Apple Is Rumored to Be Using 3D Printing For Next Apple Watch

Sneakers, bikes, cameras…apple watches? 3D printing is being adopted more and more in the creation of consumer goods thanks to its ability to cut costs while allowing for unique and customized products. Now, a recent rumor has added yet another to the list. Apparently, technology giant Apple will be turning to titanium 3D printing in the creation of the mechanical parts of the next Apple Watch Ultra, to launch later this year.

Though it is just a rumor at this point (neither Apple now the allegedly involved 3D printing companies have confirmed), it does come from a source known for his reliability when it comes to predicting Apple trends. Ming-Chi Kuo is an analyst at TF International Securities, a financial services group in Asia-Pacific. He is known for gathering intelligence from contacts in Apple’s Asian supply chain and has had significant success in his predictions on future Apple products as well as a reliable source for Apple rumors. This latest one was published in Bloomberg at the end of last week and posits that Apple is making titanium mechanical parts for the 2H23 Apple Watch Ultra with 3D printing, using solutions from Farsoon and BLT.

The original Apple Watch Ultra is marketed as a watch for serious athletes (photo credits: Apple)

Using 3D Printing for the Apple Watch Ultra

This is actually not the first time that Apple has turned to 3D printing. The mobile devices giant may already be using solutions from Optomec, a company known for its Aerosol Jet technology designed for electronics additive manufacturing, as reported last year in Forbes. Furthermore, the company has previously been reported to use the technologies for prototyping. But if this rumor is true, it would mark the first time that 3D printing has been at the center of a new Apple release.