Kuo: New Apple Watch Ultra to Launch This Year With 3D-Printed Parts

[MacRumors]

The second-generation Apple Watch Ultra will launch later this year and feature 3D-printed mechanical parts, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

In a post published on Medium earlier today, Kuo said that his latest survey of Apple's supply chain indicates that "Apple is actively adopting 3D printing technology." Specifically, "some of the titanium mechanical parts of the 2H23 new Apple Watch Ultra will be made by 3D printing."

The components could include the Digital Crown, Side Button, and Action Button, as these are the only mechanical parts of the Apple Watch Ultra. These titanium parts are currently CNC machined.

The change has the potential to improve production time and reduce costs. If shipments from suppliers go well, Kuo believes more Apple products will adopt 3D printing technology in the future.

Until now, only Bloomberg's Mark Gurman had said that Apple would release a second-generation Apple Watch Ultra alongside the Apple Watch Series 9 models later this year. Thus, Kuo's latest report seems to add further credibility to the belief that the Apple Watch Ultra will follow the same annual update cycle as the standard Apple Watch series.

Article Link: Kuo: New Apple Watch Ultra to Launch This Year With 3D-Printed Parts

 

[dantracht]

Not sure how I feel about this.

 

[Premium1]

Reduce costs.... Just not for the consumers.

 

[PsykX]

That's some cool tech, but is it useful for me ?
They can do pretty much whatever they want with their industrial processes, the question is "How will this impact me, if I buy an Apple Watch Ultra?"

 

[Premium1]

Can't wait for the day I can fire up my 3D printer and 3D print an entire smartwatch lol.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I don't have a good feeling about this. However, I just hope it's still durable and rugged!

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

If Apple can 3D-print, we can too! Let’s modify and personalize our AW Ultra’s 🤡

 

[macsplusmacs]

Apple Watch Ultra 2040:

Apple just sends you the watch plans and your print out your watch on your 3D printer that is next to your Kurieg 9000

 

[orbital~debris]

I don't think I really understand the difference between manufacturing a specific/custom element of a device and 3D printing it, in this context.
Is the difference that one is cut from a block of material, while the other is built up from a base material?

 

[BGPL]

Reducing costs with 3D printed parts on their flagship, most robust watch for the most serious outdoorsman. Makes sense.

 

[azentropy]

Reduce costs.... Just not for the consumers.

Of course, however I actually think the Apple Watch Ultra is one of the better priced products in Apple's lineup. It is just too "bulky" for me to wear daily and I wish they would release a smaller version.

 

[jarman92]

I don't think I really understand the difference between manufacturing a specific/custom element of a device and 3D printing it, in this context.
Is the difference that one is cut from a block of material, while the other is built up from a base material?

Yes.

 

[jz0309]

Interesting, technology evolution in another area…
And yes, reduce cost to manufacture the watch so price for us can stay as is

 

[Unity451]

The change has the potential to improve production time and reduce costs. If shipments from suppliers go well, Kuo believes more Apple products will adopt 3D printing technology in the future.

Subtext: The change will increase profits instead of making the devices more affordable to customers.

 

[boyreinvented]

There’s a huge difference between using an industrial metal 3D printer and a Ultimaker printing plastic as a hobby.

 

[dontwalkhand]

Apple Watch Ultra 2040:

Apple just sends you the watch plans and your print out your watch on your 3D printer that is next to your Kurieg 9000

For $3500.

 

[Dydegu]

Neat

 

[Mr. Dee]

I see Tim Cook printing out a bunch of parts at home just to cut cost even more and pass the cost to us.

 

[randyhudson]

Which is more durable? Seems like the obvious kind of question to answer in this type of article.

 

[Bleuperrr]

I don't think I really understand the difference between manufacturing a specific/custom element of a device and 3D printing it, in this context.
Is the difference that one is cut from a block of material, while the other is built up from a base material?

That's basically correct. One shaves a block down to the end product the other builds the product up using basically metal dust 3D printed to make the part. The cool thing with 3D printing is you can make parts that are impossible to make with CNC. 3D printed titanium is also stronger in tensile strength. Not to mention the wasted material CNC has. I'm surprised Apple hasn't done this sooner honestly.

 

[city_17]

3D printing metal is a much more expensive and advanced industrial process than printing your average plastic - so its a little more involved than Apple’s running a few rooms of Prusas.

 

[Premium1]

Of course, however I actually think the Apple Watch Ultra is one of the better priced products in Apple's lineup. It is just too "bulky" for me to wear daily and I wish they would release a smaller version.

Agree. Would love a smaller version (or even a thinner version with good battery life). That and add solar charging like a lot of the other high end fitness watches have and this would be a killer device.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

I want a Ultra but not to the point of spending $800 on it. I hope with moving to 3D printed parts it reduces the price but I doubt it.

 

[Razorpit]

Whatever happened to liquid metal? I have tons of (worthless) stock from that rumor. 😄

 

[Pinkyyy 💜🍎]

The change has the potential to improve production time and reduce costs. If shipments from suppliers go well, Kuo believes more Apple products will adopt 3D printing technology in the future.

Oh man I’m not really sure how I feel about this. Can’t imagine a 3D-printed iPhone for example. And no one knows for sure how durable would it be.
And oh, to reduce costs huh ? This for sure doesn’t apply to us customers.

Like come on, they have already used the “we’re protecting the environment” argument as to why they removed the power adapter from the iPhone boxes, which indeed saved them lots of costs, but instead forced us customers to buy it separately.
Tim Apple is getting more greedy it seems like.