A cellular version of the Apple Watch 3 is in the works and it will only support LTE: Ming-Chi Kuo

Alongside the launch of the iPhone 7S, 7S Plus and the tenth anniversary iPhone , Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the Apple Watch 3 to make its debut later this year. [caption id=“attachment_3932341” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] The Apple Watch Series 2[/caption] Kuo is an analyst for KGI Securities and has been exceptionally accurate in his predictions with regards to Apple products. Kuo’s current forecast doesn’t reveal much about the Watch 3, however. The Apple Watch 3 will retain its current form factor and size options (38 mm and 42 mm) and will be available in LTE and non-LTE variants, predicts Kuo. According to him, the cellular version of the Watch will only support LTE and no other standard, including 3G, reports 9to5Mac . Kuo thinks that the device will go on sale later this year. Regarding the LTE support, Kuo’s prediction only serves to confirm an earlier report on Bloomberg , which also suggested that the cellular version of the Watch 3 would only support LTE. Bloomberg’s report adds that the LTE modems will be provided by Intel. As noted in the report, Qualcomm has been the main modem supplier for Apple. Apple and Qualcomm are currently involved in a billion-dollar legal dispute over licensing terms. While analysts think that the cellular version of the Watch will work independently of the iPhone, it’s not yet known whether the device can make calls on its own. A lack of support for 2G and 3G networks will hurt Watch sales in some markets, say analysts.