Apple is always known to take chances with new and old materials in its product line. Continuing those ongoing experiments, Bloomberg reports that Apple working on the next Watch SE with a rigid plastic casing instead of an aluminum exterior. That’s mostly to lower costs and launch an affordable Apple Watch or another variant just for the kids.
The benefit of 3D printing is that it has made prototyping easier for several product companies. Apple is possibly doing the same with the Apple Watch, but it goes further. The company is reportedly considering the idea of a 3D-printed chassis for the Apple Watch, which could be more likely for the SE model. The idea is to speed up the Apple Watch production by using less metal and helping the environment. That aligns with Apple’s overarching strategy to be more environment-friendly.
The current Watch SE models feature a redesigned case with nylon composite material. It’s quite likely that Apple is considering making the entire Watch SE with a similar material.
Besides that, the popularity of the sub-$199 smartwatches might be irking Apple, especially from its arch-rival. Samsung’s base Galaxy Watch costs around $199, while Apple’s base Watch variant costs $249. Also, getting that price-competitive advantage against the upcoming Pixel Watch 3 could benefit Apple.
It’s not the first time Apple has used plastic for its products. A decade ago, the iPhone 5C arrived in a plastic chassis and bright colors. But in that attempt, Apple didn’t give a price cut to that iPhone and thwarted the dream of a ‘cheaper/affordable iPhone’ forever.
If we take that leaf from Apple’s product history, a similar take might happen for the next Apple Watch SE, which is a relatively affordable or base variant.
