Apple has reportedly ordered its Asian suppliers to manufacture approximately 5-6 million units of its three Apple Watch versions during the first-quarter, before it goes on sale in April 2015.
The Wall Street Journal reported that half of the order for the first quarter would comprise the entry-level Apple Watch Sport model, with one-third of the order to be the mid-tier version.
Despite receiving relatively small orders for the high-end Apple Watch Edition with 18-karat gold casing, the iPhone maker plans to produce over a million units every month during the second quarter.
With the pricing of Apple Watch Sport to start at $349, the Apple Watch Edition is anticipated to be among the pricier products ever sold by the company.
The latest orders resemble early sales of Apple’s previous key new product, with 7.5 million iPads being sold in the six months upon its launch in April 2010.
However, a new research from CCS Insight projects that Apple would sell around 20 million smartwatches during the first year.
Apple has been testing and improving the smartwatch’s battery since its unveiling in September 2014.