The Next Apple Watch SE May Use Cheaper Materials
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A new report suggests that Apple is planning to distinguish the next version of its Apple Watch SE from its mainstream “Series” models even more by moving to a hard plastic casing, making it the first mainstream Apple Watch without an aluminum option.
That’s according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who first shared the insight early last month, reporting that he’d been informed by sources that Apple was testing a “rigid plastic” in place of the aluminum shell for the Apple Watch SE as a way of reducing costs. Gurman reiterated the prediction in this week’s Power On newsletter, saying that it’s “sounding increasingly likely” that Apple is at least seriously considering the change.
When the first Apple Watch SE launched in 2020 alongside the Apple Watch Series 6, the two were visually indistinguishable apart from the color options — the Apple Watch Series 6 was available in (PRODUCT)RED and blue, while the SE model was limited to the more traditional silver, gold, and space gray.
Despite their visual similarities, the Apple Watch SE packed in an older chip — the same one used in the prior year’s Apple Watch Series 5 — was available only in a GPS model with no cellular capabilities, lacked an always-on display, and omitted more advanced health sensors like ECG and the then-new blood oxygen sensor.
When the second-generation Apple Watch SE arrived, it sported the same design as its predecessor, despite Apple having moved on to a new screen design in the prior year’s Series 7. Still, the aluminum casing and overall design remained in place, and it was hard to tell the difference between the two wearables at a glance.
Apple’s exploration of new materials for the Apple Watch SE may not be merely an attempt to set it apart or cut its internal costs. Gurman speculates that the company could also be hoping to lower the price to rival more affordable Wear OS smartwatches like Samsung’s Galaxy Watch FE, which starts at $199 — $50 less than the $249 Apple Watch SE.
Such a move wouldn’t be entirely unimaginable. In 2022, Apple swapped out the traditional back ceramic in the second-generation Apple Watch SE in favor of a new “nylon composite” material, a change it highlighted in its press release:
Apple Watch SE maintains the same case design, but features a redesigned matching back case made of a nylon composite material, making it lighter than ever.
The timing of the change is also interesting, as Apple recently launched an Apple Watch For Your Kids campaign, highlighting how an Apple Watch can be used with Family Setup, even for those who don’t own an iPhone.
Introduced alongside the first Apple Watch SE in late 2020, Family Setup can be used with any Apple Watch running watchOS 7 or later. However, it feels like it was made for the Apple Watch SE, as that’s the model parents are most likely to give their kids.
The first-gen Apple Watch SE was what I gave my then-eleven-year-old daughter before she was ready for her first iPhone. While I didn’t give much thought to the aluminum casing at the time, it’s not hard to imagine in retrospect how plastic would have been a more appropriate choice for many preteens.
For one, it would open up the possibility of adding fun new colors that appeal more to that age group. While Apple has offered some nice colors in aluminum for its standard Apple Watch models, those can’t get as playful as plastic can, where the possibilities are nearly endless — as we saw with the ill-fated iPhone 5c (pictured above).
Of course, fun designs aside, offering the Apple Watch SE at a lower price would be the most important way to open it up to families with younger kids. Apple recognized years ago with the iPod touch that $199 is an upper-end sweet spot of sorts when it comes to devices for kids. That was the original gateway into the iPhone for younger users, but now that it’s ridden off into the sunset, the Apple Watch SE seems poised to take its place.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]
