Apple’s cheaper Watch SE with plastic casing in development: report
During its recent iPhone 16 launch event, Apple also announced new Watch Series 10 models, along with a new color option for the Watch Ultra 2, which also gets a new Milanese titanium loop band. What we didn’t see was a new Apple Watch SE model (the brand’s affordable series), which hasn’t been updated since 2022. According to a previous report, Apple’s new Watch SE model with a plastic casing is still in development. It would be more affordable than the existing 2022 model and is reportedly set to launch next year.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple still busy about the plastic Watch SE model, as hinted at in an earlier edition of his PowerOn newsletter. While the earlier report only revealed the existence of such a model, this report gives us more details about why it exists, with subtle hints about its target audience.
Gurman states in his latest PowerOn newsletter that a new Apple Watch SE model with a plastic casing (or case) is still in development. It is not clear whether this will be the only model to see the light of day or whether Apple will launch a standard metal version of the watch alongside it. What the source is certain of is that this plastic model will have “bold colors” reminiscent of the iPhone 5c from 2013, which took a similar approach to delivering an affordable iPhone.
Times are changing, however, and Gurman suggests that Apple may be looking to reach a much younger audience with its colorful new Apple Watch SE model. An affordable watch could also be a good idea for American schools, which have banned smartphones during school hours. Therefore, an affordable Apple Watch (with cellular connectivity, of course) could prove to be a very attractive option for schoolchildren.
While the plastic Watch SE model is still in development, things are moving forward and the source suggests it could launch next year. The switch to plastic has also come with some issues regarding quality, but things are expected to pick up speed once Apple completes the switch to titanium for its premium models.
Gurman suggests that the plastic Watch SE will also feature a “processor jump,” though it’s unclear which processor the new model will use. The current Apple Watch SE (2022) launched with a dual-core Apple S8 SiP. The Apple Watch Series 8 models also featured the same processor, but with larger display/case options (with Always-on), sapphire crystal glass, and the ability to record electrocardiogram (ECG) readings.
