Apple reportedly developing a cheaper version of the Watch SE with a plastic body

At the recent iPhone 16 event, Apple also announced new Watch Series 10 models, as well as new color options for the Watch Ultra 2, which also comes with a Milanese band made of titanium. What we didn’t see was a new Apple Watch SE model (the brand’s affordable series), which has not been updated since 2022. According to previous reports, Apple’s new plastic-bodied Watch SE model is still in development. It is said to be cheaper than the existing 2022 model and will reportedly be launched next year.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is still working on a plastic Watch SE model, as he noted in an earlier version of his PowerOn newsletter. While previous reports only revealed the existence of such a model, this report gives us more details about why it exists and subtly hints at its target audience.

Gurman said in the latest PowerOn newsletter that a new Apple Watch SE model with a plastic body (or shell) is still in development. It is not clear whether this will be the only model to be launched, or whether Apple will also launch a standard metal-bodied version of the watch. What the source is sure of is that the plastic model will come in “bold colors” reminiscent of 2013’s iPhone 5c, which took a similar approach to launching an affordable iPhone.

However, times are changing, and Gurman said Apple might be able to attract a younger audience with its colorful new Apple Watch SE models. An affordable watch might also be a good idea in US schools, which have begun to ban smartphone use during school hours. Therefore, an affordable Apple Watch (with cellular connectivity, of course) could become a very attractive option for students.

While the plastic Watch SE model is still in development, things are moving forward and sources say the model could launch next year. The switch to plastic also brings some quality-related issues, but all of these issues are expected to be resolved at a faster pace once Apple completes the transition to titanium for its high-end models.

Gurman said the plastic Watch SE will also get a “processor upgrade,” though it’s unclear what processor the new model will use. The current Apple Watch SE (2022) is launched with a dual-core Apple S8 SiP. The Apple Watch Series 8 models also feature the same processor, but with larger display/case options (with Always-on), sapphire crystal, and the ability to record electrocardiogram (ECG) readings.