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Apple Hoping to 3D-Print More Products

Apple is hoping to 3D-print aluminum device enclosures in the future, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Apple Watch SE 3 1
In today's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman revealed that Apple is pushing to move to 3D-printed aluminum enclosures for for future devices. The MacBook Neo relies on a new aluminum manufacturing process that saves as much metal as possible to drive down costs and speed up production.

3D-printing aluminum enclosures would similarly enable Apple to save material and increase efficiency. The process is likely to come to the Apple Watch first, and potentially the iPhone at a later date.

The process is a follow-up to Apple's 3D-printed titanium technique, which debuted with the Apple Watch Ultra 3. Apple's manufacturing design and operations departments are collaborating on the project.

Gurman added suggested that Apple may expand its new "Neo" branding to the Apple Watch SE in the future, making it the "Apple Watch Neo."

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Related Roundups: Apple Watch 11, Apple Watch SE 3
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Top Rated Comments

Mac Fly (film) Avatar
3 weeks ago
Earl grey, hot.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vegetassj4 Avatar
3 weeks ago
pffft....what would be impressive is if they could print more 3D products in the past.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Veinticinco Avatar
3 weeks ago
“3D-printing aluminum enclosures would similarly enable Apple to save material and increase efficiency.”

And yet, no mention of passing on costs savings to the consumer.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
3 weeks ago

Did you forget Molly said they didn’t compromise on the Neo? Built from scratch, no cheaper materials or processes. Incredible aluminium no less.
Clearly she was talking about a cheaper process, not worse, but cheaper. That was part of the savings for the Neo. It was an investment. The Neos sold now are likely lower margins to get to that price but as they amortize the development of that process, their costs go down.

Something similar could happen with 3D printed Watches and other devices.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
3 weeks ago

“3D-printing aluminum enclosures would similarly enable Apple to save material and increase efficiency.”

And yet, no mention of passing on costs savings to the consumer.
They did exactly that on the MacBook Neo. They could do so on other products if this makes a significant cost difference.

https://9to5mac.com/2026/03/06/apples-molly-anderson-explains-how-macbook-neo-halved-its-material-use/
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jlc1978 Avatar
3 weeks ago

“3D-printing aluminum enclosures would similarly enable Apple to save material and increase efficiency.”

And yet, no mention of passing on costs savings to the consumer.
OTOH, it allows them to contain cost increases.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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