Deciding if your child is ready for a smartphone is a difficult decision. Some say it should be in high school, while others get phones as early as preschool. In recent years, Apple has offered an alternative with its Apple Watch for kids, which gives children access to communication features on a wrist-worn device without all the apps. Now, Apple seems ready to go even further in that direction.
According to a report from Bloomberg, the tech giant is considering using plastic casings for the next generation Apple Watch SE. The move “could enable a better color palette” and potentially make it more “kid-friendly.”
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment, although the company recently added branding to its website promoting the Apple Watch as “great entertainment for kids.”
Apple’s efforts to make the $249 Apple Watch SE more appealing to families would mean the product further expands its role as a kind of pre-smartphone training wheels for kids. The Apple Watch SE offers many popular features similar to those of its $399 cousin, albeit with a smaller, less capable screen. Crucially, though, Apple is also including cellular and phone functionality on the budget device, which Apple’s marketing underscores: “It means independence for them. And peace of mind for you.”
Read more: Using an Apple Watch for the first time changed my relationship with self-care
More than a third of U.S. teenagers own an Apple Watch, according to a May survey by analyst firm Piper Sandler. CNBC reports that the wearable could be an alternative for students whose schools currently restrict smartphone use on campus.
Apple has not said when it plans to launch the next Apple Watch, but the original version launched in 2020 and the latest version came out in 2022, so an update in 2024 seems likely. Apple is also expected to launch a new version of its budget-friendly $429 iPhone SE sometime next year.
