Malcolm Owen
Apple will be making a big update to the chip used in the Apple Watch Series 9, with the model's S9 chip apparently to be based on technology used in the A15, says Mark Gurman.
Apple's updates to the Apple Watch lineup typically has the company introducing a new S-series chip for the model. While the S8 used in the Apple Watch Series 8 wasn't much of an update from the S7 in the previous generation, the next Apple Watch range may take a leap forward.
In conversations within the "Power On" Discord channel for Bloomberg's newsletter by Mark Gurman, the writer responded to questions about the Apple Watch Series 9's chip. After confirming new models are "due for the updated SoC," Gurman offered the chip could be a lot more powerful than the change from S7 to S8.
"I think it'll be a new processor, not just a re-brand of the previous generation," he offers. When asked directly if he thinks the new Apple Watch chip could be based on the A15 Bionic, Gurman says "yes, I believe it is!"
From a power consumption standpoint alone, it won't be the A15 directly inserted into the device.
This is not the first time Gurman has discussed the next generation of Apple Watch models. On April 2, the newsletter talked about watchOS 10, and that it will include a "fairly extensive upgrade" with many "notable changes to the user interface."
At the time, Gurman proposed that it is "important" for watchOS to have a big year for the tenth version "given that Apple Watch hardware updates will be anything but major."
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
12 Comments
Probably a cost savings measure? The watch doesn’t seem to need much more power unless it has to do support new usecases?
The SoC is likely going to be significantly upgraded to run videos and animations more efficiently. Or even process bigger images than possible so users can zoom in with more details.
Rumors are just that, so it's a wait-and-see. I have my Apple Watch 4 which still works quite well. I think this is the year for an iPhone upgrade as my iPhone Xs will be 5 years old at that point. I'm in the 5th year of using it. I think it's time.
I have the SE1, and it does all I need. I can’t see where it’s even slow enough to justify a speed boost. However, a smaller CPU process that leads to better battery efficiency is the best reason for a speed boost…just don’t boost it and let the efficiency take hold.
I don't care about added speed, my S7 is fast enough that there are no tasks where I wish it was faster. Battery, however, can use a ton of improvement. Hopefully this would facilitate greater battery life instead of speed improvements. I really don't want to have to get the Ultra just for it's battery life, but if there are no improvements in the regular models' battery, I'll be forced to when I next upgrade. As a runner, battery life is a constant struggle and balancing act.