Thethird-generation Apple Watch SEmay be switching to a plastic shell with the aim of making it “more kid-friendly,” according toBloomberg’s Mark Gurman. While rumors of a plastic shell aren’t new, the child focus is, and would be a first for the company’s hardware design. Gurman suggests that the change “could allow for a better array of colors,” though there’s no indication yet that Apple plans to take advantage of this.
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All existing Apple Watches use aluminum, steel, or titanium shells. That keeps their price above what most parents are willing to spend, especially for something that could still get scratched or dented by kids while they’re playing. Switching to plastic likely wouldn’t improve durability, but would bring down production costs and make it easier to churn out different colors. Thecurrent SEis only available in three colors, namely Midnight, Starlight, and Silver. The most dramatic Watch color is actually the (PRODUCT)RED option for theSeries 9. TheUltra 2is only available in a single titanium shade.
Apple has previously only taken a few steps towards making Watches kid-friendly. The biggest is probablyApple Watch For Your Kids, previously known as Family Setup, which lets parents give their kids an Apple Watch without also giving them an iPhone, though the Watch has to be a cellular model. Apple has also introduced a handful of watchfaces kids might enjoy, such as Playtime and Snoopy.
A history in plastic
Apple is typically averse to putting out devices with plastic shells unless they’re accessories like AirPods. The company likes to preserve a “premium” image – and a high pricetag – by sticking to metal and glass whenever possible. It discontinued plastic MacBooks in 2012, and the only plastic iPhone ever released was 2013’s iPhone 5c. The latter product was famously colorful, available in white, pink, yellow, blue, or green.
The company might need plastic to keep Apple Watch sales growing. Many people are liable to hold onto asmartwatchfor several years, and while the Ultra lineup is relatively new, it’s targeted at a minority of people who can justify a $799 price for extra battery life and toughness.
