According to a new report, Apple’s new S8 chip for Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra, and Apple Watch SE 2 features the same CPU as the older S6 and S7 chips. While it is likely that Apple has made improvements to the chip, the specifications of the S8 chip are outdated by two years.
The specifications of the Apple Watch’s new S8 chip are two years old
As per identifier codes (via MacRumors), the CPU of the S8 chip for the Apple Watch carries the same T8301 as the S6 and S7 chips that the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch Series 7 came equipped with, making the new chip two years old.
While the brand-new Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra, and the next-generation Apple Watch SE feature the same chip as older Apple Watches have, it is not a cause for concern. The tech giant has likely adjusted the chip to make room for newer components.
The S6, S7, and S8 chips are based on the A13 Bionic chip that was introduced in the iPhone 11 lineup and is based on TSMC’s 7nm process. It is expected that Apple’s 2023 iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will feature A17 Bionic chips built on TSMC’s 3nm process.
Mass production of TSMC’s 3nm chips was rumored to begin in September. The chipmaker had planned to significantly expand the production of its 3nm chips. It even started building three new production facilities to produce 3nm chips in Tainan, Taiwan, to further expand its manufacturing capacity.
The move is a part of the company’s $120 billion investment to establish new production facilities which it hopes will help it capture a bigger part of the global chip market. However, it was forced to slow down the expansion of its 3nm chip process due to an issue with Intel.
Once mass production of TSMC’s 3nm chips begins, it is expected that the Cupertino tech giant will work on a new chip for the Apple Watch with an updated CPU. This will result in significant performance gains, better battery life, and more.
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