Subj : A plastic Apple Watch SE could be in the works to help it hit the To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Tue Jul 09 2024 04:15:05 A plastic Apple Watch SE could be in the works to help it hit the Galaxy Watch FEs price tag Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2024 03:00:12 +0000 Description: Apple could return to plastic construction for its new device, but some feel like it betrays Apple's sustainability pledge. FULL STORY ====================================================================== The next Apple Watch SE could be primarily made out of plastic. Notable industry expert Mark Gurman claimed in his recent newsletter the tech giant is thinking about getting rid of the aluminum shell for the upcoming wearable. In its place will be a body made from a rigid plastic. The current SE model has some plastic in its construction, with a back case made of a nylon composite. But with his move, Apple would be fully embracing plastic as the primary material. What kind of plastic is unknown, but it could possibly be a type of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP for short). FRPs are notable for their high strength, lightweight nature, and noncorrosive properties. Other smartwatch brands like Garmin use the polymer in their devices while restricting nylon for their wristbands. Apple could follow a similar trajectory there, although this is admittedly speculation. Low-cost wearable Gurman theorizes the new plastic shell is being implemented in an effort to compete with the Galaxy Watch FE . Samsung revealed their wearable on June 24, which notably sports an aluminum frame. The Bluetooth model for the Galaxy Watch FE costs $199.99, while the LTE version has a $249.99 price tag in the United States. By comparison, the 2022 Apple Watch SE is $249.99. Apples move, assuming the company goes through with it, could knock prices down to $200, maybe even lower. This wouldnt be the first time the company has experimented with different constructions for their products. The iPhone 5c from all the way in 2013 famously had a polycarbonate design. However, it wasnt pure plastic, as it had a steel frame underneath. The 2024 Apple Watch SE may have no metal. It is entirely possible. Some of Garmins mid-range smartwatches have nothing but an FRP body. Analysis: Metal or plastic Initial online reactions are mixed, with some people on the Apple subreddit responding positively and others concerned about sustainability. Apple aims to be totally carbon neutral by 2030, so wouldnt opting for a plastic Apple Watch go against this mission? Its a complicated question to answer. For example, consider the production of soda cans and plastic bottles. According to Reuters , producing cans pumps about twice as much carbon into the atmosphere compared to plastic. Although plastic production may emit less carbon in the short term, the material doesnt last as long as metal, adding to pollution in the long term. Extending this idea to smartwatches creates a problem regarding device longevity. Would a plastic Apple Watch, however tough it may be, have a shorter shelf life than the device with aluminum? Will it be more susceptible to wear and tear, forcing people to buy the upgrade? Its hard to say for sure. Well just have to wait for more information, if and when the wearable is officially announced. As with every leak, take this information with a grain of salt. Be sure to check out TechRadar's list of the best Apple Watches for 2024 . You might also like The best cheap Apple Watch deals and sales for July 2024 iPhone 16 Pro Max: latest news, rumors and everything we know so far Tired of your AirPods' terrible call quality? It seems Apple's quietly fixed it ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/health-fitness/smartwatches/a-plastic-apple-watch-se -could-be-in-the-works-to-help-it-hit-the-galaxy-watch-fes-price-tag --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .