March 11, 2026 | 05:29 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Apple is reportedly developing 3D printing technology for aluminum casings that could be used in future iPhone and Apple Watch devices. The innovation aims to boost production efficiency while reducing raw material usage.
The company previously adopted 3D printing for the titanium casing of the Apple Watch Ultra 3, a process that saved raw materials, cut production costs, and allowed the use of 100 percent recycled titanium powder.
Similar methods are already applied to the titanium version of the Apple Watch Series 11 and USB-C port components in the iPhone Air. Apple now plans to expand this approach to aluminum.
According to technology journalist Mark Gurman, Apple’s manufacturing design team and operations department are actively developing the method.
“The company’s manufacturing design team is developing a way to print aluminum with 3D technology, which will improve the production efficiency of Apple Watch casings and, potentially one day, iPhone casings as well,” Gurman told 9to5Mac on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
Previously, Apple introduced a new aluminum manufacturing process for the MacBook Neo, which ensures a strong, durable chassis while reducing material usage. Although this method does not use 3D printing, it reportedly uses about 50 percent less aluminum than conventional processes.
Beyond cost and material efficiency, 3D printing opens up new possibilities for device design. On the Apple Watch Ultra 3, the technology allowed Apple to print textures on components that were difficult to forge, improving the water resistance of the cellular model’s antenna housing.
Similarly, for the iPhone Air, 3D printing enables the creation of thinner USB-C ports, which would be challenging with traditional manufacturing techniques.
Read: MacBook Neo vs MacBook Air: Things to Know Before Buying
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