Next-Gen Apple Watch SE to Feature Plastic Build, Lower Price Expected

In an email newsletter this week called Power On, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that it was "likely" to move the next Apple Watch SE model from aluminum bodywork to something…

By Ishika Setia

August 7, 2024

2 min read

Comments

In an email newsletter this week called Power On, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said that it was “likely” to move the next Apple Watch SE model from aluminum bodywork to something made of hard plastic. The adoption of plastic does help shave down costs and make the smartwatch more appealing to parents who want to buy a connected wearable for their kids.

More About the Apple Watch SE

On top of making the Apple Watch SE more affordable, going plastic could mean that we see the device in some fun color options. The time you thought Apple had left behind when it ditched the iPhone 5c in favor of anodized aluminum and Gorilla Glass is here again, just now dressed in a literal rainbow. Plastic could give the range a more youthful look and distinguish it from other models of Apple Watch, which are mostly aluminum but have more sophisticated capabilities.

The campaign is Apple’s latest in a series of ads centered on the use of its smartwatch by younger individuals, having launched “Apple Watch For Your Kids” back in July. The Airtel campaign highlights benefits such as real-time location tracking, SOS buttons for parents, and activity monitoring. It also demonstrates Apple is clearly going after a younger audience, bolstered by that first-of-its-kind feature. This would fit well with their approach, offering a plastic device for children alongside the high-end models.

At present, it costs $250 for the Smart Apple Watch. A broader shift to plastic might also allow Apple to cut the price even more and make a better run at taking on some of those budget-friendly smartwatches that are dominating today’s market. The new price may make parents who are looking for a more affordable way to introduce their children to wearables sit up and pay attention too.

Despite this, the Apple Watch SE that follows is likely to provide an attractive mix of cost-effective material and color choices with features considered necessities, probably creating a potentially large choice point for families upon its release later in 2021.