As reported by Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, the anticipated plastic design for the upcoming Apple Watch SE is facing significant challenges. Internal disagreements are arising concerning the plastic housing, which may not be less expensive to manufacture after all.
Previously, Bloomberg indicated that Apple was contemplating a shift to a ‘rigid plastic’ casing for the next version of the Apple Watch SE, which could have permitted a lower entry price point.
However, Mark Gurman now states that the transition to plastic is ‘in serious jeopardy.’ The design team is dissatisfied with its appearance, and manufacturing it may not be more cost-efficient than the current aluminum options:
The redesigned, plastic Apple Watch SE I’ve discussed is also in significant jeopardy. The design team is not fond of the aesthetics, and the operations team struggles to reduce production costs compared to the existing aluminum chassis.
It remains uncertain whether Apple will navigate through these challenges. Regardless, with the Apple Watch SE marking its third anniversary this fall, a refresh is anticipated within the next six months, whether it utilizes plastic or not.
Gurman also emphasized that the next-generation Apple Watch Ultra will feature satellite texting capabilities and support for 5G connectivity.
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