According to identifying codes, the S8 processor in the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra, and second-generation Apple Watch SE have the same CPU as the S6 and S7 chips.
The T8301 identity is shared by the CPU in Apple’s S8 SiP and the CPU in the S6 and S7 processors that appeared in the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch Series 7. This explains why Apple has just recently compared its S-series CPUs to the S5 chip or earlier.
It also indicates that the CPU in the Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch Series 7, Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra, and second-generation Apple Watch SE are the same. It is worth mentioning that Apple may have still iterated on other areas of the SiP to fit new components such as the new accelerometer and gyroscope in the Apple Watch Series 8.
All of the S6, S7, and S8 chips contain storage of a whole 32 GB and dual-core Cpu processor. When it released the S6 in the Apple Watch Series 6, Apple last made performance claims for its latest smartwatch lineup.
Using TSMC’s 7nm technology, the S6, S7, and S8 are modeled around the iPhone 11’s A13 Bionic processor. Apple began using TSMC’s 5nm process with the A14 Bionic processor, and the iPhone 14 Pro’s A16 Bionic is the first Apple chip to use a 4nm process.
Since the Apple Watch no longer needs a powerful processor, Apple has not upgraded the S-series CPUs to take advantage of the latest technology. This could be because using the cores in the A14 chip and TSMC’s 5nm or 4nm processes would provide significant performance improvements.
Productivity improvements are far more crucial for the Apple Watch, so waiting for TSMC’s 3nm technology to enter commercial production by the end of the year may be worth it.
Read More: Apple Watch SE 2 vs. Apple Watch Series 8 Buyer’s Guide
When To Expect Chip Upgrade in Apple Watch Series 8?
As of now, The Apple Watch Series 8 is expected to come in three variants, and if users want a chip upgrade, Gurman suggests waiting for the Apple Watch Series 9 next year.
“As I’ve reported, Apple is preparing three new variations: a new low-end SE, a standard Series 8, and a rugged edition aimed at extreme sports.
For those hoping for a faster chip in this year’s Apple Watch, I’m told the S8 chip will have the same specifications as the S7, which was also the same as the S6. Next year’s models, however, are slated to get an all-new processor.
The SE will stick to the screen size of the current model rather than moving up to the larger Series 7 size. But it may get the same S8 chip as the Series 8, an upgrade from the S5 in the current SE from 2020.”