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Apple Watch SE May Come in Plastics and Bright Colors

Apple may be thinking of the watch as a pre-smartphone training-wheels device for kids.

Headshot of Ian Sherr
Headshot of Ian Sherr
Ian Sherr Contributor and Former Editor at Large / News
Ian Sherr (he/him/his) grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, so he's always had a connection to the tech world. As an editor at large at CNET, he wrote about Apple, Microsoft, VR, video games and internet troubles. Aside from writing, he tinkers with tech at home, is a longtime fencer -- the kind with swords -- and began woodworking during the pandemic.
Ian Sherr
2 min read
Apple Watch SE Review

Apple may be moving to make its Apple Watch SE, shown here, more appealing to families.

 Lisa Eadicicco/CNET

Deciding whether your kid is ready to get a smartphone is tough. Some say it should be in high school, while others are giving phones to preteens. For the past few years, Apple has offered an alternative with its Apple Watch for kids setup, giving children access to communications features on a wrist-worn device without all the apps. Now, Apple appears ready to lean into that even further.

The tech giant is considering plastic casings for its next generation Apple Watch SE, according to a report by Bloomberg. The move "could allow for a better array of colors," making them potentially "more kid-friendly."

Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment, though the company recently added branding to its website marketing the Apple Watch as "a great call for kids."

Apple's moves to make its $249 Apple Watch SE more appealing to families would represent a further embrace of the product's role as a sort of pre-smartphone training-wheels for kids. The Apple Watch SE offers many popular features similar to its $399 cousin, with a smaller, less-capable screen. But, critically, Apple does include cellular data and phone call capabilities with the budget device, which helps underscore Apple's marketing that, "it's independence for them. And peace of mind for you." 

Read more: Using an Apple Watch for the First Time Transformed My Relationship With Self Care

More than a third of US teens own an Apple Watch, according to a May survey from analyst firm Piper Sandler. CNBC reports that the wearable may offer an alternative for students whose schools are now limiting smartphones on campus.

Apple hasn't said when it intends to launch its next Apple Watch, though the original version launched in 2020, and the latest arrived in 2022, making a 2024 update seem likely. Apple is also expected to launch a new version of its budget $429 iPhone SE sometime in the next year.