Apple manufacturer Quanta seen riding high on 'Apple Watch Series 3' coming this fall

Compal Electronics has joined the Watch supply chain but will probably handle older-generation models still on sale, said the Chinese-language Economic Daily News, cited by DigiTimes. The company's involvement was rumored as far back as April, and at the time said to involve taking over some Series 2 production.

It's unknown if Apple will continue to sell the Series 1 in a post-"Series 3" environment. The 1 is essentially a first-generation Watch with a faster processor, lacking upgrades like waterproofing or GPS.

Since 2015, flagship Watch production has been handled entirely by Quanta, making it natural for that relationship to continue.

Rumors about the "Series 3" remain relatively few and far between. One of the most common is that that device could get LTE, allowing it to operate independently of an iPhone — at least, to a greater degree than the Series 2.

It may also get built-in sleep tracking, like many other wearables, and possibly even a non-invasive glucose monitor. Apple CEO Tim Cook has been spotted wearing a special Watch accessory, which might also support rumors that Apple is working on "smart" bands that will expand features without requiring a new Watch.