Diopter
macrumors regular
For sure, but what I mean is: they might just be prototyping various options, but Gurman will report it as if it’s definitely what they’re going to launch.
It’s all a bit tiresome.
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Apple Watch SE With Plastic Design Now in 'Jeopardy' for Two Reasons
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It’s all a bit tiresome.
sw1tcher
macrumors 604
I'd offer another reason: Apple is ditching the SE name (e.g. iPhone SE). What we'll get is an Apple Watch series Xe (e.g. Series 10e)
Design and lowering the cost is something Apple 🍎 can easily control and fix. I expect this to be out before back to school or at the iPhone event.
And another {Gurman leaker} bites the dust!
Some of these fake rumors… Apple must have some VERY convincing people to lead these leakers to believe the nonsense they’re communicating is a real product. If I was going to risk my job to provide a juicy scoop, it wouldn’t be something like “cameras in watches” or “plastic watches”.
Meanwhile the folks REALLY in the know kept their lips sealed about the ship date of the M3 Ultra until it was released.
thefrost
macrumors 6502a
The way I see it is getting a child an Apple Watch INSTEAD of a smartphone. A child with only a cellular Apple Watch can be tracked by their parents, and you can call and text them if necessary etc. But without the worry of them having a web browser and social media etc. It's kind of the best of both worlds for parents who might be thinking of getting their child a smartphone for those reasons but also don't want them to have a smartphone yet for those reasons. I feel like kids are getting their own smartphones younger and younger nowadays, which yeah is not good, would be better to see it go this direction if you're gonna start to get your child technology.
artifex
macrumors 6502a
Are they trying to make a cheap plastic one to compete with the $180 Fitbit Ace for kids? Admittedly those are pretty cute, but less sophisticated than the SE in terms of software and display, and I don't think the Ace stuff has geofencing so you can see when your kid gets to school and all that. As an owner of a Fitbit Charge 6, I'd say their app and software in general has issues. I don't mind so much because if my watch doesn't sync I just don't get my steps updated or whatever, but I wouldn't accept oopsies if I relied on it to track a family member.
I think the current SE at $300 (with cell capability) is a good value already. If you chose a $200 plastic one instead and planned to keep it for 3 years, that's less than 3 bucks a month you'd save.
I think the current SE at $300 (with cell capability) is a good value already. If you chose a $200 plastic one instead and planned to keep it for 3 years, that's less than 3 bucks a month you'd save.
Considering what the design team has been putting out, it probably looked awesome.
dampfnudel
macrumors 603
Yeah, Apple doesn’t do cheap. They do making it for cheaper for themselves to manufacture while still charging a premium price. Unfortunately, they know marketing can’t overcome a cheaper looking product that still commands a premium price. Consumers aren’t that blind.
Apple has nearly 50 years working with plastics, from yellowing Apple II and Mac cases to brittle PowerBook hinges and scuffing polycarbonate on iPods and the iPhone 5c. I don't know that there is a good way to address these issues and make a product that is durable enough to take several years of use. That's the real problem, that plastic won't hold up over time. They obviously have machines in their labs that simulate wear.
scrapesleon
macrumors 68000
jz0309
macrumors P6
Yea, back paddling on his own rumor… and his reasons (design team doesn’t like the looks and ops team can’t find the savings) are plain bogus at this point.
I am sure that he has some “leakers” within Apple, but Apple knows who they are and are happy about some, others they are planing on purpose.
And there is no way that the leakers have access to each and every product/R&D project…
A smartwatch with plastic-case has better antenna recepcion than metal-cases, weights less and gets less hot.
QCassidy352
macrumors G5
I think a smartwatch can be a good alternative to a smartphone for kids who are not ready for a smartphone yet. Allows parents to stay in touch with them without all the social media and other distractions.
Teaching kids to eat healthy is great, but it’s not an either/or (or even really related) with having a smartwatch or not.
Plastic is crap, less recyclable, less durable, more smudgy. The iPhone 5C routinely had issues with the display separating from the rear housing around the corners as the plastic couldn't maintain its tight tolerances around the edges. Those circle cut out cases also lead to the phone plastic having discoloration permanently visible. No clue why people would want to take a step backward in terms of build quality.
And what I heard from industrial talk is that in addition, Apple wants to put the latest Apple Silicon chip on the Apple Watch Series 11e (it won’t be called SE, they are going with the “e”naming for essentials). This is what’s driving up the cost. The biggest factor is that this will be first Apple Watch lineup to support Apple Intelligence, but they need to optimize the software first without raising the system requirement.
mazz0
macrumors 68040
That’s a shame, I’d quite like a Watch modelled after the iPhone 5C
I wouldn’t have though adding plastic to their supply line would fit into their ‘environmentally responsible’ model anyway.
SkippyThorson
macrumors 68000
This is the best take. I can’t think of a single plastic device that, at the end of its useful life, I can look at it and say “wow that really held up nicely.”
Not only doesn’t this fit in with their eco-friendly image, but is a huge step backwards in their bit to eliminate plastics and other negative-eco-impact materials from everything; from products to packaging.
Sure this would have been a great device for kids or an entry-level device, but isn’t that why the SE model exists? There’s no reason why they can’t just keep an old model around or withhold features from the lower-cost option to keep entry price down.
My first thought was how that Ion-X screen doesn’t resist scratches to this day…