Apple is reportedly looking into 3D printing aluminum iPhones and Apple Watches

There might be much more 3D-printed Apple merchandise coming sooner or later. In line with Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Apple is exploring methods to 3D print aluminum to make the manufacturing processes for iPhones and Apple Watches extra environment friendly.

Gurman reported that this new manufacturing course of might particularly change how Apple makes its watch casings in addition to iPhone enclosures. It isn’t the primary time Apple has tapped into 3D printing, since each the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Sequence 11 have been partially constructed with 3D-printed titanium that is 100% recycled. Extra just lately, Apple used its 3D printing course of to create the titanium USB-C port for the iPhone Air, which was touted as thinner, stronger and extra environmentally pleasant.

Whereas Apple is reportedly solely wanting into 3D-printed aluminum proper now, it might presumably lead to an general cheaper manufacturing course of and decrease beginning costs for iPhones. Taking a look at Apple’s just-announced MacBook Neo, the corporate launched a brand new manufacturing course of that saves on the quantity of aluminum used, serving to to realize the $599 beginning worth for its newest entry-level laptop computer. Just like the colourful MacBook Neo, Gurman additionally reported that Apple is planning to make use of a “refreshed shade palette” for its iMac reveal later this 12 months.