Apple Watch 3 to work independently from iPhone 8, reports show

Apple Watch
The current generation of Apple Watch Credit: Bloomberg

Apple's new smartwatch will be the first to work independently from the iPhone 8, reports suggest.

The upcoming Apple Watch,  due to be unveiled at a launch event in September, will be able to work independently through an embedded SIM, according to CNBC.

The new smartwatch, which could be called the Apple Watch Series 3, is expected to come with a 4G connection that will let it communicate without the need for a smartphone.

Currently, the Apple Watch connects to a user's smartphone using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and needs to be paired with an iPhone in order to make and receive phone calls and texts.

"It will cater to the niche market of health and fitness users who don't want to carry their iPhone when they go for a run," Counterpoint Research analyst Neil Shah told CNBC.

It is not clear if the new Watch will be able to make phone calls, or if the SIM will only work for data transfer.

Apple is not the first company to consider turning smartwatches into devices that can run independently. Huawei recently added 4G connectivity to its Watch 2,  as did Samsung in the Gear S3 and LG in the Watch Sport LTE.

Samsung
Current watches such as the Samsung Gear S3 include 4G capabilities Credit: Samsung

Apple, which has released a new smartwatch every year since it debuted the Apple Watch in 2015, is expected to unveil the third generation of the device alongside the iPhone 8 next month. The company released the Apple Watch Series 2 alongside the iPhone 7 in September last year. 

iPhone 8
How the iPhone 8 is expected to look Credit: Benjamin Geskin

The iPhone giant is also expected to announce a release date for its upgraded WatchOS software, which was announced at its global developers conference in June.

The updates to the Watch's operating system include a smarter fitness coach and a more active all-day assistant.

Apple is also preparing to launch its latest flagship device the iPhone 8 in September. The new handset will include wireless charging, a facial recognition system, an edge-to-edge display and - for the first time - no home button. 

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