The next Apple Watch is expected to arrive sometime this fall, and it was rumored to come with cellular connectivity - meaning it wouldn't be as dependent on your iPhone. But according to a report from Bloomberg, this isn't going to happen.
It seems the cellular connection chips that Apple intended to use in the watch drained too much battery life from the device. The company has now abandoned plans for implementing the feature in the Apple Watch 2; instead, it is "studying lower-power cellular data chips" that can be used in future generations of Apple Watches.
While having no cell connectivity may come as a disappointment, the report goes on to state that the new Apple Watch will come with GPS-based location tracking; a feature it hopes will appeal to those looking to use the device for fitness purposes. It should also make navigation on the watch more accurate.
Both the lack of cellular connectivity and the addition of GPS functions were predicted by renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. He believes cellular features won't arrive in the Apple Watch until at least 2017.
Smartwatch shipments fell 32 percent in the second quarter of 2016, according to figures from the International Data Corporation - marking the first ever year-over-year decline. But Apple still held on to its number one position and will likely cement its spot at the top with the second generation of its wearable.
WatchOS 3, an updated version of the operating system used by the Apple Watch, will also be released this fall.