That’s actually exciting, since it could be a plastic Apple Watch SE for kids

It’s impressive how Apple manages to sell virtually the same Apple Watch design year after year, making only minor tweaks and adding a few features without significantly changing its appearance. While it’s perfectly acceptable since no one really needs to buy a new watch every year, it does make the annual updates a bit underwhelming.

However, there’s an intriguing rumor that might shake things up: a plastic Apple Watch SE. Last month, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman mentioned this possibility, but it hasn’t been a major topic of discussion since. Today, Gurman wrote in his Power On newsletter that Apple is considering using plastic for the watch to make it “more kid-friendly,” which could also lead to a wider range of colors. This idea could make for the most exciting Apple Watch update in years.

The Apple Watch is undeniably a stylish device, and the colors available are appealing. Yet, after years of variations on a muted color palette — something black-ish, silver, maybe a kind of pink, and Starlight (essentially silver with a hint of yellow) — it’s becoming a bit monotonous. Product Red is currently the only option if you want a bolder look.

Meanwhile, Apple has experimented with colors in other products, resulting in attractive designs like the iMac. The more colorful non-pro iPhones have been particularly delightful; the seafoam green iPhone 12 mini, for example, remains memorable. Imagine the potential if Apple decided to make the Watch SE more kid-friendly. While it might not feature the vibrant greens, oranges, and yellows reminiscent of 90s Nickelodeon (though I’d buy that in a heartbeat), mid-cycle colors like purple or banana-yellow iPhone refreshes could be within reach.

The catch is that we’re talking about the SE model, which, while a great smartwatch, lacks some features hard to forgo once you’ve used a “Series” watch. I could probably live without the extra health sensors, but I’d miss the faster on-device Siri and the double-tap gesture of my Series 9. However, if Apple adds one or both of these features to the Watch SE and includes some bold color options, I might just be tempted to opt for a more affordable wearable.