There may very well be much more 3D-printed Apple merchandise coming sooner or later. In response to 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 may particularly change how Apple makes its watch casings in addition to iPhone enclosures. It is not 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 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 trying into 3D-printed aluminum proper now, it may presumably end in an general cheaper manufacturing course of and decrease beginning costs for iPhones. 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 value 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 coloration palette” for its iMac reveal later this yr.