Back in early July, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman started a rumor that Apple planned to make its next Apple Watch SE in plastic. Which seemed like an intriguing but odd notion… until this month, when the same leaker revealed why this is slated to happen.
Apple, Gurman claims in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, is redesigning the SE in plastic as part of an effort to make the product “more kid-friendly.” Aside from potential impacts on cost and durability, the plastic material “could allow for a better array of colors.”
That’s an appealing prospect. In the past, Apple has occasionally used cheaper versions of its products as a testing ground for brighter, more vivid color palettes: notably the “unapologetically plastic” iPhone 5c, which came in emerald green, sapphire blue, coral red, and a glorious bright yellow, and the later and similarly vivid iPhone XR.
But this principle has never been applied to the Apple Watch, despite the presence of a budget-focused SE model since 2020. The SE comes in Midnight, Starlight, and silver, with no fun alternative finishes to choose from. Perhaps this is because the iPhones 5c and XR were felt to be unsuccessful (particularly the former), or perhaps Apple wanted to maintain the Apple Watch’s premium, classy image. Whatever the reason, it looks like the plan is about to change.
The Apple Watch SE was introduced in 2020 alongside the Series 6 as a lower-cost alternative starting at $279. Compared to that model, the SE was missing several sensors (ECG, blood-oxygen) and didn’t have newer features such as the always-on display and U1 ultra-wideband chip. It received a minor update in 2022 with a newer processor and a lower $249 starting price, and it still lacks many of the newer Apple Watch features, including a larger display, temperature sensor, and double-tap gesture.
We’re expecting to see Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch SE 3rd generation, running watchOS 11, launch in September 2024 at the company’s Glowtime event (see how to watch the September event). If you’re in the market for a new Apple Watch, see our Apple Watch buying guide, round-up of the best Apple Watch deals, and advice on whether you should buy Apple Watch now or wait. You might also be interested in what other new Apple products are coming this year, and when is the next Apple event.
Author: David Price, Editor, Macworld
David has been writing about technology for well over two decades, and got on board the Apple hype train when covering the original iPhone launch in 2007. He is an enthusiastic Apple Watch evangelist and feels that the HomePod is misunderstood.