General information | |
---|---|
Launched | 13 November 2014 |
Discontinued | 7 September 2016 |
Designed by | Apple Inc. |
Common manufacturer(s) | |
Product code | APL0778 [3] |
Performance | |
Max. CPU clock rate | 520 MHz [4] |
Cache | |
L1 cache | 32 KB data [4] |
L2 cache | 256 KB [4] |
Architecture and classification | |
Application | Apple Watch |
Technology node | 28 nm [4] [2] |
Instruction set | ARMv7-A [4] |
Physical specifications | |
Cores |
|
GPU(s) | PowerVR SGX543 [5] |
Products, models, variants | |
Variant(s) | |
History | |
Successor | Apple S2 |
General information | |
---|---|
Launched | September, 2016 |
Discontinued | September, 2018 |
Designed by | Apple Inc. |
Performance | |
Max. CPU clock rate | 520 MHz [6] |
Architecture and classification | |
Application | Apple Watch Series 1 |
Microarchitecture | ARMv7-A compatible [6] |
Instruction set | ARM [6] |
Physical specifications | |
Cores |
|
GPU(s) | PowerVR Series 6 'Rogue' [6] |
History | |
Predecessor | Apple S1 |
The Apple S1 is the integrated computer in the Apple Watch, and it is described as a "System in Package" (SiP) by Apple Inc. [7]
Samsung is said to be the main supplier of key components, such as the RAM and NAND flash storage, and the assembly itself, [8] but early teardowns reveal RAM and flash memory from Toshiba and Micron Technology. [3]
It uses a customized application processor that together with memory, storage and support processors for wireless connectivity, sensors and I/O constitute a complete computer in a single package. This package is filled with resin for durability. [9]
From reverse engineering, the processor handling the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is a Broadcom BCM43342 [10] and the six-axis gyroscope is from STMicroelectronics. [2]
The SiP in Apple Watch Series 1 is called S1P and looks superficially identical to the S1, but in reality is an S2 minus the on-chip GPS functionality. It contains the same dual-core CPU with the same new GPU capabilities as the S2 making it about 50% faster than the S1. [12] [13]
The S1 was announced on 9 September 2014 as part of the "Wish we could say more" event.
The S1P was announced on 7 September 2016 as part of the "See you on the 7th" event.
The S1 made its first appearance within the Apple Watch, which arrived in April 2015. [7] [14] The S1 was discontinued with the launch of Apple Watch Series 1, containing the S1P.
The S1P was released with the Apple Watch Series 1 on 16 September 2016. [13]
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Apple silicon is a series of system on a chip (SoC) and system in a package (SiP) processors designed by Apple Inc., mainly using the ARM architecture. It is the basis of most new Mac computers as well as iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV, and Apple Watch, and of products such as AirPods, HomePod, HomePod Mini, and AirTag.
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The Apple A8 is a 64-bit ARM-based system on a chip (SoC) designed by Apple Inc. It first appeared in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, which were introduced on September 9, 2014. Apple states that it has 25% more CPU performance and 50% more graphics performance while drawing only 50% of the power of its predecessor, the Apple A7. The latest software updates for the 1.1GHz and 1.4GHz variants systems using this chip are iOS 12.5.6, released on August 31, 2022 as they were discontinued with the release of iOS 13 in 2019, and 1.5GHz variant for the iPad Mini 4 is iPadOS 15.7.1, released on October 27, 2022 as it was discontinued with the release of iPadOS 16 in 2022, while updates for the 1.5GHz variant continue for Apple TV HD. The A8 chip was discontinued on October 18, 2022, following the discontinuation of the Apple TV HD.
The Apple A8X is a 64-bit ARM-based system on a chip (SoC) designed by Apple Inc. and manufactured by TSMC. It first appeared in the iPad Air 2 and only is used in the iPad Air 2, which was announced on October 16, 2014. It is a variant of the A8 inside the iPhone 6 family of smartphones and Apple states that it has 40% more CPU performance and 2.5 times the graphics performance of its predecessor, the Apple A7. The latest software update for the iPad Air 2 using this chip was iPadOS 15.7.3, released on January 23rd 2023 as it was discontinued with the release of iPadOS 16 in 2022 due to hardware limitations of the A8X.
The Apple A9 is a 64-bit ARM-based system-on-chip (SoC), designed by Apple Inc. Manufactured for Apple by both TSMC and Samsung, it first appeared in the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus which were introduced on September 9, 2015. Apple states that it has 70% more CPU performance and 90% more graphics performance compared to its predecessor, the Apple A8. On September 12, 2018, the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus along with the first-generation iPhone SE was discontinued, ending production of A9 chips. The latest software updates for the iPhone 6S & 6S Plus including the iPhone SE 1st generation variants systems using this chip are iOS 15.7.3, released on January 23, 2023 as they were discontinued with the release of iOS 16 in 2022, while updates for the iPad variants systems using this chip are still supported.
The Apple S2 is the integrated computer in the Apple Watch Series 2, and it is described as a "System in Package" (SiP) by Apple Inc. It was revealed on September 7, 2016, with very little info about specifications. Apple says its two cores deliver 50% higher performance and the GPU delivers twice as much as the predecessor, the Apple S1. The S1P SiP shipped in the Apple Watch Series 1 is a stripped down version of the S2 that lacks the GPS functionality, it is otherwise identical.
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