Next Apple Watch SE 3 could be made of plastic, says report

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While most Apple Watch fans are focused on the Apple Watch Series 10 or X (not sure what naming convention the company will use) and the Apple Watch Ultra 3, the budget Apple Watch SE has a separate fan base.

According to a new report, Apple is rumored to be doing something different with the third-generation Apple Watch SE.

Apple is not known for using sub-par materials in its products. However, we still remember the day the Cupertino firm launched the plastic-made iPhone 5c.

Of course, the phone failed miserably. After a rough start, the company quickly shifted its focus to producing “SE” iPhones and Apple Watches.

According to the latest edition of Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter, the company seems to be leaning toward plastic again for the upcoming Apple Watch SE 3. 

Apple is testing new material for the Apple Watch SE 3

The report states that the company is testing the new material and is not yet close to the mass production stage. The current Apple Watch SE generation 2 is made of aluminum, like the premium Apple Watch models. 

According to the report, Apple is apparently looking for ways to reduce the cost of the Apple Watch SE 3 by replacing the aluminum shell with rigid plastic. 

We can’t say for sure why Apple is considering reducing the price of its SE smartwatch, but if we had to take a wild guess, it could be because Samsung’s Galaxy Watch FE is priced lower.

For reference, the Galaxy Watch FE costs $199, while the budget Apple Watch SE starts at $249. 

The report doesn’t include any more details other than what we covered earlier. However, we need to remember that not all Apple prototypes see the light of day, so there’s a good chance that we may not see a plastic Apple Watch SE 3. 

Of course, Apple could launch the next Apple Watch SE 3 during its fall event in two months, alongside the iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10, and the Watch Ultra 3. But we are sure we will get more info ahead of the launch – so stay tuned. 

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