The Next Apple Watch SE May Get a Colorful Plastic Design
The Apple Watch SE has been around for two generations and serves as a lower-spec Apple Watch alternative that’s more affordable but does nearly as good a job at core Apple Watch tasks . Now Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that that could soon change.
In his Power On newsletter, the reporter revealed that the next Apple Watch SE could get a revised design. Starting with the third-generation Apple Watch SE, which will launch alongside the iPhone 16, Apple may change the watch’s body from aluminum to hard plastic, as well as add a set of new color options. ThinkiPhone 5c, but for Apple Watch.
Gurman actually first started talking about a plastic Apple Watch SE in last month’s Power On , but now he’s got a clearer picture of the reason for the change.
It appears to be designed to make the Apple Watch more child-friendly. Hard plastic will certainly make it more durable and hopefully lighter. Apple may be hoping this will make the Apple Watch SE a viable phone alternative for kids who are too young to own a full-fledged tablet. Parents could set up an Apple Watch SE data plan for their children, who could then use the watch for phone calls and messages. Meanwhile, parents can rest easy with the watch’s location tracking features.
Gurman didn’t offer any word on pricing, although Apple may take this opportunity to cut the price of the Watch to $199 (from the current starting price of $249). Alternatively, the company could keep the same price but add more features, such as an always-on display or a larger screen.
We won’t know for sure until Apple holds an iPhone 16 announcement event, but this looks like a good way to breathe life into the Apple Watch SE. The new color options and lightweight form factor may even appeal to more than just kids: right now, the only way to add a little color to your Apple Watch SE is with a colorful band.