Apple reportedly working on cheaper plastic Apple Watch SE model
The Apple Watch Series 10 could feature a display that’s much larger than the company’s current-generation model, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The smartwatch is expected to debut later this year as a successor to the Series 9 model that was unveiled in 2023, and may not arrive with previously reported changes like the rumored magnetic watchband mechanism. Meanwhile, a new Apple Watch SE with a plastic body is reportedly in the works as the company aims to compete with Samsung’s new Galaxy Watch FE model.
Apple Watch Series 10 gets larger screen and faster processor
In the latest edition of his weekly Power On newsletterGurman claims that the Apple Watch Series 10 will arrive with a larger display than the Series 9 model. It is expected to arrive in two size options, codenamed N217 and N218, with one of them said to feature the larger display.
The Cupertino company’s largest smartwatch model, the Apple Watch Ultra 2, comes in a single 49mm size option and features a 1.92-inch display. It’s currently unclear whether the Apple Watch Series 10 will come with a display larger than the Watch Ultra 2, though recently leaked CAD renders suggest the Series 10 model could feature a 2-inch screen.
The Apple Watch Series 10 will also come with the same processor that powers the third-generation Apple Watch Ultra model, Gurman said. While Apple Intelligence features won’t be coming to the company’s smartwatches in the near future, he suggested that the new chip will “lay the foundation” for artificial intelligence-driven features “in the future.”
Health Features on Apple Watch Series 10
Despite progress made with features like sleep apnea detection and blood pressure monitoring, they’re unlikely to arrive with the Apple Watch Series 10 models, according to Gurman, who says the company has encountered “some serious issues.” It’s also currently unclear how Apple will support the sleep apnea feature in the US, given that it’s tied to the blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring feature, which has been disabled due to an ongoing ban.
Likewise, the hypertension detection feature didn’t prove as reliable as the company would have liked during testing, meaning it may not be available on the device when it launches later this year. Instead, Gurman says the company “may delay the release until after this year” and display blood pressure trends (similar to body temperature monitoring) rather than accurate readings.
Apple Watch SE could get plastic casing to cut costs
In a bid to compete with the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Watch FE, which starts at $199 (roughly Rs 16,600), the iPhone maker is reportedly developing a new Apple Watch SE model that will feature a plastic body instead of aluminium.
Apple last launched an updated version of its Watch SE model in 2022, and a third-generation model could debut later this year. However, it’s currently unclear whether the switch to a new material for the smartwatch chassis will result in a lower price, though more details about the alleged device may emerge in the coming weeks ahead of its anticipated launch.
