Apple Considers 3D-Printed Aluminium Enclosures for Watch and iPhone

Apple Eyes 3D-Printed Aluminium Enclosures for Watch and iPhone

Apple reportedly plans 3D-printed aluminium enclosures for future Apple Watch models and iPhone models, according to Mark Gurman in Bloomberg's Power On newsletter. The report says the company's manufacturing design team and operations department are exploring ways to use 3D printing for aluminium enclosures, a shift that could affect production of wearables and smartphones. Apple has not confirmed the development. The report follows a flurry of device launches last week that included the refreshed MacBook Air lineup with the Apple Silicon M5 chip, the new low-cost MacBook Neo, and the MacBook Pro 2026 featuring the M5 Max and M5 Pro processors.

The MacBook Neo, described by the report as newly launched in India and other global markets on March 4, reportedly leverages a new aluminium manufacturing process. The process is said to help Apple save on material use and reduce manufacturing costs. Apple officials have not publicly commented on the 3D-printed enclosure plan for watches or iPhones, and the company did not respond to requests for comment about the Power On newsletter.

• 3D-printed aluminium enclosures for future Apple Watch models and iPhone models, per Gurman
• MacBook Neo uses an aluminium manufacturing process intended to cut metal usage and costs
• Apple Watch Ultra 3 previously used a 3D-printed titanium enclosure
• Watch Ultra 3 supports satellite and 5G connectivity with LTPO3 display and long battery life
• Watch Ultra 3 battery life 42 hours under daily use and up to 72 hours in Low Power mode
• Watch Ultra 3 price at launch stood at 799 dollars with Natural Titanium and Black Titanium options

Apple's flagship smartwatch, the Apple Watch Ultra 3, was introduced globally last year in September. It ships with satellite and 5G connectivity and features an always-on LTPO3 wide-angle OLED display that can refresh at 1Hz. Apple states the battery life as 42 hours under normal use and up to 72 hours in Low Power mode. The Watch Ultra 3 is offered in two case options, Natural Titanium and Black Titanium. The company also emphasizes a new sleep score system and hypertension notifications.

The broader context remains that Apple announced several devices last week, continuing its pattern of mixing hardware refreshes with potential manufacturing innovations. The MacBook Neo is part of the same wave of products as the refreshed MacBook Air lineup and the higher-end MacBook Pro 2026. While the 3D-printed aluminium enclosure plan could mark a shift in how Apple constructs devices, the absence of confirmation from Apple leaves room for speculation pending official statements or future disclosures by the company.