According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the potential plastic design for the upcoming Apple Watch SE is facing significant challenges. Internal conflicts have arisen regarding the feasibility of using plastic housing, with concerns being raised about its cost-effectiveness.
In a previous report by Bloomberg, it was suggested that Apple was exploring the possibility of utilizing a “rigid plastic” material for the next-generation Apple Watch SE. This move was seen as a potential way to offer the product at a lower price point.
However, Mark Gurman now reveals that the transition to plastic is encountering obstacles. Design teams are dissatisfied with the aesthetics of the material, and it has been found that producing plastic casings is not necessarily more cost-effective than the current aluminum options.
And the redesigned, plastic Apple Watch SE I’ve written about is also in serious jeopardy. The design team doesn’t like the look, and the operations team is finding it difficult to make the casing materially cheaper than the current aluminum chassis.
It is yet to be determined whether Apple will successfully overcome these obstacles. However, it is worth noting that the Apple Watch SE will be approaching its third anniversary this fall, indicating that a potential update may be on the horizon in approximately six months, regardless of the material used in its construction.
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Additionally, Gurman has emphasized that the upcoming Apple Watch Ultra will feature support for satellite texting and 5G connectivity, further enhancing its capabilities and functionality.