The Apple Swatch?

A tech superstar adopting plastic as a material of choice typically would be met with opprobrium in today’s world. But when that brand is Apple, the normal rules don’t seem to apply.

Rumor has it . . .

There’s a cottage media industry out there that has built up around anything Apple — news, rumors, even a sneeze in the C suite. The chatter right now stems from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman who wrote in his Power On newsletter recently that the company may be replacing the aluminum body on its Apple Watch SE 3 with rigid plastic. That has stirred a flurry of speculation within the Apple commentariat, much of which is intrigued by that Swatchy switch.

Kid-friendly smartphone alternative

The Mac Observer notes that this third iteration of the Apple Watch SE could be launched as a smartphone alternative for kids. The use of a plastic casing would reduce cost — retailing below $200, according to the Mac Observer citing Gurman — as well as allow the use of a vast and vivid kid-friendly color palette. And, as noted by Newsbytes, “while some might perceive plastic as less premium, it can be quite durable and resistant to scratches and dings.”

What will Apple do?

In its reporting, 9to5Mac does ask the question we would expect: Is the tradeoff worth it? The media outlet proposes a couple of potential scenarios that a plastic casing might inspire.

“With Apple likely switching to a plastic body, Apple will obviously save money in manufacturing; however, it remains to be seen if Apple will pass those savings down to customers. I could see two different routes with the upcoming Apple Watch SE,” writes Michael Burkhardt in 9to5Mac.

There is ample speculation on the bells and whistles of the Apple Watch SE 3, which I will let you discover on your own through a Google search, should you be interested. What caught my attention amid all this Apple “news,” is how so much of the coverage is echoing what we have been saying endlessly: Plastic is a versatile, durable, and cost-effective material. In a word or three: Plastic is fantastic.