New Apple Watch model with LTE nears mass production

The next version of the Apple Watch is in the final test phases before entering mass production and it will be manufactured exclusively by Quanta, the same company that made the first two Apple Watches, according to a report citing supply chain sources for the Chinese Economic Daily.

The report also confirms that the new Apple Watch will have a version with cellular data connectivity that will make it an independent device that does not need to be tethered to an iPhone to function.

The latest rumors around the Apple Watch corroborate this report and mention that the new watch will be offered in similar 38mm and 42mm sizes, as well as a similar design (some slight changes are possible, though). As to the new LTE Apple Watch models, they will likely work like iPads: independent for most functions, but still unable to place phone calls on their own, as this functionality is reserved for iPhones.

source: Economic Daily (translated) via Apple Insider