
Apple's forthcoming smartwatch remains one of the most eagerly anticipated yet still-unconfirmed devices on 2014's hottest tech watch list.
But with most industry analysts and supply chain sources in agreement that the iWatch is definitely in the works and expected to launch later this year, the latest production chatter out of Asia isn't painting a promising picture for Apple.
Digitimes reported Thursday that both Apple's iWatch and Qualcomm's Toq are seeing less than 50% yield rates caused by an assortment of difficulties "applying surface treatments on their metal injection molded chassis."
The MIM process is often used in the mass production of high-precision products with complicated industrial designs as it allows components to feature special shapes, but still maintain rigidness.
The latest supply chain speculation indicates that beyond Apple and Qualcomm, Sony, Samsung Electronics, Pebble, Casio, Nike, Adidas, Epson and LG will all market new wearable devices this year.
Source: Digitimes
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