Apple’s smartwatch to launch as early as October and its got some really great features

Apple revolutionized the tech industry with its pioneering entry into the smartwatch market in October 2014. The launch spurred a wave of innovation and financial rewards in the technology sector, despite an observed slowdown in the growth of gadget technology. Taiwan’s Quanta Computer Inc 2382.TW verified they had initiated large-scale production for Apple’s inaugural smartwatch as early as July of the same year.

Fondly termed the iWatch, Apple’s first smartwatch boasted a slightly rectangle-shaped screen, measuring about 2.5 inches diagonally. This groundbreaking smartwatch stood out with its touch interface, wireless charging features, and a function facilitating the dispatch of messages and voice chats—albeit necessitating a paired smartphone.

Interestingly, this gadget was designed to work solely with tools operating on Apple’s iOS, integrating seamlessly with the widely-utilized iPhone. Similar to other smartwatches on the market, the iWatch provided functionalities like user’s heartbeat monitoring and other health-related metrics, emails checking, and making phone calls. For the device’s first mass production batch, LG Display Co Ltd provided the screens.

Apple’s goal was to distribute around 50 million units within the product’s first year on the market. Quanta was responsible for the trial production, handling at least 70 percent of the device’s final assembly.

The launch of Apple’s smartwatch arrived on the heels of similar device releases by other tech industry titans—including Samsung, Sony Corp, Motorola, and LG Electronics Inc. Despite these gadgets lacking widespread market penetration, Apple’s smart wearable device was predicted to transform the industry, mirroring the powerful influence the iPhone had in 2007.

This article was updated in 2025 to reflect current trends and insights.