TORONTO – Apple may have ordered as many as six million Apple Watches from its Chinese suppliers in anticipation of its smartwatch launch, according to a new report.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reported the tech giant has asked suppliers to make five to six million units of the gadgets ahead of its launch.
Half of the production order is said to be for the entry-level Apple Watch; one-third of the orders are reportedly for the Apple Watch Sport edition.
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Orders for the Apple Watch Edition – the much talked about 18 karat gold version of the smartwatch – are said to be limited for the initial launch, according to the report.
The company’s first wearable device is expected to launch sometime in April. Apple CEO Tim Cook had previously teased the device’s launch as “early 2015,” prompting many to believe the smartwatch would be available shortly after the holiday season.
Apple Watch works as a companion to the iPhone to send messages, check notifications, interact with other Apple Watch users and use Apple Maps.
The device will be available in three different collections – Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch Edition – and will come in two different sizes, 42 mm and 38 mm for those with smaller wrists.
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The Apple Watch Sport will start at US$349, but Apple hasn’t announced pricing for the rest of the models.
However, it’s been rumoured that the Apple Watch Edition could have a price tag as high as $4,000.
That would make the watch on par price-wise with Apple’s Mac Pro computer.
The WSJ report claims Apple plans to ramp up production of the high-end model to more than one million units per month in the second quarter of 2015.
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