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New reports suggest that the Apple Watch SE 3 is still in “active development” and will feature a new case.
According to Mark Gurman’On‘ in Bloomberg, “a new Apple Watch SE with a plastic casing remains in development,” and the company intends to reduce the price of the wearable device with this more affordable material. Gurman also anticipates that this new SE will come equipped with a new chip, but did not say if it would be the S10 chip, which is currently in the Apple Watch Series 10which will be available on Friday (September 20).
There were rumors that a Apple Watch SE 3 was to be announced at Apple’s ‘It’s Glowtime’ event on September 9, but that didn’t happen. Instead, Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 10 and introduced a new Satin Black finish for the existing Apple Watch Ultra 2.
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The current SE model is available from 2022, but it doesn’t have an ECG to help measure the heart’s electrical activity or an always-on display. A plastic case could lower the price of the SE and introduce features like ECG at a more affordable price.
Still, the current Apple Watch SE is still a great buy, especially as a Christmas gift for anyone new to Apple wearables.
How much could the price of the Apple Watch SE 3 drop?
Apple Watch SE has always been positioned as the most affordable model of the entire Watch line. It’s the entry point for anyone looking to explore the benefits of an Apple Watch for the first time, especially to see if it can help with their health and fitness. At $249 / £219, it’s a good price, but the SE faces fierce competition from wearables like Fitbit Versa 4which includes heart rate ECG and sleep tracking for $199.
Changing the material from aluminum to plastic could be a key step in helping to lower the price of the Apple Watch SE 3, potentially below $199, perhaps even towards $149. If Apple manages to incorporate ECG and sleep tracking into this new model, these efforts could make the Apple Watch SE 3 a very attractive purchase for someone on a budget.
