(Nikkei Asia) The launch of Apple Watch 7 could wait longer as manufacturing was reportedly halted to allow engineers address performance issues.
Small-scale production of Apple Watch started last week, but multiple issues were found when assembling the electronics modules, displays, and components. The performance issues with Apple Watch are related largely to its complicated designs, with the device expected to offer features such as measurement of blood pressure.
Following the challenges, Apple has requested its component supplies to delay shipments of some components to assemblers. Disruptions caused by Covid-19 pandemic are also said to halt travel by Apple engineers and suppliers to verify new specifications.
Apple intended to launch the new watch with the latest designs of iPhones in coming weeks, with the production delays expected to delay plans.
Apple ranks as the biggest smartwatch maker in the world, and shipped 36 million units last year, a growth of 39% from the prior year.
AAPL: NASDAQ is down -0.48%.
