Apple Reportedly Developing Apple Watch SE With Plastic Casing - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Reportedly Developing Apple Watch SE With Plastic Casing

Apple is developing a new version of the low-cost Apple Watch SE with a plastic casing, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today claimed.

apple watch se 2022
Writing in this weekend's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman mentioned Apple's work on an Apple Watch SE that features a rigid plastic casing in lieu of anodized aluminum. He postulated that this may be one technique Apple may be planning to use to bring the cost of the Apple Watch SE down. The current Apple Watch SE sells for $249, but Samsung's cheapest rival watch, the Galaxy Watch FE, sells for $199.

Apple famously released the iPhone 5C with an "unapologetically" plastic casing in 2013, which was effectively a rehoused version of the iPhone 5. The polycarbonate exterior was available in various vibrant color options. The device was somewhat controversial because critics argued that the plastic casing was a step down from the luxurious metal finishes of previous models and some consumers felt that the device's price point was still too high for what was perceived as an inferior product.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch SE 3
Related Forum: Apple Watch

Popular Stories

homepod apple tv nearly ready

New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Reportedly 'Nearly Ready to Launch'

Tuesday July 28, 2026 7:14 am PDT by
New models of the Apple TV and HomePod mini are "nearly ready to launch," with Apple planning to release them "this fall," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In other words, the devices would likely launch around September or October. The report said both devices will be equipped with faster processors that support Siri AI. Earlier rumors claimed the next Apple TV would be equipped with...
airpods pro 3 orange

AirPods With Cameras Could Arrive Sooner Than Expected

Monday August 3, 2026 7:13 am PDT by
Apple's first camera-equipped AirPods could launch as soon as next month, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple has reportedly spent years working on camera-equipped AirPods under the code name "B798," as part of a broader AI wearables push that also encompasses smart glasses and a wearable AI pendant. That model had been on track for a 2026 release before slipping to 2027. In his...
Apple Glasses Pink Feature

Apple's Smart Glasses Could Become Its Next Health Device

Monday August 3, 2026 7:54 am PDT by
Apple wants its future glasses and headsets to double as health and fitness devices, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said the ambition traces back to Vision Pro's early development, when Apple weighed a number of ambitious health and fitness features for the headset. Among the ideas Apple explored was a Vision Pro-native take on...

Top Rated Comments

28 months ago
The plastic casing was perfect at that price point and it was a great phone. Lots of kids had them. They were very tough and could be dropped without causing damage most of the time. Plastic is a far better choice than aluminum for things that bounce off the ground.
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
28 months ago

Plastic cases are much better than metal ones for antenna reception. Besides being much lighter as well. And not getting so hot to the wrist touch…

And Apple should do other changes to the Watch as well to boost sales; unless for the Apple Watch Ultra: truly standalone (not requiring any other device to setup and use, albeit Mac dependency could be acceptable, but not iPhone or iPad dependency) and built-in camera, ideally telescopic rotating retractable camera inside the watch crown. Until that happens, the only alternative are Android watches. A shame for Apple!
A camera in a watch is even more useless than a camera in a tablet.
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WarmWinterHat Avatar
28 months ago
I'd be fine with that.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
contacos Avatar
28 months ago

Really? You have insights into Apple pricing plans you’d like to share?
No need. Years of experience with Apple.

Latest example: Non-Leather Case being charged for the same price even though the new material is much cheaper and basically falls apart by just looking at it
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mrkevinfinnerty Avatar
28 months ago
Unapologetically time to increase the price of the aluminium models
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sunapple Avatar
28 months ago
Unapologetically… compromised?
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)