It’s impressive that Apple keeps selling people almost the same design of the Apple Watch year after year, adding a few features here and there, but barely changing the look. That’s fine too – no one actually needs to buy a new watch every year, but it does make annual updates tedious.
But there are rumors that an upcoming product could bring some excitement: the plastic Apple Watch SE. I found this rumor interesting last month Bloomberg’Mark Gurman let it go but didn’t think much more about it after that. However, today he wrote to his Open Newsletter subscribers claim that Apple is using plastic to make the watch “more kid-friendly,” adding that this “allows for better color options.” Then something clicked. This has the potential to be the most exciting Apple Watch update in years.
Look, the Apple Watch is a great-looking device. I even like the colors Apple used. But I’ve gotten a little tired of the same variations on pastel color palette themes over the years. Something a little dark. silver. Maybe a pink one. There’s also Starlight (aka silver, but with a hint of noncommittal yellow). If you want something bolder, product red is the only option.
Elsewhere, Apple has been improving colors to create a beautiful iMac. Some of the more colorful non-pro iPhones are also a delight – thinking about the seafoam green iPhone 12 mini I owned this phone still brings to mind more than I’d like to admit. Imagine the consequences of Apple deciding to make the Watch SE more kid-friendly. I’m sure it won’t be the eye-popping greens, oranges, and yellows of 90s Nickelodeon (oh man, would I buy that though), but something like those mid-cycle purple or banana yellow iPhone updates probably won’t be at all possible.
The only problem is, this is the SE we’re talking about; it’s a great smartwatch in many ways, but it’s missing something that makes it hard to say goodbye once you get on the mainline “series” watch train. I’d mostly take or keep the extra health sensor, but I don’t think I can give up Siri or the double-tap gesture on the Series 9’s faster device. But add one or both of these features to the Watch SE, along with some bold color options, and who knows – I might just be in the market for a cheaper wearable.
