Redesigned Plastic Apple Watch SE Reportedly in Jeopardy

Apple’s rumored plan to give the Apple Watch SE a plastic makeover may be on hold, according to the latest update from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The move, originally aimed at lowering costs and targeting younger users, is now facing unexpected hurdles.

The Original Plan

Last year, Gurman reported that Apple was exploring a redesigned Apple Watch SE with a plastic casing instead of the current aluminum shell. The goal was to bring the price down from $249 to around $200, making it more affordable for families and first-time smartwatch buyers.

The plastic version was expected to cut material costs in half, and it would have marked the first time Apple used plastic in a watch since the original model in 2015. Brighter, more playful colors were also in the works, with Apple positioning the new design as a kid-friendly alternative to a smartphone, especially as more schools restrict phone use.

What’s Changed?

In his latest newsletter, Gurman shared that the project has run into trouble. Both Apple’s design and operations teams are pushing back:

• The design team is reportedly unhappy with how the plastic version looks.
• The operations team is struggling to significantly cut production costs, meaning the plastic case might not save enough money to justify the change.

These challenges have cast doubt on whether the new plastic Apple Watch SE will ever make it to market.

What Happens Next?

Apple typically announces new Apple Watch models alongside the iPhone launch in September, so we’ll likely find out more later this year. For now, the future of a lower-cost, plastic Apple Watch SE is uncertain.

While the idea of a more affordable, kid-friendly Apple Watch made a lot of sense on paper, the execution appears to be trickier than expected. Apple still has time to explore other materials or tweak the design, but as of now, the plastic Apple Watch SE might not be happening anytime soon.