Beiruting News

Apple's first smartwatch - dubbed the iWatch - may be unveiled as soon as next month alongside the much-anticipated iPhone 6.

Technology news site Re/code has reported the tech giant will announce a brand new wearable device on September 9.

The report follows the publication on Wednesday by French tech blog Nowhere Else of images appearing to confirm the availability of the next-generation iPhones on the same day.

Apple is rumoured to be releasing the iPhone 6 in two sizes, with a larger 5.5-inch "phablet" version to be named the iPhone 6L.

Apple has never announced and released an iPhone on the same day.

Telsyte principal analyst Foad Fadaghi said it was difficult to say whether Apple would choose to unveil the products simultaneously given the forthcoming iPhone 6 was much more than just an evolution of a previous product.

"It comes down to whether or not the [wearable] product is positioned as a complement to the iPhone," Mr Fadaghi said.

"If it is, there's a high likelihood it will demonstrate some peripherals and apps that work with the iPhone."

Other smartwatches already on the market, such as the Samsung Galaxy Gear, connect with users' smartphones and utilise lite versions of apps, but tend to have limited functionality.

Many analysts expect Apple may produce something a little more sophisticated than its rivals in its first foray into the wearables space, especially given the long lag time on a release.

For the past year or so Apple has been busily hiring all manner of health and technology experts, from sleep and fitness specialists to those who are building non-invasive technologies to analyse blood and measure one's pulse.

At its World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, Apple unveiled HealthKit and HomeKit, developer tools for underpinning new apps for wearables and connected devices.

Re/code predicted the iWatch was likely to "make good use of" both HealthKit and HomeKit - a "framework for communicating with and controlling connected devices in a user's home", also unveiled at WWDC.

As to what the iWatch will look like, Apple has managed to keep it a closely guarded secret.

Artists impressions of the forthcoming device have varied from a device with a more traditional circular face to those with a squarer, flexible AMOLED display.

Rival electronics manufacturer LG is reportedly about to reveal a smartwatch in the classic shape of an analog timepiece.

Engadget reports LG will next week introduce a round-faced sequel to its first Wear watch, a square affair. It's new offering will be called the Wear R, the R a reference to the round shape.

Engadget said the circular Moto 360 was the best-received Android Wear smartwatch introduced at Google's developer conference in June.

Previous rumours held that Apple was planning to unveil its iWatch at an event in October.

However Re/code's John Paczkowski speculated that, with its self-described "best product pipeline" in 25 years, Apple "should have more than enough hardware to fill two events".

Invitations to Apple product launch events typically surface a week beforehand, though none have appeared as yet.