10 Features to Look for in the Apple Watch 2

Apple is expected to launch Apple Watch 2 at some point this year. If and when it does, there are certain must-have features Apple needs to include if it is to be a success.

Although Apple Watch competes with several attractive devices, Apple doesn’t need to make major design tweaks. Apple Watch is still among the best-looking devices on the market, and it’s unlikely another company will match it anytime soon. Look for Apple to make the device a bit thinner and lighter, but beyond that, not much will change.

One of Apple Watch’s biggest issues is its battery life. With typical use, it’s often required that users charge it each night to ensure it’ll last all day. If Apple Watch breaks out from its niche and becomes a hit, the device must have longer battery life.

Kuo says that Apple Watch 2 will feature a new and improved processor that can more ably handle apps and other tasks. That’s a good thing. The first-generation Apple Watch is a bit behind some of its competitors on the power front, and can lag with some sophisticated apps. By boosting Apple Watch 2’s power, Apple could address those issues and prepare it for a smartwatch battle over the holidays.

Apple Watch 2 should be as waterproof as possible. There’s no reason a user should be required to take it off before he or she jumps into a pool for a swim. One of the benefits of a smartwatch is that it both tells the time and allows users to interact with fitness apps. Top-of-the-line waterproofing is a critical feature Apple mustn’t overlook.

Adding GPS to Apple Watch 2 would be a nice addition. The feature would allow users to leave the iPhone at home but still use Apple Maps, know where he or she is, and quickly find directions to and from locations. Other devices feature GPS trackers, so there’s no reason Apple Watch 2 can’t follow suit.

Health and fitness are main reasons why users buy smartwatches, but the iPhone maker’s smartwatch comes with surprisingly few health sensors. Apple, therefore, should add as many health-related sensors to Apple Watch 2 as it can muster. Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a recent interview that he’s thinking seriously about how Apple can play a strong role in the health care industry. Apple Watch seems like the prime device to help his company take on that role.

Apple seems committed to its video conferencing application FaceTime, so it wouldn’t be a stretch to see the company offer a tiny camera in the next Apple Watch. The feature would allow users to place video calls from their wrists and never need to pick up the iPhone. It could be what differentiates Apple Watch 2 from its competition.

Apple has done a middling job of offering appealing wristbands. The company’s deal with Hermès is a good one, but Apple Watch lacks a strong array of metal watch band options. Apple needs to take some cues from popular traditional watchmakers and offer more bands that can appeal to everyone from the busy professional to the running athlete.

This one might take some time, but Apple Watch 2 would undoubtedly sell better if it launched with LTE wireless support across all four major networks. The feature would effectively turn Apple Watch 2 into a smartphone and allow users to place calls without needing a connected iPhone. Most analysts believe LTE is still at least a year or two off, but if Apple could shock customers with the feature this year, Apple Watch 2 could be a holiday hit.

The last thing Apple should do is boost the price on Apple Watch 2. But yet, the company should reduce the smartwatch’s price in some models. Apple Watch isn’t cheap, which is holding some customers back from buying it. Addressing that by making Apple Watch 2 more affordable could unleash massive demand for the company’s next smartwatch.