Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

So the Series 2 and Series 1 have the same dual core CPU!?!?!?!

K

Kendo

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Apr 4, 2011
2,363
922
Right on! I don't care about the GPS right now and love the fact that the Series 1 is $100 cheaper. If they have the same performance, that is really the one thing I care most about. Is it true that the Series 1 and Series 2 have the same CPU? Apple upgraded the cheaper watch with a next gen CPU?

I always planned on getting the 1st gen Apple Watch after the release of the Apple 2, but if they release a "new 1st gen" aka Series 1, I will just go with this model. I can't imagine the 1st gen Watch to be much cheaper than the Series 1, and I'd rather pay an extra $25 to get the dual core CPU.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LiveM
KrisLord said:
Whilst the GPU isn't mentioned, I suspect it's the same in both. They're so integrated in the S2 package there would be a significant extra effort to pair the new processor with the old GPU.
Click to expand...

Agreed. They call it one chip.
 
KrisLord said:
Whilst the GPU isn't mentioned, I suspect it's the same in both. They're so integrated in the S2 package there would be a significant extra effort to pair the new processor with the old GPU.
Click to expand...

Good point. But then what else is in the "S2" that isn't in the "S1P"? Otherwise, they would just say both Series have the S2.
 
Once Apple decided it wanted to keep the AW (now AWs1) on the market, they basically had to use the same CPU (and perhaps GPU) in both. My guess is that the mfr fab that makes these chips has been retooled from 1st gen to 2nd. Not enough volume for two fabs or two lines.
 
Kendo said:
Right on! I don't care about the GPS right now and love the fact that the Series 1 is $100 cheaper. If they have the same performance, that is really the one thing I care most about. Is it true that the Series 1 and Series 2 have the same CPU? Apple upgraded the cheaper watch with a next gen CPU?

I always planned on getting the 1st gen Apple Watch after the release of the Apple 2, but if they release a "new 1st gen" aka Series 1, I will just go with this model. I can't imagine the 1st gen Watch to be much cheaper than the Series 1, and I'd rather pay an extra $25 to get the dual core CPU.
Click to expand...
Yes, AW Series 1 will have the same S2 chip as the AW Series 2 (includes the upgraded GPU) so the series 1 will be as fast as the series 2. Differences are just GPS, better water resistance and brighter screen on the series 2, plus looks like Series 1 will only be available in the aluminum finish.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ZebraDude and Vanilla35
profets said:
According to the product page: http://www.apple.com/watch/compare/

The Series 1 has the S1P and the Series 2 has the S2. But these are "systems on a chip", maybe the cpu & gpu are the same but the GPS is what differentiates them?
Click to expand...
Oh, my bad it looks like they aren't both the S2, but yeah my guess is that the S1P and the S2 are the same except S1P has no GPS onboard. I doubt they would make a new series 1 chip with upgraded CPU cores but an old GPU.
 
bodonnell202 said:
Oh, my bad it looks like they aren't both the S2, but yeah my guess is that the S1P and the S2 are the same except S1P has no GPS onboard. I doubt they would make a new series 1 chip with upgraded CPU cores but an old GPU.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think you're right, considering the S1P and S2 refer to the whole system that's encapsulated and not just the CPU.

Essentially all these watches are new in terms of the internals (and speed), but the Series 2 is adding full waterproofing and GPS.
 
Sukach said:
Good point. But then what else is in the "S2" that isn't in the "S1P"? Otherwise, they would just say both Series have the S2.
Click to expand...
Yes in comparing them the series 1 is said to be a S1P not an S2. If the GPS is built onto the S2 chip then this would explain the different designation as the S1P would not have GPS.
[doublepost=1473291715][/doublepost]well I've been comparing the two series and although I had some interest in the series 1 without the GPS, the addition of the greater waterproofing and better screen has me leaning now to the Series 2 as worth the extra money. I'm ready to order the gold aluminum version with the coffee woven strap. Has anyone else noticed they raised the price of the 38mm model so that now only $30 separates them?
 
Last edited:
I think the series 2 will also have a larger battery (to deal with with GPS). So if you don't use the gps, you could expect better battery life?
 
WLS said:
Yes in comparing them the series 1 is said to be a S1P not an S2. If the GPS is built onto the S2 chip then this would explain the different designation as the S1P would not have GPS.
Click to expand...

The watch battery page mentions testing on series 1 and series 2 explicitly for all of the categories except for GPU performance, where it only mentions series 2. I wouldn't get your hopes up for the GPU to be in the series 1.
 
amb* said:
The watch battery page mentions testing on series 1 and series 2 explicitly for all of the categories except for GPU performance, where it only mentions series 2. I wouldn't get your hopes up for the GPU to be in the series 1.
Click to expand...

Doubtful.
The motive behind the S1P was to raise the bar across the entire line for developers (and experience, of course). There would be little point in them increasing performance in the CPU to have devs dance around GPUs, plus I assume Apple has bound those tightly together in the silicon with specific arrangement.
And the CPU section only mentions Series-2, too.
 
profets said:
Yeah, I think you're right, considering the S1P and S2 refer to the whole system that's encapsulated and not just the CPU.

Essentially all these watches are new in terms of the internals (and speed), but the Series 2 is adding full waterproofing and GPS.
Click to expand...

From Apple.com/Newsroom
Apple Watch Series 1 is available in lightweight aluminum and combines the new powerful dual-core processor and GPU with all the incredible features of the original Apple Watch, making it up to 50 percent faster and available to even more customers, starting at just $269 (US).
 
  • Like
Reactions: magicMac and profets
newdeal said:
Even without needing GPS I would buy series 2 for the waterproofing
Click to expand...

Germwise said:
I think the series 2 will also have a larger battery (to deal with with GPS). So if you don't use the gps, you could expect better battery life?
Click to expand...

I've been debating this myself... The water proofing is kind of nice... I doubt I will be without my phone much for the gps... And it is the difference between $300 and $400!!

But the fact that the battery might be better if I don't use gps on the watch in series 2 is something to seriously consider.. But, maybe it doesn't matter? They did brag about how quick the watch would pick up gps... Maybe it's always running and can't be disabled?

I also think it's a bummer that we can't pick the band of our choice... Why are we limited to what they pre-select??

Decisions, decisions...
 
Was expecting it to be thinner , nothing in that presentation changed my mind on having one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back