Apple's much-rumored wearable device, unofficially dubbed the iWatch, may deliver a disappointing battery performance, if a new report turns out to be accurate.
The iWatch is one of the most highly-anticipated devices of this year and recent whispers have pegged the official launch for next week on Sept. 9, alongside the next-generation iPhone 6.
It remains unconfirmed at this point whether the iWatch will indeed make its debut at Apple's event next week, but the rumor mill nonetheless keeps churning in anticipation.
The latest iWatch-related rumor claims that Apple's upcoming wearable gadget may not have a very good battery life, which could be a major drawback. The news comes from a new report from The Information (via Business Insider), which claims to have some details in this regards.
According to the publication, Apple employees familiar with the device have "set low expectations" when it comes to battery life. The report doesn't offer any details on just how long the iWatch's battery will actually last on a single charge, but previous rumors had already suggested that Apple was facing some challenges in this department during the device's development.
"In the build-up to the new Apple Watch, it is easy to get seduced by the rumored features. Curved screen! Wireless charging! Jony Ive thinks it's slick! But - and I hate to burst anyone's bubble here - the appeal of the world's most highly anticipated wearable computer is going to come down to something a lot more mundane: battery life," writes The Information's Jessica Lessin.
"People who have talked to Apple about the watch said that Apple employees have set low expectations," Lessin further added.
News of battery performance issues marring the iWatch first surfaced back in March 2013, suggesting that prototypes of the device have been struggling with poor battery life. Apple was rumored at the time to be aiming for 4-5 days of battery life on its iWatch, but was only managing to get a day or two. It remains unclear now whether the company has changed that goal in the meantime, or what exactly does it mean now that the iWatch does not have a long battery life.
Apple reportedly tried out several different charging technologies for the gadget, including solar charging, wireless charging, and motion charging. Based on rumors, the device will ultimately launch with wireless charging capabilities on board, which sould at least make things more convenient.
It's all in the rumor state for now, however, so make sure to take everything with a grain of salt. If Apple does indeed plan to unveil its wearable gadget at its Sept. 9 event, we'll learn everything there is to know about the device straight from the source soon enough. We'll be covering Apple's event and keep you up to date with the latest news, so stay tuned.
