Apple’s 4-inch iPhone, now rumored to be called the iPhone 5se, has already stolen the spotlight at the highly anticipated March event, but the Apple Watch may get an upgrade of its own. Alongside new Apple Watch bands reportedly made from never-before-used material, WatchOS 2.2 will bring new functionality. Rumors say Apple will wait until September to officially unveil the Apple Watch 2 with the iPhone 7.
For the new bands, Apple may be expanding its partnerships beyond Hermes. 9to5mac reports Apple was in talks with accessory maker Incase, but it’s unclear if that partnership will come to fruition in time for the March event.
Meanwhile, WatchOS 2.2 will bring just a few new features to the Apple Watch. The software update will allow users to sync multiple watches to the same iPhone. Apple Maps will also get a boost in functionality. With the update currently in beta, 9to5Mac reports Apple is working on adding a Nearby search and quick navigation shortcut features.
Hardware-wise, TechCrunch claims Apple may add a FaceTime camera to the Watch. However, multiple reports specify even with the minor hardware change, Apple will not release the upgraded version as the Apple Watch 2 (think Apple Watch S).
Similar to Apple’s September 2015 event, it’s most likely Apple will formally introduce WatchOS 2.2 and reveal new bands and colors instead of any real hardware changes that would be better to pair with the Apple Watch 2.
In addition to the iPhone 5se and WatchOS 2.2, reports predict Apple may announce the iPad Air 3 as well. Stay tuned for more details leading up to the March 2016 event.
