Apple Watch Series 9 to Feature Updated Processor Based on A15 Chip

[UK-MacAddict]

I'm no expert, however just upgraded from a 6 to an 8.....the 8 loads & unlocks substantially faster than the 6, so I can't se how it can be the same chip 🤔

New device, fresh out the box will obviously run faster.

Proven in tear downs it’s the same chip.

 

[Howard2k]

New device, fresh out the box will obviously run faster.

Proven in tear downs it’s the same chip.

It's the same CPU, different SOC.

 

[positiveguy1960]

Just wondering why the article author would write something as absurd as this? That brings up many questions. As many commenters have said "who actually needs additional speed on their Apple Watch?" Was there a deadline to write 'something' for this author and they had to 'put out and article' today so they wrote about this 'big improvement' in the Apple Watch? I'm embarrassed for them frankly. What a complete waste of time.

 

[East India Company]

Even the S7 had a 20% larger screen than the S4, so personally I would consider that more than slightly better

For the Watch that’s true. I meant the SoC that is barely improved since the S4 processor.

 

[chucker23n1]

Just wondering why the article author would write something as absurd as this? That brings up many questions. As many commenters have said "who actually needs additional speed on their Apple Watch?" Was there a deadline to write 'something' for this author and they had to 'put out and article' today so they wrote about this 'big improvement' in the Apple Watch? I'm embarrassed for them frankly. What a complete waste of time.

What about the article is "absurd"?

Sooner or later, a performance improvement will be needed, and sooner or later, watchOS support for watches with a slower SoC will be cut off. But I imagine the main thrust is to improve battery life.

We don't know, though. It could be that the Series 9 has some features that require more performance. It could be that they're planning such features for watchOS 10, 11, 12, 13, whatever.

 

[George Dawes]

FaceTime camera would be a nice addition

 

[Howard2k]

For the Watch that’s true. I meant the SoC that is barely improved since the S4 processor.

Since S4:

Updated optical sensor
Updated bluetooth
Updated wifi
Fast charging
More granular power saving options
Faster CPU
Double the internal storage
Updated screen
Added blood ox
Added temperature sensor
Updated gyroscope
Always on altimeter
Additional RAM
Added U1 chip

But yeah, it's basically the same watch from S0 to Ultra.

 

[DracheMitch]

The bigger issue is watchOS. It's very limited in the types of apps that can be used on it. I love mine, but I use it almost exclusively for texting and weather. If Apple made Siri as useful as Alexa, that would be a game changer.

 

[thr33stones]

Watch is on a funny place IMO for a load of reasons, in general it is in a pretty stale point of iteration (s6-ultra) mainly due to being the best Smartwatch by a lot and lack of progress on miniaturising impactful sensors whilst not sacrificing performance - no competition and good sales, and because of them sales numbers what extra features would move the needle in an impactful way.

However for me there are increasing competition on the fitness side that would really hurt competition

• Native performance training analysis like Garmin Connect - I would pay apple $5 p/m for this easy
• Training Coach like whoop

As I am very tempted to switch to Garmin 965 but the main metric that stops me is, that the accuracy of the HR tracking on the wrist Apple is v v accurate, where Garmin and Whoop HR accuracy is not as accurate and since the two main things that I find attractive of Garmin and Whoop are determined by HR accuracy which is not as good as Apple - I am stuck with Athytic and S6 for now, frustrating as I know Apple would really nail this if it had their focus