A shift in manufacturing could usher in an ‘Apple Watch Neo’ as a replacement for the SE line
Apple is exploring a move to 3D-printed aluminum for its future Apple Watch casings, according to the latest report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
The move would represent a massive scaling of the additive manufacturing process Apple debuted with the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the titanium versions of the Series 11 last year.
The shift is driven by a push for ‘material efficiency’, according to the report. While traditional CNC machining involves carving a case out of a solid block of metal—creating significant waste—3D printing builds the case layer-by-layer from metal powder.
Apple has already claimed this process uses 50% less raw material for its titanium models. And bringing this to aluminum, the metal used in the vast majority of Apple Watch sales, would significantly lower production costs and environmental impact.
A whole Neo world
This manufacturing pivot aligns with the recent launch of the MacBook Neo, which utilized a new, material-efficient aluminum process to hit a lower $599 price point.
Gurman even suggests that Apple may expand this ‘Neo’ branding to its smartwatches, too, potentially replacing the Watch SE with an Apple Watch Neo that leverages these cheaper, faster 3D-printing techniques.
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Beyond cost, Gurman also notes that 3D printing enables Apple to create complex internal textures that improve adhesion between the metal chassis and plastic antenna lines, directly enhancing water resistance.
It’s also noted that the process could eventually filter up to the iPhone—but for now, the Apple Watch seems like the testbed for the brand’s manufacturing switch. Only time will tell if the results will be displayed as part of the 2026 Apple Watch generation.
