Next Apple Watch SE Could Be Made From Plastic

The next-generation Apple Watch SE will feature a chassis made from a hard plastic material, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated in this week's Power On newsletter.

apple watch se gen 2
According to Gurman, it is "sounding increasingly likely" that the next-generation ‌Apple Watch SE‌ models will use a rigid plastic material instead of aluminum. Plastic can keep costs down, and could appeal to parents who are looking for an Apple Watch for their children.

Apple in July launched a new website that encourages parents to purchase a cellular Apple Watch for their children. The "Apple Watch For Your Kids" campaign highlights the benefits of Apple Watch for younger wearers, such as location tracking, options for calling parents, and activity tracking. Adults can set up watches for their kids with their own iPhone, and there are features for keeping it from being used during school.

With plastic, Apple could also offer the ‌Apple Watch SE‌ in a range of fun colors that are not possible with aluminum. Apple used to sell a plastic ‌iPhone‌ 5c, for example, and it came in vibrant blue, yellow, pink, and green colors. Plastic would also better differentiate the ‌Apple Watch SE‌ from the standard Apple Watch models as the current ‌Apple Watch SE‌ is basically a modified version of the aluminum Apple Watch without the latest features.

iphone 5c banner
The current ‌Apple Watch SE‌ models sell for $250, but shifting to plastic may allow Apple to offer the device at a lower price to better compete with companies that offer more affordably priced smart watches.

The ‌Apple Watch SE‌ could be refreshed as soon as this year.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch SE
Related Forum: Apple Watch

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Top Rated Comments

now i see it Avatar
8 months ago
From the $17,000 solid gold Edition Apple Watch to this Cracker Jack toy
Score: 43 Votes (Like | Disagree)
orbital~debris Avatar
8 months ago

With plastic, Apple could also offer the Apple Watch SE in a range of fun colors that are not possible with aluminum.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I present to you ‘nano-chromatic’ aluminium:



Attachment Image
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
breenmask Avatar
8 months ago
unapologetically forgetting iPhone 5C happened
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CygnusTC Avatar
8 months ago
So much for a stellar environmental record!
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Andres Cantu Avatar
8 months ago
Plastic for better margins for Apple, not for cheaper prices.

Same thing happened with the iPhone 5c. Ended up staying at the same price as the 5 would have been had it stayed in the line up.

I’ll believe a lower price until I see it.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bLackjackj Avatar
8 months ago

With plastic, Apple could also offer the Apple Watch SE in a range of fun colors that are not possible with aluminum.
Where did you get this information from? This is factually incorrect. Aluminum can be painted any colour.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)