Apple Watch's S8 Chip Features Same CPU as S6 and S7

[MacRumors]

The S8 chip in the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra, and second-generation Apple Watch SE features the same CPU as the S6 and S7 chips, according to identifier codes.

The CPU within Apple's S8 SiP carries the same T8301 identifier as the CPU in the S6 and S7 chips that debuted in the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch Series 7. This explains why Apple has only compared its S-series chips in recent years to the S5 chip or earlier.

It also means that the Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch Series 7, Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra, and second-generation Apple Watch SE all feature the exact same CPU. It is worth noting that Apple may have still iterated on other parts of the SiP to accommodate new components such as the Apple Watch Series 8's new accelerometer and gyroscope.

The S6, S7, and S8 chips all feature 32GB of storage and dual-core CPUs. When Apple debuted the S6 in the Apple Watch Series 6, the last time it made performance claims about its latest smartwatch lineup, it said that the chip allowed apps to launch 20 percent faster.

The S6, S7, and S8 are based on Apple's A13 Bionic chip from the iPhone 11 lineup and are manufactured using TSMC's 7nm process. Apple transitioned to TSMC's 5nm process starting with the A14 Bionic chip, and the iPhone 14 Pro's A16 Bionic is the first Apple chip to be fabricated with a 4nm process.

One explanation for Apple not advancing the CPU technology in its S-series chips is potential that advancements from using the cores in the A14 chip and TSMC's 5nm or 4nm processes would primarily yield performance improvements, which are no longer essential for the Apple Watch. Waiting for TSMC's 3nm process, which is set to enter mass production toward the end of this year, could yield more meaningful efficiency improvements – an area of much greater importance when it comes to the Apple Watch because it could help prolong battery life.

Article Link: Apple Watch's S8 Chip Features Same CPU as S6 and S7

 

[Jarutais]

Yet the day will come when they'll cut WatchOS 11 of some models

 

[4743913]

I upgraded from a series 3 and now I wish I had waited another year..

 

[thadoggfather]

I feel the deep discount on S7 earlier this year was the wisest move. As a dude.

Blue.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

It’s no slouch, mind. And I’m sure there’s only so much performance you can squeeze out of a tiny SoC.

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

IN THIS ECONOMY? Apart from raising prices to replace iPhones battery 😒 thanks Tim Apple 🤣 I hope the NON Pro 14 series iPhone fail at sales.

 

[nfl46]

Save the money and get a Series 7. Maybe the Series 9 will get the flat screen like the Ultra.

 

[randyhudson]

Obviously moving the CPU up to a more advanced process would result in either performance and/or energy savings. But they are probably negligible for folks who have been tricked into leaving the screen always on.

Having a CPU that ages the battery faster is just more planned obsolescence, similar to how:

• Live Photos was enabled by default, just to waste more memory
• Turning off Live Photos is temporary by default, just to waste more memory
• There's no way to throw away the "live" part of a Live Photo, just to waste more memory
• Cropping a photo to "square" doesn't really take a smaller picture, just to waste more memory
• Cropping a video no longer throws away the rest of video, just to waste more memory

 

[G5isAlive]

so sometimes good enough... is good enough?

 

[GubbyMan]

Come on Apple. Next year's Series 9 should be based on A17 Efficiency cores and TSMC's 3nm... Please~ 🥺

 

[rlmcguire]

Hanging on to my Series 4 for another year. Still just as fast as the day I bought it even with watchOS 9 beta

 

[coachgq]

Wife and I went from a 6 to a 7 recently. I am happy with the change because of the screen and fast charge. I plan on moving my kids from the SE-1st gen to our 7's when we move from the 7 to the 9.

 

[Wackery]

Imagine paying 2022 prices for a 2019 watch 😂

 

[DMG35]

Buying a Series 7 (or staying with it) is the play this year.

 

[doboy]

gotta make them margins, haha

 

[aPple nErd]

My S7 from Walmart arrives later today. At $299 it was about the best watch deal this year. Anyone who bought the 8 got ripped off unless they wanted the crash detection.

 

[heystu]

Can't innovate anymore my ass

 

[tonie walker]

…glad i decided to settle with my S4.

 

[FasterQuieter]

Faster communication with the phone is more important than a faster chip. Though I'll take a faster chip as well when they finally decide to make one.

 

[hcherry]

Still on my series 4 and almost upgraded to a 6 or 7. Decided I’m going to hang on another year since I’m mostly using the fitness and health tracking features.

 

[unclemax]

I hope Series 8 owners enjoy their ovulation reminders

 

[Danoc]

.

 

[currocj]

Hanging on to my Series 4 for another year. Still just as fast as the day I bought it even with watchOS 9 beta

Same here

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

The Apple Watch 8 series = same meat, different gravy.

 

[PhoenixDown]

I wanted to upgrade my aluminum S3 to a SS S8 but I think I am either going to hold off until the S9 or just get an aluminum S8 for the interim.