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Apple Watch Uses Chip Manufactured on Samsung's 28-Nanometer Process

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Since the Apple Watch was released on April 24, several teardowns from iFixit, Chipworks, and ABI Research have divulged information on the inner workings of the device, detailing everything from battery capacity to the manufacturers who created the miniaturized parts for the device.

A report last week took a deep look at the S1 package that runs the Apple Watch, pointing towards 512MB of RAM, a Broadcom Wi-Fi chip, an accelerometer/gyrometer from STMicroelectronics, and today further investigation from Chipworks (via Ars Technica) has revealed 30 individual components inside the 26mm x 28mm S1 package, a feat Chipworks calls "quite an accomplishment."

s1-composite2.jpg
Apple and/or their suppliers have designed and manufactured a 26 mm x 28 mm package that is very unique. Let's consider its construction for a moment. We have a common motherboard to which all of the components (wafer scale packages, PoPs, BGAs, etc.) have been attached. The entire motherboard, with all of its components, is then overmolded with a packaging compound containing silica or alumina spheres suspended in a resin. We see this same type of material in conventional IC packaging, but we have never observed this being used over a 26 mm x 28 mm motherboard.
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Among the more interesting discoveries Chipworks has made is the manufacturing process for the APL0778 application processor (CPU/GPU) on the S1. It was made with Samsung's 28 nanometer LP process, which, as Ars Technica points out, is no longer cutting edge technology. A 28-nanometer processor was also used in the iPhone 5s, while the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus used 20-nanometer A8 processors.

A 28-nanometer chip in the current-generation Apple Watch suggests Apple could size down to a newer process in future devices, bringing a jump in performance alongside a reduction in space to make room for additional components. Samsung's chip technology has progressed to a 14-nanometer process, which we may see in the next-generation iPhone, among other products.

In short, the use of a 28-nanometer processor suggests there's a lot of room for improvement when it comes to processing power in future Apple Watch devices. Though the Apple Watch has only been available for two weeks, we've already heard some rumors about the next version. According to reports, health sensors that did not make it into the first-generation device may be added to the second-generation version, perhaps allowing it to track health-related metrics like stress levels, blood pressure, and oxygen levels.

We've also seen rumors suggesting the first update to the Apple Watch will come in the form of additional casing options, perhaps later this year. A second-generation device with upgraded internals is not expected until 2016.

Article Link: Apple Watch Uses Chip Manufactured on Samsung's 28-Nanometer Process
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2015/05/07/apple-watch-28nm-samsung-processor/
Good to know that. Samsung chips are actually really good. Its wise of Apple to choose Samsung for chip production.
 
Now we just need a Richard Ayoade soundalike to describe the design prowess and aesthetic focus that goes into fabricating each chip.
 
I am definitely upgrading to the iPhone 6S if it also comes with 512GB of ram... ;)
 
TWSS37 said:
I hope mine has the LG one!
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Why? Whats wrong with Samsung chips? They are pretty good as far as I know.

Is it because you don't like their mobile division? Yeah, I also don't like what their mobile division is doing, but that does not mean that all the other divisions are bad - you should see the divisions as separate companies and learn to admire quality where it is deserved (and dislike where they show bad attitude/behavior).

Just blind hate is not good.
 
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firewood said:
A 28-nm chip possibly has lower leakage than the newer, smaller geometry processes, and thus might provide better battery life.
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This seems plausible. Also if you look at the motherboard in the picture which is 26mmx28mm, the CPU only takes up about 10x10. There looks to be room to grow. Apple could have decided to start with something proven and cheaper (as well as whay you stated) for first Gen. In future Gens, Apple could stick to slightly older, yet more stable, technology as the watch is likely not getting replaced every year, so they are going for durability.
 
SixtyK said:
So do the iPhones, iPads...

Does anybody REALLY believe these two are bitter rivals?
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Only those who don't realize that the Samsung that makes our chips is as a company very far removed from the Samsung that copies mobile phones.
 
Explains the poor 2 to 3 hour screen on time of Apple Watch. Apple is going to be at a disadvantage being stuck on 28nm or even TSMC 20nm if Samsung maxes out capacity of 14nm for their own products.
 
Irony

Irony is reading the phrase "In short" in a Juli Clover piece. She really needs to include a tl;dr section in each of her posts.
 
So.....

You are holding a bag in your right hand while in public; You receive a text, so you use your free hand to retrieve your phone, read the text, and reply.

.......how do I do that with the watch, without putting the bag down?
 
firewood said:
14nm isn't necessarily lower-power.
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You meant to say TSMC 20nm isn't necessarily lower power than Samsung 28nm and that's why Apple went with Samsung. Samsung 14nm is significantly lower power than both but it's reserved for Samsung's next standalone watch with built in cell call and data but with much better battery life than Apple Watch that requires being tethered to phone.
 
Next Apple Watch !!!

I'd like to get used to my new watch please before we start talking about the next one. Apple can't even fulfil the current orders and here we are talking about the next one. Of course it will come but lets see what we can do with current model first, let everybody enjoy their purchases and stop worrying about the next one :rolleyes:
 
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