A plastic version of the Apple Watch SE has been rumored for years.
An alleged project to produce a plastic version of the Apple Watch SE, primarily aimed at kids, is now thought to be stalled over design and cost issues.
A new report from Bloomberg backtracks on its own earlier report that Apple was planning on a next-generation Apple Watch SE that would use hard plastic rather than aluminum for the body. This was hoped to allow for a less-expensive version of the wearable to be produced.
The Apple Watch SE currently retails for $249, some $50 higher than Samsung’s similar low-cost smartwatch. The back case of the device was redesigned in 2022, utilizing a color-matching “nylon composite” material.
Apple’s environmentally-friendly policies have thus far precluded the use of materials like plastic whenever possible, leading the company to explore plastic-like alternatives. The search and formulation of alternative materials that are more recyclable has been a high priority within the company for years, despite the extra time and research this often requires.
According to the report, the team behind the Apple Watch SE updating project has run into snags on two issues: cost and appearance. The proposed plastic version of the Apple Watch SE at present costs about as much as the current metal/nylon version to produce, and the design team is said to be unhappy with the look of it.
A plastic version of the Apple Watch SE was first rumored last year, and the current version first debuted in the fall of 2022. It’s unclear if the design team will be able to overcome the current challenges in time for a new version to debut in late 2025.
At the time the first plastic prototypes of the Apple Watch SE were tested, the primary objective was to reduce the cost. The current version of the Apple Watch SE sells for $249, and a less-expensive version would have likely been aimed at parents wanting to give their children an Apple Watch.
Apple has thus far not specifically marketed a version of the Apple Watch for children, but the long-standing rumor of a plastic or otherwise cheaper version could be aimed at that market. A hard plastic casing could be more useful in a model specifically aimed at kids, with a basic set of features and easy location tracking for parents.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted in September of 2024 that a new version, alongside a third-generation Apple Watch Ultra, would ship before the end of 2025.
