Apple Hoping to 3D-Print More Products - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

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."

MacRumors x Bloomberg Banner Cool

Related Roundups: Apple Watch 11, Apple Watch SE 3
Related Forum: Apple Watch

Popular Stories

3 4 24 Sport Band Refresh Feature

Sketchy Rumor Claims Apple Watch Series 12 Could Introduce Sensor in Band

Friday July 3, 2026 8:54 am PDT by
The Apple Watch Series 12 could ship with a new health sensor built directly into one of its bands, according to a sketchy rumor from a known leaker. The leaker known as "Kosutami" says the sensor will be injection-molded into a silicone band, and only a silicone band, apparently because Apple has not yet solved how to embed similar hardware in bands made from other materials. No detail was...
watchos 27

Siri AI Comes to Apple Watch in watchOS 27 Beta 3

Monday July 6, 2026 1:24 pm PDT by
With watchOS 27 beta 3, Apple added support for Siri AI and the Siri app, so Apple Watch users can now use the features right from their wrist. Apple said Siri AI would be coming to the watch back when watchOS 27 was first introduced, but the feature wasn't live until now. The Dynamic App Grid that pops up when the Digital Crown is pressed displays the Siri app in the center, and the...
Apple Watch Series 10 Jet Black

Apple Watch Series 13 Rumored to Mark the End of an Era

Wednesday July 8, 2026 1:29 pm PDT by
While the Apple Watch Series 12 is still a few months away, a new rumor suggests that next year's Apple Watch Series 13 will mark the end of an era. According to a recent post from a known leaker on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, the Apple Watch will be receiving a major redesign next year, and this will apparently include a new way of attaching bands to the watch. As a result, the ...

Top Rated Comments

Mac Fly (film) Avatar
21 weeks ago
Earl grey, hot.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vegetassj4 Avatar
21 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
21 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)
21 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)
21 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
21 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)

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors