According to the Wall Street Journal, the new device will include “more than 10” biometric sensors as part of a strategy to differentiate itself from other wearables, like Android Wear, which touts features that are largely similar to those of a smartphone. Apple previously mentioned a glucometer in its talks with the FCC, but what could the other nine sensors be?

The two recent rumor reports from some of the most trusted names in business news don’t completely contradict each other: they pretty much agree on the number of units being produced (roughly 50 million per year, or 3-5 million per month), the launch window (October), and that Quanta Computer is one of the producers for the gadget.

If Apple were to launch multiple sizes of its wearable device this October, it would be a departure from previous practices for the company. At the iPod, the iPhone, and the iPad launches, there was only one design available, although new sizes and options were introduced in subsequent versions. However, wearables, and specifically watches, incorporate taste in a way an iPod can’t: women might prefer a different sized bracelet than men, for instance. It is even conceivable that “multiple designs” could be referring to luxury versions of the device, which would be priced closer to the high-end wristwatches that the gadget would be competing with.

Whatever the case is, it’s important to note that nothing is final until Apple announces its new product. Remember, Apple hasn’t even confirmed that a wearable anything is in development. While the rumor mill churns in frothy anticipation of this October, you should take any report – even information from well-respected newspapers — with a hefty grain of salt.

Top image courtesy of Todd Hamilton. 

Image copyright Todd Hamilton.

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