Apple Watch Ultra 3 Teardown Reveals Titanium 3D-Printed Case — Made in China

November 2025 — Panda3dp.com Exclusive
Following the recent teardown of Apple’s iPhone Air, which revealed a 3D-printed titanium USB-C port, tech enthusiasts have now discovered that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 also features a 3D-printed titanium case — once again manufactured by a Chinese supplier.

A foreign user who purchased the new Apple Watch Ultra 3 disassembled the device and examined the case under a DSX2000 digital microscope, capturing high-resolution images that clearly showed layered textures characteristic of 3D printing. The surface lines were neat and uniform — consistent with Apple’s official claim that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch Series 11 premium models use cases 3D-printed entirely from 100% recycled titanium.

Chinese Metal Additive Manufacturers Behind Apple’s Titanium Components

According to experts familiar with Apple’s supply chain, the 3D-printed titanium cases are produced by Chinese metal additive manufacturing companies. Industry leaders such as BLT, Farsoon, Eplus3D, Bright Laser Technologies, Han’s Laser, Avimetal, EasyMFG, Joint Equipment, Daz Laser, Huayang New Materials, XTCERA, Wefactory, Jin Yuan Intelligent, HG Laser, and HP have all entered the 3C consumer electronics sector, racing to serve global brands.

While Apple has not disclosed the exact supplier, the presence of Chinese-made metal 3D-printed components once again highlights the country’s dominance in additive manufacturing capacity and precision engineering.

Binder Jetting or Laser Melting? Experts Debate

Online discussions remain divided over the specific printing technology used:

· Some believe Apple adopted binder jetting (BJT) for higher throughput and cost efficiency.

· Others argue that the watch case’s layer uniformity and strength are more consistent with Selective Laser Melting (SLM).

The debate continues, but experts agree that Apple’s layer bonding and surface control are exceptionally refined, producing a nearly seamless transition between the titanium body and the ceramic glass surface — visible only under magnification.

Scratch Resistance Surprises Reviewers

The teardown enthusiast also tested the scratch resistance of the 3D-printed titanium case by scraping it with a metal tool:

“Surprisingly, the anodized 3D-printed Ultra 3 performs almost as well as the traditionally machined Ultra 2. Both resist scratches up to Mohs hardness level 6, while the uncoated Ultra 1 shows marks at level 5.”

He added:

“Scratches or scuffs along the bezel edges are far more visible than those on flat surfaces — a characteristic also seen on the iPhone 17 Pro.”

Mixed Reactions Among Users

While most owners praised the new watch’s durability and sustainability, a few were skeptical:

“From solid titanium machining to 3D printing… that doesn’t feel like an upgrade to me.”
“I’d rather have a milled titanium case — it’s tougher and uses no recycled material. I’ve worked with 3D printing before; it’s not as durable as billet titanium.”

Despite such concerns, Apple’s engineering clearly demonstrates that metal 3D printing is now mature enough for large-scale consumer electronics production.

Efficiency and Scalability

For small, geometrically complex parts like watch cases, metal 3D printing offers unmatched efficiency:

“A single production tray can print dozens — even hundreds — of cases simultaneously,” noted one expert. “The overall throughput is exceptionally high.”

Photos from recent 3D-printing trade shows confirm similar watch-case prototypes produced in bulk using industrial-grade metal printers, further validating the technology’s scalability.

A Broader Trend in Apple’s Manufacturing Strategy

Beyond the Apple Watch, the iPhone Air’s USB-C port — also 3D-printed in titanium — has sparked industry-wide interest and speculation about Apple’s long-term plans for additive manufacturing integration across product lines.

As 3D printing continues to mature, Apple’s adoption signals a clear shift toward sustainable, high-precision digital manufacturing, with China’s additive manufacturing ecosystem positioned as a key enabler of this next-generation supply chain.