Days after the successful unveiling of the Apple Watch Series 10 last week, another report says the Apple Watch SE 3 scheduled for 2025 could arrive with a plastic case.
A new Apple Watch SE model and a new Ultra (Not counting that amazing new black color) were notable absentees at Apple's “It's Glowtime” event last week. Post-event reports indicate we can expect both a new Apple Watch Ultra 3 and a new version of the budget model next year, with the latter potentially marking a significant design shift from the previous version.
For the second time this year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has indicated that Apple is working on a new version of the SE that will ditch the aluminum casing in favor of plastic. But what could that mean, and why is Apple making the detour?
In an article published in his Power On Newsletter on Sunday, Apple’s top expert reiterated his July report, in which he claimed that “a new plastic-cased Apple Watch SE remains in development.” Gurman claims that Apple is developing “a plastic version of the Watch SE in bolder colors.” The idea, he says, is to reduce the cost of the device while making it more kid-friendly.
Given last week's absence, Gurman says the new SE is “still moving forward” and teased that it could be released next year. That coincides with By Ming-Chi Kuo last week's report said that “new 2025 Apple Watch models will include the Ultra 3 and SE upgrade versions.”
Life in plastic?
While a plastic Apple Watch may seem like a downgrade, Apple has surprised us with this material before.
Apple introduced the colorful iPhone 5C in 2013 and sold millions of them. Perhaps more relevantly, the Apple Watch SE already features plastic you probably didn't even know existed. The chassis was modified in 2022 to feature “a redesigned matching back cover made of a nylon composite material.”
There aren't many details about the new Apple Watch SE 3, but Gurman notes that the SE should also have an upgraded processor when it comes out next year. If the SE 3 debuts alongside a new Series 11 or Apple Watch Ultra 3, it's possible it will inherit the new S10 chip that powers the Series 10.
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