ functionality, allowing Apple to triangulate a lost or stolen watch’s location in the same way it currently does for iPhones via ‘Find my iPhone’.

New models, new materials

Apple apparently also intends to expand the model lineup beyond the Sport, Watch and Edition models currently available, in a bid to create a market between the $1,000 and $10,000 price points. The publication speculates that Apple may introduce new materials such as titanium, tungsten, palladium or platinum as case options in this price range.

Still only one-day battery life

Citing Apple’s own market research that shows most customers are happy with the Apple Watch’s battery life, the sources said that Apple does not plan to make any significant improvements to the Apple Watch’s battery technology.

Following the outcome of its study, Apple allegedly decided to divert engineering efforts to other hardware improvements for the next-generation Apple Watch.

Image credit: LWYang, Flickr, CC BY 2.0

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