Rumor claims Apple seeking second supplier for next-gen Apple Watch

Apple is looking to pick up a second manufacturer for the next-generation Apple Watch apart from Quanta Computer, a Chinese report said on Thursday.

The company is currently in talks with Inventec, Wistron, and its primary partner Foxconn, according to the Chinese-language Apple Daily, quoted by DigiTimes. The Daily suggested that the new Watch won't be available until after the second quarter of 2016, which conflicts with some recent rumors calling for a launch within that quarter.

The candidates are said to be concerned about Quanta having made weaker profits on the Watch than expected, despite heavily investing in equipment for the device.

Apple planned to order 6 million Watches for the December quarter, but scaled back to 4 million because of softer sales, the report claimed. It predicted that sales should top 10 million by the end of 2015, despite Apple not having issued any official figures.

As for the specifications of a next-generation device, very few rumors have surfaced so far. Some have hinted at a better battery life, an improved display, and even support for Pebble-style "smart" bands. Built-in GPS is a common request, but may be unlikely given the power drain involved.