Apple preps kid-focused Apple Watch SE 3 with colorful plastic casing

The next-gen Apple Watch SE (third generation) with a plastic casing remains in development, Mark Gurman reports for Bloomberg News. Gurman earlier this year reported that Apple is working on a plastic version of the SE which would come in bolder colors.

Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
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The idea is to potentially bring down the price with a cheaper material, while also making the device more kid-friendly. This could be good timing: Schools in the US and elsewhere are banning kids from using phones, and Apple is positioning its smartwatch as an alternative.

Though a new Apple Watch SE wasn’t part of last week’s launch event, I’m told that the product is still moving forward — potentially for next year. Apple’s manufacturing teams have been running into some cost and quality challenges with the shift to plastic, but they may have a freer hand to resolve the issues now that the transition from steel to titanium on higher-end watches is complete. Other than adding plastic, I expect the new SE to include a processor jump.