Apple Watch 2 release date, specs: major overhaul rumored for upcoming for smartwatch

Will the Apple Watch 2 be seen in the flesh this June?Apple

Apple Watch 2 is expected to don a very different look from its predecessor when it comes out this September, according to the latest reports.

For starters, the smartwatch is rumored to come with a circular face rather than a square one, which Apple went for with the first Apple Watch despite having multiple versions.

The Apple Watch 2 is also expected to shake off a significant amount of weight. Drexel Hamilton analyst Brian White believes that the new Apple Watch will be 20 to 40 percent slimmer than its predecessor.

However, there are opposing reports that while Apple Watch 2 will be aesthetically different from the one that came before it, the design changes won't be dramatic and will be subtle at best.

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, whose impressive track record on Apple predictions gives him high credibility, claims that the Apple Watch 2 will not get a big makeover.

He believes that Apple will treat its smartwatch line like the iPhone, which gets S iterations that come with slight upgrades and tweaks. That being said, fans should not expect to see the Apple Watch 2 with a brand new look.

Kuo believes that the drastic changes will be done on the inside. The new version of the Apple Watch is expected to be more powerful and less dependent to a handset.

Since the Apple Watch was released, the Cupertino-based tech giant has been working on the operating system on the device. Apple has already managed to minimize the reliance of the Apple Watch 2 on an iPhone or smartphone.

Users have complained about the first smartwatch constantly needing a smartphone to process majority of tasks, which in turn, slows down the process. This will reportedly no longer be a problem with the Apple Watch 2. It is also expected to offer longer battery life and greater processing power.

As for the release date of the device, there are rumors that the Apple Watch 2 will be launched in the Worldwide Developers Conference in June. There are reports, however, that the device won't see the light of day until September.