Apple Watch 2 release date, features rumors and news: LTE still a no-go for next Apple Watch?

The original Apple WatchReuters/Robert Galbraith

Speculations suggest that although Apple will introduce a number of improvements on the upcoming Apple Watch 2, the much-expected cellular connectivity will not be one of them.

According to Information Week, the Cupertino-based giant has had difficulties in solving the battery drain issue with the upcoming wearable. Supposedly, even if the Apple Watch 2 will come with higher battery capacity, the LTE connectivity for Apple smartwatches will still have to be shelved for future lineups. This means that Apple fans will still need their iPhones close by, even if the smartphones are synced with the Apple Watch 2.

This may be one of the biggest disadvantages of the new Apple wearable against upcoming smartwatches run on Android. Google has already maximized Android Wear 2.0 to fully support cellular connectivity, and it is expected that upcoming accessories like the Asus ZenWatch 3 and Samsung Gear S3 will be fully compatible with LTE connections.

Meanwhile, even if the new wearable will not come out with LTE connectivity, new features are still expected for the Apple Watch 2. Trusted Reviews reports that Nike may have inadvertently confirmed one new feature for the upcoming wearable. Supposedly, the Apple Watch 2 may be independent of the user's iPhone by long distances, since the new Apple Watch 2 will now have built-in GPS. In addition, the new smartwatch will also feature an improved watchface and UI, with redesigned apps and tweaked details for sensors such as health, distance, and location. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch 2 is also rumored to add a new sensor, a barometer that will add altitude-enabled apps to the smartwatch.

Other purported specs include a larger battery capacity, improved water-proofing, and a slimmer profile and thinner body. However, all the expected specs and details remain hearsay until Apple debuts the next wearable, supposedly at the expected September press event.